• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Carrot Underground🥕
  • Vegan Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe 🥕
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Vegan Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe 🥕
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Vegan Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe 🥕
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Sides/Salads

    Vegan Retro Jello Cranberry Salad

    Published: October 31, 2021 | 12:20 am, Modified: May 26, 2023 by Connie Edwards McGaughy This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Vegan Retro Jello Cranberry Salad 🌱 Experience a blast to the past with this all vegan version of a classic Thanksgiving Jello Cranberry Wobbler salad. Created with a colorful combo of fresh cranberries, oranges, walnuts and spices in a citrusy-sweet plant-based gelatin.

    A vegan Jello cranberry wobbler salad made with a lemon vegan gelatin-type dessert, cranberries, oranges, walnuts, and holiday spices.

    I'll admit, I was feeling a bit nostalgic when I decided to trip down memory lane and recreate an all-vegan copycat version of a classic 1970's Jello Cranberry Wobbler. My 20-something year old daughter rolled her eyes in disbelief that this dish was ever a thing, but it didn't stop me from giving it a try. All I can say is this vegan jello Thanksgiving cranberry salad tastes just as I remember the original cranberry wobbler from 40+ years ago and best of all, no animals were harmed in the process.

    This is one of those dishes that people either love or don't. I'm a pretty sentimental person and am drawn to foods that remind me of special occasions from my childhood, like my grandmother's old fashioned potato salad and my mom's fabulous macaroni salad. For those Boomers like me, who grew up with the weird and wonderful array of jello salads that were part of our mothers' regular recipe repertoires, this one's for you.

    A vegan Jello cranberry wobbler salad made with a lemon vegan gelatin-type dessert, cranberries, oranges, walnuts, and holiday spices.

    Should you be inclined to channel your inner Kitty Forman and experience it yourself in all its wondrous wobbly retro glory - here you go!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Equipment
    • 🥕Fun Tip
    • Instructions
    • 🥕FAQ's
    • Recipe

    Ingredients

    • 1 3 oz package vegan gelatin dessert - lemon or orange - I used this brand
    • 1 cup fresh cranberries
    • ⅓ cup sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ⅛ teaspoon cloves
    • 1 orange 
    • 1 tablespoon orange zest
    • ½ cup chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds
    A vegan Jello cranberry wobbler salad made with a lemon vegan gelatin-type dessert, cranberries, oranges, walnuts, and holiday spices.

    Equipment

    • Food processor or blender
    • Strainer or colander
    • Measuring cup
    • Measuring spoons
    • Cutting board
    • Kitchen knife
    • Jello mold, small bundt pan or medium glass bowl
    • Citrus zester

    🥕Fun Tip

    This vegan retro jello cranberry salad is the perfect party dish to serve at a 70's themed event! Put on a pair of bell bottoms, spin some vinyl and whip up some cheesy vegan fondue and a platter of veggie meatballs with homemade marinara.

    Instructions

    1. Wash/rinse and drain cranberries.
    2. Place in food processor or blender and pulse until well-chopped.
    3. Combine cranberries and sugar. Set aside
    4. Grate orange peel for zest.
    5. Peel orange and divide into segments. Remove pith. Dice into pieces.
    6. Prepare vegan gelatin dessert per package directions.
    7. Stir in cinnamon and cloves.
    8. Fold in chopped cranberries, diced orange, 2 teaspoon orange zest and nuts.
    9. Spoon into a jello mold, small bundt pan or medium size glass bowl.
    10. Cover and place in refrigerator until firm.
    11. When ready to serve, remove from mold by turning upside down on a flat plate. If needed, set jello mold briefly in warm water first, to loosen from mold.
    12. Garnish with fresh fruit, remaining orange zest and nuts.
    13. Enjoy the wobbler!

    🥕Note This vegan recipe does not contain gelatin and is not sponsored by Jello.

    An image of the original Jello Cranberry Wobbler ad from the 1970's.
    The original 1970's ad for Jello Cranberry Wobbler.

    🥕FAQ's

    Is gelatin vegan?

    No, it is not. Gelatin or gelatine is a translucent, colorless, flavorless food ingredient, commonly derived from collagen taken from animal body parts. It is used in gelatin desserts, most gummy candies and marshmallows. For this recipe, we are using a vegan version of a gelatin dessert that contains no animal products.

    Can I make my own vegan jello?

    Yes you can. A common plant-based replacement for gelatin is agar, an ingredient made from seaweed (red algae). Here is a simple recipe from Loving it Vegan, for making your own vegan jello.

    Can I use any flavor of vegan jello for this recipe?

    You could, but I suggest using a lemon or orange jello, allowing the color and flavor of the cranberries to shine through.

    How to store vegan cranberry jello wobbler?

    I suggest keeping it refrigerated until just before serving. Wobbler needs to be cold to maintain its shape. Cover leftover wobbler and refrigerate up to 3 days.

    If you love cranberries, you should check out these cran-tastic recipes!

    A collage of images of vegan cranberry dishes including cranberry cheese bites, orange cranberry bread,maple cranberry yams and cranberry orange sauce.

    Recipe

    A vegan retro 1970's Jello cranberry wobbler on a plate, garnished with fresh whole cranberries, orange slices, walnuts, and mint leaves.

    Vegan Retro Jello Cranberry Salad

    by Connie🥕
    Vegan Retro Jello Cranberry Salad 🌱 Experience a blast to the past this with this all vegan version of a classic Thanksgiving Jello Cranberry Wobbler salad. Created with a colorful combo of fresh cranberries, oranges, walnuts and spices in a citrusy-sweet plant-based gelatin.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 0 minutes mins
    Refrigerate 2 hours hrs
    Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
    Course Dessert, Side Dish
    Cuisine Holiday, Thanksgiving
    Servings 12
    Calories 99 kcal

    Equipment

    • food processor or blender
    • strainer or colander
    • Measuring cup
    • Measuring spoons
    • Cutting board
    • kitchen knife
    • Jello mold, small bundt pan or medium glass bowl
    • Citrus zester

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 3 oz gelatin dessert vegan (lemon or orange) - I used this brand
    • 1 cup cranberries fresh
    • ⅓ cup sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ⅛ teaspoon cloves
    • 1 orange
    • 1 tablespoon orange zest
    • ½ cup walnuts chopped - or pecans or almonds

    Instructions
     

    • Wash/rinse and drain cranberries.
    • Place in food processor or blender and pulse until well-chopped.
    • Combine cranberries and sugar. Set aside
    • Grate orange peel for zest.
    • Peel orange and divide into segments. Remove pith. Dice into pieces.
    • Prepare vegan gelatin dessert per package directions.
    • Stir in cinnamon and cloves.
    • Fold in chopped cranberries, diced orange, 2 teaspoon orange zest and nuts.
    • Spoon into a jello mold, small bundt pan, or medium sized glass bowl.
    • Cover and place in refrigerator until firm.
    • When ready to serve, remove from mold by turning upside down on a flat plate. If needed, set jello mold briefly in warm water first, to loosen from mold.
    • Garnish with fresh fruit, remaining orange zest and nuts.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    🥕Be sure to follow the package directions on store-bought vegan gelatin dessert.
    🥕Store leftover vegan jello cranberry salad (wobbler) covered in a refrigerator up to 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 99kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 2gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 93mgPotassium: 50mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 33IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg

    These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Sides/Salads

    • A collage of favorite vegan summer salads including lemon artichoke orzo salad, watermelon cucumber salad, southwestern quinoa salad, old fashioned vegan potato salad, watermelon mango pico de gallo. and four bean fiesta salad.
      Favorite Vegan Summer Salads
    • A collage of vegan dishes with citrus ingredients including lemon blueberry bread, citrus infused vinegars, orange balsamic Brussels sprouts and fresh oranges, lemons, and limes.
      Best Vegan Recipes with Citrus Fruits
    • A mason jar filled with easy homemade cranberry applesauce on a counter with apples.
      Easy Homemade Cranberry Applesauce (with maple syrup)
    • A bowl of fabulous four bean fiesta salad.
      Fabulous 4 Bean Fiesta Salad

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply🥕 Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Connie Edwards McGaughy

      October 31, 2021 at 12:24 am

      5 stars
      If you're a fan of the original 1970's Jello Cranberry Wobbler, you're going to love this updated all-vegan version of this classic Thanksgiving dish.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Image of Connie Edwards McGaughy, creator of The Carrot Underground vegan recipe blog.

    Hi, I'm Connie! I created The Carrot Underground🥕 as your place to find easy & delicious recipes and inspiration for enjoying the goodness of vegan living.

    Learn more about my story →

    Popular

    • A collage of vegan dishes for Mother's Day including vegan quiche, waffles, strawberry shortcake, tofu scramble, carrot cake, roasted root vegetables and macadamia crusted tofu.
      30 Favorite Vegan Recipes for Mother's Day
    • A collage of vegan Cinco de Mayo dishes including Mexican rice, nachos with vegan cheese sauce, potato enchilada casserole, and watermelon mango pico de gallo.
      Favorite Vegan Cinco de Mayo Recipes
    • A bowl filled with vegan minestrone soup placed next to an enameled cast iron Dutch oven filled with soup.
      Easy 1-Pot Minestrone Soup (vegan & vegetarian)
    • A collage of vegan dishes representing 30 favorite vegan spring recipes including carrot cake cupcakes, spinach mushroom quiche, potato salad, and balsamic roasted carrots.
      30 Favorite Vegan Spring Recipes

    Trending

    • Vegan potato tacos with cabbage arranged on a plate and in a baking dish.
      Vegan Potato Tacos with Cabbage
    • A glass bowl filled with watermelon mango pico de gallo.
      Fresh & Easy Watermelon Pico de Gallo
    • Vegan strawberry shortcake topped with coconut whipped cream arranged on a grey and white gingham patterned plate.
      Best Vegan Strawberry Shortcake
    • A two layer vegan carrot cake iced with lemon cream cheese frosting and decorated with a flower made from lemon, orange and lime peels.
      Mom's Vegan Carrot Cake Recipe

    Recipe Roundups

    • A collage of favorite vegan summer salads including lemon artichoke orzo salad, watermelon cucumber salad, southwestern quinoa salad, old fashioned vegan potato salad, watermelon mango pico de gallo. and four bean fiesta salad.
      Favorite Vegan Summer Salads
    • A collage of vegan dishes for Mother's Day including vegan quiche, waffles, strawberry shortcake, tofu scramble, carrot cake, roasted root vegetables and macadamia crusted tofu.
      30 Favorite Vegan Recipes for Mother's Day
    • A collage of vegan Cinco de Mayo dishes including Mexican rice, nachos with vegan cheese sauce, potato enchilada casserole, and watermelon mango pico de gallo.
      Favorite Vegan Cinco de Mayo Recipes
    • A collage of vegan dishes representing 30 favorite vegan spring recipes including carrot cake cupcakes, spinach mushroom quiche, potato salad, and balsamic roasted carrots.
      30 Favorite Vegan Spring Recipes
     

    Subscribe for our latest recipes & FREE Vegan Shopping List!🥕

     
     
    Never miss a recipe!🥕Subscribe to our free newsletter & receive our vegan shopping list as a thank you!

     
         

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Affiliate Disclosure
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility

    Follow

    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Buy Me a Coffee

    As Seen In

    Logos from media sites.

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 The Carrot Underground🥕All Rights Reserved