Sweet and nostalgic, this Cherry Coke Jello Salad is a delightful vintage dessert that works well for potlucks, holidays, and family gatherings. Bright red, fruity, and easy to make, it combines cherry gelatin, cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple, and a splash of cherry cola for an extra pop of flavor.
If you enjoy recipes that use soda for flavor, you might also like other easy recipes that incorporate soft drinks for sweetness and tender results.
Classic Cherry Jello Salad Recipe
This cherry-forward jello salad highlights cherry pie filling and cherry cola for a rich, sweet taste. It’s a classic retro dish that many families remember from holiday dessert tables.
Jello salads were a staple at potlucks and holiday meals—Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter often featured a bright, gelatin-based salad alongside other traditional dishes. Favorites included marshmallow-based salads, pineapple-pretzel jello salads, and soda-flavored jello salads.
I didn’t grow up making these, but when I tried this recipe it became a family favorite. My husband and I enjoy its nostalgic sweetness, though kids sometimes find the texture unusual—this dessert tends to be appreciated more by adults familiar with vintage jello salads.
Some cooks prepare jello salads in a ring mold for a pretty presentation; others use a serving bowl. A light coating of nonstick spray on plastic or Tupperware molds helps with release, but an ungreased glass bowl also works well.
This version emphasizes cherry flavor by combining cherry pie filling and cherry cola, producing a sweet, fruity, and slightly fizzy note that sets it apart from plain gelatin salads.
Ingredients Needed to Make Cherry Jello Salad
- 20 ounce can crushed pineapple (drained, reserve the juice)
- 3/4 cup cherry cola (Cherry Coke or cherry Pepsi)
- 2 (3-ounce) packages cherry or black cherry gelatin
- 21 ounce can cherry pie filling
- 1/2 cup water
How to Make Cherry Coke Jello Salad
- Drain the crushed pineapple, reserving the juice. Set the pineapple aside.
- Combine the reserved pineapple juice and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Add the cherry gelatin and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat.
- Stir in the cherry pie filling and the cherry cola, then fold in the drained crushed pineapple.
- Pour the mixture into a jello mold or serving bowl. Refrigerate until set, preferably overnight. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days.
Step By Step Instructions
Use a strainer to drain the pineapple into a saucepan, then set the fruit aside. Add the measured water to the pineapple juice and heat until boiling.
Once boiling, whisk in the cherry gelatin until fully dissolved, then remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the cherry pie filling and the cherry cola until evenly combined.
Pour the warm jello mixture into your prepared mold or bowl. If using a plastic ring mold, coat it lightly with nonstick spray to aid release. Cover and refrigerate until chilled and firm.
If unmolding from a ring, place a flat serving platter over the mold, invert, and allow the jello to release for a minute before lifting the mold straight up.
Slice and serve cold. The salad keeps well in the fridge and makes a colorful addition to a dessert table or buffet.
Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator and enjoy within a few days for best texture and flavor.
More Delicious Vintage Recipes
- Baked Italian chicken cooked with tomato juice is a comforting classic.
- A can of cherry pie filling folded into chocolate cake mix makes rich Black Forest-style bundt cakes or chocolate cherry bars.
- Tart lime jello salads with cottage cheese and other retro jello combinations offer a refreshing contrast to sweet dishes.
- Farmhouse-style ham loaf and no-bake cornflake cookies are other timeless favorites to serve alongside vintage salads.
Enjoy bringing an old-fashioned favorite back to the table—this Cherry Coke Jello Salad is an easy, sweet way to celebrate family traditions and create new memories.
Cherry Coke Jello Salad
Sweet and memorable, this Cherry Coke Jello Salad makes a great dessert for parties and family gatherings.
Servings: 8 people
Prep Time: 10 mins • Cook Time: 10 mins • Chill Time: about 30 mins • Total Time: 20 mins
Ingredients
- 20 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained (reserve juice)
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 (3 ounce) packages cherry or black cherry gelatin
- 21 ounce can cherry pie filling
- 3/4 cup cherry cola (Cherry Coke or cherry Pepsi)
Instructions
- Drain the pineapple, reserving the juice; set the fruit aside.
- In a saucepan, bring the reserved pineapple juice and water to a boil.
- Add the gelatin and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat.
- Stir in the cherry pie filling and the cherry cola until combined.
- Pour into a serving bowl or prepared mold. Refrigerate until slightly thickened (about 15 minutes), fold in the reserved pineapple, then chill until firm.
Nutrition (per serving, approximate)
Calories: 137 kcal • Carbohydrates: 34 g • Protein: 1 g • Fat: 0.1 g • Sugar: 12 g
Nutrition estimates can vary based on brands and exact ingredient amounts.
Originally published December 12, 2018; updated May 31, 2023.
