Monday, April 13, 2015

Great Grandma's Recipes - Cherry Jello Salad

Cherry Jello Salad



Ingredients -  

  • Jello Salad:

  • 2 pkg of Cherry Jello or Dark Cherry Jello
  • 2 cans of Dark sweet pitted Cherries (in water)
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • Topping:

  • 2 pkg Vanilla Pudding
  • 2 pkg Dream Whip (small box)
  • 2 cups Milk

To start make sure that you get the dark cherries in water, not the pie filling or the cherries in syrup.


Drain the cans of cherries into a measuring cup, it should be around 1 1/2 cups.  You'll need 2 cups cold water for the Jello so that is where this will come into play, just add a little cold water to make the 2 cups.

Prepare the Jello, remember that you are making a double batch so you will need 2 cups boiling hot water and 2 cups of cold water.  I like to add the Jello while it's still boiling in the pot and whisk it a little to make sure that the Jello dissolves.  Pour the jello into a 9x13 pan, I've found that glass works a little better, but any type of pan you have available will work.  (You could get a toss-able one from the dollar store!)

Once you have all the Jello dissolved slowly add the cherries.  This is where I have found many of my shirts stained because the cherries just plop right in and splash the red juice all over.  It's a little better to add the cherries second because there is less juice to splash!  Add the cold water/cherry juice and then put in fridge until solid.

For the topping whip together the Vanilla pudding and the Dream whip you'll only need 2 cups of cold milk.  This is where I tend to get mixed up because you double the Jello but not the topping.  If you put too much milk the topping won't thicken like it's supposed to.

Beat the topping together until it starts to form peaks and then cover the bowl with foil and put in the fridge with the Jello until the Jello is solid.

Once the Jello is ready pull the topping on the Jello and Enjoy!!


This is a true classic for our family, we bring it to almost every family get together and it is a hit every time!  How did yours turn out?  Did you like it?  Was there something you did different?

Be prepared if you take this to your next family get-together you'll be bringing home an empty dish!