This fun cherry pineapple Jello salad is sure to be a hit with your family. It is a simple make ahead side dish or simple dessert that is festive for a holiday or fun for a BBQ.
There is something nostalgic and fun about a good jello salad. This recipe is loaded with cherries and pineapple making it an extra tasty treat.
It is easy to make and fun to eat. We love it as a scoop and serve salad, but it can easily be converted into a more solid slice if you’d like.
Either way it is a tasty way to get enjoy your fruit. The whipped cream is optional, but highly encouraged!
This is one of the very first recipes I ever shared in this little corner of the internet. It was shared with me by my husband’s aunt and it was an instant hit at our house.
I shared it again in 2016 with updated pictures and shared the origin story of the site. Each recipe was getting more visitors than ever and it seemed like a good time to give the history.
Fast forward four more years and here we are. I have enjoyed sharing recipes with a growing number of people around the world with each passing year.
So it seemed like a perfect time to share the recipe again. This fun and fruity gelatin salad is perfect for the holidays after-all.
As it is written, it is a looser jello salad. The kind you serve in a bowl with a spoon.
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It is sweet with a little bit of tang from the cherries and pineapple. It is fabulous on its own or dressed up with a bit of whipped cream.
Can you use fresh pineapple instead of canned?
No. Fresh pineapple contains an enzyme that breaks down the proteins that prevent the gelatin from setting up. The heat from canning the pineapple inactivates the bromelain and allows the Jello to work properly.
Carlee’s Tips for Making This a Firmer Jello Salad:
It can easily be converted into a more solid slice and serve salad if you would like. The first step is to make sure you drain the pineapple really well.
Then use six ounces of cherry jello instead of the three. Dissolve it in a scant two cups of boiling water.
Stir in the fruit and pour into a 9×13″ pan. Chill for at least two hours, longer is better.
This will give you a more “solid” jiggly salad. Both ways taste great!
Storage
You will want to make your Jell-o salad at least several hours in advance of serving it to allow the Jell-o plenty of time to set up. It is a good idea to make it the day ahead to ensure it has plenty of chill time.
Leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator. They are good for up to a week, but we have never had them stick around that long!
Cherry Pineapple Jello Salad
Ingredients
- 1 20 oz can crushed pineapple
- 1 3 oz box cherry gelatin
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 21 oz can cherry pie filling
Instructions
- Drain 1 20 oz can crushed pineapple well
- Mix 1 3 oz box cherry gelatin in 1 cup boiling water until dissolved
- Add 1 21 oz can cherry pie filling and drained pineapple and mix well
- Refrigerate until firm (at least an hour or two)
- Stir before serving. See notes if you would prefer to make a cut and serve salad.
Notes
Video
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In the video it shows you guys using the pineapple with the juices. The recipe says to drain the pineapple well. I’m confused. I would appreciate your reply. Thank you
We forgot to drain it in the video! You can use the juice if you want, but you will have a looser jello salad. Or keep it and just use a little bit less water. We need to film a new video for this recipe and correct that!
I make mine with cool whip vanilla pudding combo on top
That sounds delicious!
We always make a version of your Cherry Pineapple Salad…Using a 21oz can of Raspberry pie filling, 6oz of Raspberry Jello, small can of crushed pineapple….We top this with 8oz of Sour Cream, 8oz bar of cream cheese and 1/2 cup of powered sugar…It’s been a hit at every pot luck i’ve ever taken it to…Recently a 4th of July Picnic…Several people asked me for the recipe….Thanks for putting up such an interesting site…
Mmmm! Your raspberry version sounds delicious! I’m going to have to make it soon.
Which size gelatin?
Yes, please give size of jello
It's a 3 oz box, thanks for asking. I will clarify in the recipe. Though if you use a 6 oz box and 3 cups of boiling water it will set firmer and could be served more as a jello salad. Both ways taste great!
Hi, Carlee,
Just sending you a quick note you know that your Dori's Cherry Pineapple Gelatin Recipe is a FINALIST in the Merry ThanksChristmas Recipe Contest! Be sure to check it out. And, good luck in the final voting. Winners will be announced on November 15th.
~Lorelai and the Co-hosts
Eeeeeek! Thank you so much for including me in the finalists!
I, for one, am so happy that you started the blog, and I love the sentiment behind it. You have such great recipes, marrying the old and the new, keeping the old alive and bringing it to the next generation. I also love the stories behind the recipes, so much fun to read your posts! And this does look delish! Pinning to try it!
Thank you so much, Nikki, that really means a lot! I always love hearing from you.
What a neat recipe!
Thanks!
This sounds really good and perfect to go with Christmas Eve dinner!
Thank you, it is definitely tasty and perfectly festive!
I'm really partial to jello dishes – this one grabbed my attention for sure. Sounds wondermous!
There really is something about a jello dish, isn't there? Thanks, Marsha!
Love that you revisited one of your first posts. It is something I should do… I even have a couple early recipe posts that don't have a photo with them! Glad this family favorite is a hit with all ages 🙂
Oh no! A post without a photo?! It's definitely time to refresh 😉