Cherry Coke Jello Salad

Sweet and memorable this Cherry Coke Jello Salad makes a great dessert for parties and family gatherings.

Classic Cherry Jello Salad Recipe

Super sweet featuring cherry pie filling in the cherry coke jello this red jello salad is a classic vintage recipe.

As a kid, I often saw jello dessert salads at potlucks and holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Jello salad has become a family tradition that is a special treat to enjoy.

There was always a good dessert salad or two like Marshmallow Salad, Pineapple Pretzel Salad or 7 UP Jello Salad on the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday dessert table.

I honestly never tried them.  Then my mom gave me this recipe and basically said you can’t have a food blog without a couple good jello salads.  That’s when I realized I had never even tasted let alone made a jello salad.  Since I’m always looking for new recipes I thought why not?   If it’s not good I won’t actually put it on my website.

Guess what?  My husband loves it, I enjoy it, but our elementary-aged son thinks it is a little odd.  So I conclude that you must be a bit older, like over the age of 20 to enjoy a good jello salad. As time has gone on I’ve grown to enjoy Strawberry Jello Pretzel Salad, Red Hot Jello Salad and more!

My grandma always used a Tupperware jello salad mold that makes a pretty ring.  I have her ring, but sometimes I have trouble remembering where I store it, so I just use a nice serving bowl.

This recipe has an especially cherry taste with both the cherry pie filling and the cherry coke to make it extra sweet!

Ingredients Needed to Make Cherry Jello Salad

• Can of crushed pineapple
• Cherry coke or cherry Pepsi
• Cherry or black cherry gelatin
• Cherry pie filling
• Water

How to Make Cherry Coke Jello Salad

1.  Drain pineapple juice into a saucepan.  Set drained pineapple aside.
2. Add water to pineapple juice in saucepan and bring to a boil.
3. Add gelatin and stir until dissolved.  Then stir in cherry pie filling and pineapple.
4. Pour into jello salad mold or serving bowl and refrigerate until firm or set.  Store in the refrigerator in a tightly covered bowl or airtight container for up to three days.

Step By Step Instructions

Using a strainer to drain the pineapple juice into a saucepan and set the crushed pineapple aside.

Add water and bring liquid to a boil over medium heat.

Once boiling add cherry jello and stir or whisk together until dissolved. Then remove from the heat.

Next stir in cherry pie filling and the drained pineapple.

Then pour into a jello mold with a heavy coating of non-stick spray to help it release.

Or use an ungreased serving bowl.

Cover and refrigerate over night or until completely chilled and set.

If using a jello ring place a flat serving platter upside down on top of the ring and hold tightly together while inverting or flipping over.

Give the mold a minute or so to begin to release and then slowly and gently lift straight up giving the jello time to release.

Store in the refrigerator and enjoy!

More Delicious Vintage Recipes

• Another old-time favorite recipe is this Baked Italian Chicken with tomato juice.
• A can of cherry pie filling mixes with a box of chocolate cake mix to make Black Forest Cherry Pie Bundt Cake and Chocolate Cherry Bars.
• Lime Jello Salad with Cottage Cheese is tart and zesty with a sweet twist. This easy vintage green Jello salad recipe is refreshing and delicious.
• My favorite vintage recipe is this Farmhouse Ham Loaf – I could eat it every week!
• No-Bake Cornflake Cookies are a timeless classic that all ages enjoy

Cheers to new traditions with old-fashioned classics!

Originally published December 12, 2018 with updates made May 31, 2023.