Cranberry Holiday Jello: Thanksgiving Favorites Blog With Friends

Today’s post is the next in our series of Blog With Friends theme collaborations. Each month a group of bloggers get together and each publish a project based on a theme. What I love about this partnership is that it’s not bloggers with similar interests or strengths but a diverse group coming up with a variety of posts. In any given month we may have a recipe, sewing tutorial, crafts projects, book review and/or a technology post all related to the theme of the month.

This month's theme is Thanksgiving Favorites. There will be individual project pictures and links to what everyone else has to offer at the end of my post, but here’s a peek at what we all came up with:

I made Cranberry Holiday Jello.

Cranberry Holiday Jello

I know many people think jello is dessert, and it is. But for us, on Thanksgiving, it's served as a side dish. It's a version of cranberry sauce, I make two versions. I have posted my Festive Cranberry Sauce, which tends to appeal more to adults, especially since I make it with liqueur. And to leave the adults only dish for adults, I make this one for the kids. This holiday treat has canned cranberry sauce in it, as well as fruit and nuts. Not only is it delicious, but it's so pretty on the Thanksgiving table.

My Cranberry Holiday Jello is a version of one my mom made on Thanksgiving while I was growing up. As with most dishes, I changed it up a bit, but it's so similar that it brings back memories. A favorite from my childhood had become a favorite for my kids.

I start with a can of jellied cranberry sauce divided into two bowls and mashed then I add the jello powder.

Whisk with the liquids, add the mix ins, then refrigerate to set.

Mix up the second layer, carefully add onto the first layer, refrigerate, and you're done for now.

When ready to serve, remove from the mold to a serving dish.

It's not only easy to put together, but I also love that I can make it a day or two in advance, cover with plastic wrap and leave in the fridge. 

Although I make this for the kids, adults love it too.

As always, any time you make one of my recipes, feel free to post a picture of it to my Baking In A Tornado Facebook Page. I'd love to see it!

Be sure to visit all of this month's other Blog With Friends projects:

Lydia of Cluttered Genius shares Best Thanksgiving Traditions Ever. 

Dawn of Spatulas on Parade shares how to make a Tree of Thanks.

Rabia of The Lieber Family Blog shares The Ultimate Thanksgiving Planning Printable Pack.

                   

Cranberry Holiday Jello

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 (14 oz) can jellied cranberry sauce
1 (3 oz) box Kool-Aid tropical punch jello
1/2 cup ginger ale
1 (7 oz)  small can crushed pineapple, well drained
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts, divided
1 (3 oz) box cranberry jello
1 (10 oz) can mandarin oranged, well drained. 

Directions:
*Divide the cranberry sauce into 2 bowls. Mash well.
*To one bowl, add tropical punch jello powder and 1 cup boiling water. Whisk until the powder dissolves.  
*Mix in the ginger ale, then the well drained crushed pineapple and half of the walnuts.
*Pour into jello mold and refrigerate for about an hour or until just set.
*To the second bowl, add the cranberry jello powder and 1 cup of boiling water. Whisk until the powder dissolves. 
*Mix in the drained mandarin oranges and the rest of the walnuts. Carefully, being sure to layer on top of not mix into the first layer, add to the mold.
*Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until completely set.
*Do not remove from mold until ready to serve.