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Amish Cranberry Salad Recipe
Cranberry salad is one of those special dishes that most of us probably don't eat a lot throughout the year. But it is so refreshingly delicious! And I sure would miss not having Amish cranberry salad with my Thanksgiving dinner.
This recipe for cranberry salad made with fresh cranberries, chopped apples, pineapples, and jello is by far the best cranberry salad I have ever tasted.
Thanksgiving Side Dish
Recently I saw a post on Facebook asking, "What is your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?" I honestly could not answer that question. Because I love all the sides: the stuffing, sweet potatoes, and cranberry salad.
They all go together so well with the turkey and mashed potatoes, that I am not willing to give up any one of them. I didn't mention the coleslaw, green beans, and buns, and I could give up these. But please give me some delicious homemade cranberry salad with my turkey.
I guess I have three favorite sides, and cranberry jello salad is definitely one of them. Especially this apple cranberry salad, it's amazing!
Cranberry Apple Pineapple Jello Salad
This delicious Amish cranberry salad is packed full of apples and fresh cranberries, along with jello and pineapples. It is quite yummy all by itself, or as a side with the turkey and dressing for your Thanksgiving feast.
As a teenager, I worked in the kitchen at our local grocery store. A whole group of Amish and Mennonite girls ran that place. And we made all the delicious homemade soups and salads for the deli.
We sold an enormous amount of cranberry salad and potato filling over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. And I used to think that a small batch of cranberry salad was too time-consuming and difficult to bother making. So we often just bought a quart of it from the deli.
But after I moved away and no longer had access to that deli, I started making my own. And I figured out that it does not take long to make Amish cranberry salad. And it is so totally worth it!
I make it every year once the cranberries are in season. And my kids always get excited about this cranberry pineapple jello salad.
Do Amish Celebrate Thanksgiving?
I honestly do not have many memories of Thanksgiving as a child. I know we got together with extended family for Christmas.
But what did we do for an Amish Thanksgiving? I'm not sure. But I do know that this is the wedding season for the Old Order Amish. (Most of my extended family is with the Old Order Amish.)
In Lancaster County, Amish couples get married in October, November, or early December. They only get married on Tuesdays or Thursdays, and their weddings last all day.
So some of the Amish families will be attending a wedding on Thanksgiving Day. And if they don't have a wedding that day, they may just feel like staying at home to relax.
So, I don't think that all of the Amish celebrate Thanksgiving in the traditional American style. But they do recognize Thanksgiving as a holiday and a day to give thanks for all their blessings.
As I got older, and my brothers were getting married, we had a more traditional Thanksgiving feast, and they came home to celebrate with the family.
How to Make Cranberry Salad with Fresh Cranberries
Making Amish Cranberry Salad requires some chopping, But it does not actually take very long and is easy if you have a handy little chopper.
I love my Ninja chopper and use it all the time.
Chop the apples and fresh cranberries, leaving little chunks. I usually do this in several batches, with just a few quick pulses.
Dissolve the jello in boiling water, and dissolve the unflavored gelatin in cold water. Mix everything together and refrigerate overnight to allow the jello to set. Stir before serving.
Christmas Cranberry Salad
This recipe can also be called "Christmas cranberry salad". Not only does Amish cranberry salad go great with the turkey and stuffing for Thanksgiving, but it also pairs perfectly with a ham dinner for Christmas.
More Amish Thanksgiving Recipes...
Chicken and Stuffing Recipe - Amish Roasht
Creamy Amish Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Sweet Potato Casserole
Amish Coleslaw Dressing Recipe
Amish Pumpkin Custard Pie
Creamy Pecan Pie
Quick Yeast Dinner Rolls
I hope you enjoy this Amish cranberry salad recipe with fresh cranberries as much as we do. If you get to try it, I would love it if you left a comment and star rating below.
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Amish Cranberry Salad Recipe
Amish Cranberry Salad is packed full of chopped cranberries and apples. It is quite delicious to eat for a snack at any time of the day, and is also a perfect side dish to serve with turkey and fixings for the holidays!
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Refrigerate for jello to set 5 hours hrs
Total Time 5 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Amish
Servings 22 servings
Calories 154 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 qt. fresh cranberries
- 6 apples I often use gala, and only peel half of them
- 2 c. boiling water
- 1 c. strawberry gelatin
- 1 - 1 1/4 c. sugar
- 1 tsp. unflavored gelatin
- 2 c. cold water I add the pineapple juice to make the 2 c.
- 1 c. crushed pineapple
- 1/4 c. chopped pecans, optional
Instructions
Chop cranberries. I use my small Ninja chopper, and I have to do it in several batches. Just pulse it a few times, leaving little chunks remaining, so they aren't complete mush. Pour into a large bowl.
1 qt. fresh cranberries
Core apples and peel half of them. Cut into chunks small enough to fit into your chopper and chop, leaving little chunks. Add to cranberries.
6 apples
Meanwhile heat your water to boiling. Add strawberry gelatin and sugar and stir to dissolve.
1 c. strawberry gelatin, 2 c. boiling water, 1 - 1 1/4 c. sugar
Sprinkle the unflavored gelatin over the cold water/pineapple juice. Stir and let it rest for a few minutes. Add to strawberry gelatin mixture and stir to mix.
1 tsp. unflavored gelatin, 2 c. cold water
Pour the gelatin mixture, along with the pineapple, into the bowl with the apples and cranberries and stir to mix.
1 c. crushed pineapple
Add nuts , if desired.
1/4 c. chopped pecans, optional
Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight, allowing the gelatin to set.
Stir it before dishing it into a serving bowl, as the fruit tends to rise to the top.
See AlsoSimple Pumpkin Pie RecipeStore in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Notes
If you prefer a more tart cranberry salad, cut back on the amount of sugar.
Feel free to add the nuts, but I actually prefer mine without.
*Nutrition is approximate.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 154kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 2gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 54mgPotassium: 115mgFiber: 4gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 59IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Amish Cranberry Salad
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Lois Hart
I grew up in a small town in eastern Ohio. There are several Amish families there, as well as Quakers , my heritage. My grandma and mother always made a very similar recipe every Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I carry on the tradition. We always chop in a food processor a bag and half of fresh cranberries, I cored apple unpeeled, 1 orange seeded with rind on, 2 teaspoons lemon juice. Add the sugar, mix, refrigerate overnight. The next day make the Jello - 1 box cherry, 1 box lemon, use drained pineapple juice to make up part of the desired liquid required. Let Jello partially set , stir in the crushed pineapple, chopped celery, fruit mixture, and chopped walnuts. Refrigerate overnight.
Yum!!Reply
Anna
Sounds yummy!
Reply
Maria
When it calls for 1 c. of strawberry gelatin, is that the same as 1 box of Strawberry Jello?
Reply
Anna
No, it literally means 1 cup. Amish bulk food stores sell gelatin/jello in bulk, so it would be measured out by the cup. You'll need more than a 6 oz. box.
Reply
Terri
Do you drain the pineapple?
Reply
Anna
Good question. It's been a while since I made this, so I'm trying to remember if I drain the juice. I do mention about adding the juice to the amount of water, so I think I usually drain the pineapple. However it sets up pretty thick, so I can't imagine that the little bit of juice with the pineapple would even matter.
Reply
Misty
I love this recipe! It is so refreshing and fresh tasting. I was wondering if there is anyway to freeze the leftovers?Reply
Anna
I have frozen leftovers before, thawed in fridge, and it came out great.
Reply
Janet
Can’t wait to make. Thanks so much
Janet StewartReply
Anna
You're welcome!
Reply
simrick
Do you cook the fresh cranberries first, until they pop?Reply
Anna
No, the cranberries are raw.
Reply
Donna Ferguson
This recipe sounds so good and freshReply
Anna
We love it!
Reply
Misty
I love this recipe but it makes so much I can never get it all ate in a week. Can it be froze.Reply
Anna
I have frozen it before and it came out great. Thaw in the refrigerator.
Reply
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