thanksgiving cranberry cream cheese salad

Name: Thanksgiving Cranberry Cream Cheese Salad
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 10 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 package(s) cherry Jell-O (6 oz); 2 cup(s) boiling water; 2 large Golden Delicious apples, peeled and grated; 1 cup(s) chopped pecans; 1 can(s) whole cranberry sauce (14 oz); ## TOPPING; 1 package(s) cream cheese, at room temperature 2 hours (8 oz); 1/2 cup(s) powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract; 1 can(s) crushed pineapple, drained (20 oz) well; 6 - 8 ounce(s) frozen whipped topping, thawed; 1/2 cup(s) chopped toasted pecans

(26 RATINGS)

5.69K Pinches 14 Photos

Jewel Hall

Cullman, AL

Updated on Oct 16, 2025

This is the perfect cranberry congealed salad for your Thanksgiving meal. For years my in-laws have expected me to produce a good recipe. Since this has all the good stuff squished together, it is my stand-by and go-to recipe. A great complement to your chicken and turkey dishes.

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Thanksgiving Cream Cheese Salad on a plate.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Sweet and tangy, this cranberry cream cheese salad is perfect for Thanksgiving. The filling has sweet grated apples and tart cranberries that are all held together with cherry Jell-O - it's a delicious combination. But, the Jell-O layer does not have a typical Jell-O texture. The cream cheese topping is sweet with bits of pineapple and chopped pecans in each bite. One taste and you'll be hooked. An easy holiday dessert.

— The Test Kitchen

prep time 45 Min

cook time 10 Min

method No-Cook or Other

yield 12 serving(s)

Ingredients

1 package cherry Jell-O (6 oz)
2 cups boiling water
2 large Golden Delicious apples, peeled and grated
1 cup chopped pecans
1 can whole cranberry sauce (14 oz)
TOPPING
1 package cream cheese, at room temperature 2 hours (8 oz)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 can crushed pineapple, drained (20 oz) well
6 - 8 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed
1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans

How To Make thanksgiving cranberry cream cheese salad

Step 1

Part 1. Dissolve Jell-Oin boiling water. Stir to mix and set aside to cool.

Step 2

Add apples, pecans, and cranberry sauce.
Step 3

Turn into a 13x9 glass dish and chill until firm.
Step 4

Part 2. Blend softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until smooth.
Step 5

Add vanilla to the Cool Whip and mix with a wooden spoon. Add to the cream cheese mixture along with the pineapple.
Step 6

Fold the mixture together.
Step 7

Spread evenly over firm set Jell-O mixture. Sprinkle toasted pecans on top.
Step 8

Keep chilled until serving time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yigzoPD64wA
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Nutrition Facts

(per serving*)

calories: 155kcal, carbohydrates: 28g, cholesterol: 1mg, fat: 5g, fiber: 2g, protein: 2g, saturated fat: 1g, sodium: 50mg, sugar: 18g, unsaturated fat: 4g

*Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Nutrition information is estimated.

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