Cranberry Jello Salad With Cream Cheese And Fresh Cranberry Sauce

"Cranberry Jello salads have been holding their place on Southern holiday tables for generations, and every family seems to have “their” version. This one is brighter and a little more grown-up, thanks to homemade cranberry sauce and a cream cheese, heavy cream topping that isn’t overly sweet. The layers set up beautifully, the swirl takes seconds, and the whole thing feels like the kind of retro dish that your mom would’ve made. Instead of the traditioanl Cool Whip, this recipe uses heavy cream and cream cheese for a topping that’s sturdier and not overly sweet. I like that the cream cheese adds just enough tang to balance the sugar already present in the gelatin and cranberry sauce. The swirl at the end is simple but gives the dish a hand-crafted look. I’ve found that blending the sauce with an immersion blender or in a food processor, especially if you’re using homemade, keeps the texture silky and prevents little pockets of fruit from settling in the gelatin."

Preparation Time20 min

Chilling Time8 hr