This Keto Jello Salad recipe is a very retro dessert with just 90 calories and 1g net carbs per serving. Sweet!
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"I got me a car, it's as big as a whale, and we're headin' on down to the love shack." the B-52's
Greetings 👋
Today I'm making the world's most retro dessert, so I'm listening to the world's most retro band. I mean, of course, those wig-wearing weirdos, the B-52's. They were the sountrack to my youth. Just goofy, silly, nostaglic pop music.
I loved them. 🥰
But let's talk retro Jello.
This Keto Jello Salad is a low carb twist on the classic happy homemaker dessert. It's a 90 calorie treat with just 1g net carbs per slice. And it only takes 20 minutes to whip up. So, like those old Jello ads used to say...
"Now's the time for JELLO."
Ingredients 📑
- cranberries
- water
- Sugar-Free Cherry Jello
- orange zest
- Swerve Granular
- ice
- pecans
Sugar-Free Jello Flavors 🌈
This recipe calls for cherry Jello, but I can be flexible on that point. You can use any flavor that tickles your fancy. The four brands that make sugar-free Jello are Jell-O, the original, Royal, the number 2, Starburst, the scrappy candy label, and the new guy in town, GramZero.
- Jell-O Brand Flavors: Cherry, Black Cherry, Lime, Lemon, Strawberry, Peach, Raspberry, and Orange
- Royal Brand Flavors: Strawberry, Lime, Orange, Cherry, Raspberry
- Starburst Brand Flavors: All Pink Strawberry, Blue Raspberry, Cherry
- GramZero Brand Flavors: Raspberry, Strawberry, Cherry, Lemon, Lime, Orange
Where to buy Sugar-Free Jello 💰
Buy Now →
Buy Now →
Buy Now →
Buy Now →
Naturally Sweetened Jello 🍚
I post a lot of Sugar-Free Jello recipes, so I hear a lot of concerns about the artificial sweeteners used in Jello. I think it's unlikely that Jello will kill you (they give it to you in the hospital for crying out loud!), but regardless, there is some good news on that front. There is a naturally sweetened gelatin dessert on the market now called GramZero, that is made with Keto dieters in mind.
And it's sweetened with stevia so you've got no worries.
Jello Mold 🥣
You'll need a medium-sized bowl or a Jello mold to make this recipe. Jello molds are preferable, of course, because you'll have a lovely shape that your guests will oh-and-ah over. It takes a little doing to calculate how much of the liquid to use in your mold though. Here's how to do it.
- Measure how much water fills up your mold.
- Then calculate how much Jello you’ll need.
- Subtract 1 cup for the cranberries and pecans.
- Then use the ratio of 1 cup water per 1 package Jello.
- And use ½ cup ice for every cup of Jello liquid.
- If you have a little more, or a little less, then it's no biggie. Either throw the extra out, or if it's under-filled you'll just have a slightly shorter Jello ring.
Instructions 💬
- Add cranberries and water to a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer until cranberries pop, about 10 minutes.
- Mix in Jello, orange zest, and sweetener and stir until dissolved.
- Mix in ice and stir until dissolved.
- Put the saucepan in the refrigerator until the Jello has thickened but not set, 45-60 minutes. Stir the mixture every 15 minutes so that the edges don’t set. It’s ready when you can suspend the pecans and cranberries in the liquid.
- Stir in pecans.
- Pour the mixture into a ring mold or medium-sized bowl and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.
- To release the Jello from the mold, dip the mold into a pan of hot water for 10-20 seconds. Place a plate on top of the mold and carefully invert. If the Jello doesn’t release at first, dip it into the hot water for another 10 seconds and try again. If using a bowl, serve directly from the bowl with a serving spoon.
And you are done! 👩🍳
Soon you'll have a delicious Keto Jello Salad to bring to the party. This is one of those rare sugar-free dessert recipes that no one will suspect is actually low carb. It'll be your little Keto secret.
Very hip, Daddy-O. 😉
Print📋 Recipe
Keto Cranberry Pecan Jello Salad
This recipe for Keto Cranberry Pecan Jello Salad is a very retro dessert with just 90 calories and 1g net carbs per serving.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Diabetic
Ingredients
- 12oz bag of fresh or frozen cranberries
- 4 cups water
- 4 (.3)oz boxes Sugar-Free Cherry Jello
- 1 tablespoon orange zest (from 1 small orange)
- ¼ cup Swerve Granular, optional*
- 2 cups ice
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
Instructions
Step 1. You can use a medium-sized bowl or a Jello mold to make this recipe. If you are using a Jello mold, then you should measure how much water fills up your mold. Then calculate how much Jello you’ll need. Subtract 1 cup for the cranberries and pecans. Then use the ratio of 1 cup water per 1 package Jello. And use ½ cup ice for every cup of Jello liquid.
Step 2. Add cranberries and water to a large saucepan or soup pot. Bring to a boil and simmer until cranberries pop, about 10 minutes.
Step 3. Mix in Jello, orange zest, and sweetener and stir until dissolved.
Step 4. Mix in ice and stir until dissolved.
Step 5. Put the saucepan in the refrigerator until the Jello has thickened but not set, 45-60 minutes. Stir the mixture every 15 minutes so that the edges don’t set. It’s ready when you can suspend the pecans and cranberries in the liquid.
Step 6. Stir in pecans.
Step 7. Pour the mixture into a ring mold or medium-sized bowl and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.
Step 8. To release the Jello from the mold, dip the mold into a pan of hot water for 10-20 seconds. Place a large dinner plate on top of the mold and carefully invert. If the Jello doesn’t release at first, dip it into the hot water for another 10 seconds and try again. If using a bowl, serve directly from the bowl with a serving spoon.
Notes
*The extra sweetener is optional because the Jello has its own sweetener. I find that a little Swerve evens out the taste though.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 90
- Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 1
Keywords: Low Carb Jello Salad, Keto Jello Salad, Sugar Free Jello Salad
Beverly Watson says
Could other items, like diced orange, diced apple, and chopped celery pieces work in this recipe, along with the pecans?
EmilyKrill says
Oh yes, those sound great. Just remember to stick to low carb add-ins if you are doing Keto. So the apple and oranges wouldn't be appropriate. But if you want to add celery, go nuts. The total amount of add-ins should equal 1 cup (to replace the nuts 1:1).
Lisa says
My mold holds 4 & 1/2 cups. Doing the calculation like you described above; would I only use 2 boxes of jello, 2 cups of water, and a cup and a half of ice, right? My question is: should I cut down on the amount of cranberries and nuts for only 2 boxes of jello, or will that be enough to set it? Thanks!
EmilyKrill says
I think you should cut the nuts, zest, sweetener and cranberries in 1/2 and use 3 boxes Jello, 3 cups water and 1 cup ice. That should give you 4 cups Jello liquid and 1/2 cup nuts and cranberries. Here's how the adjusted ingredients should look:
1/2 of a 12oz bag of fresh or frozen cranberries (6 oz total)
3 cups water
3 (.3)oz boxes Sugar-Free Cherry Jello
1/2 tablespoon orange zest (from 1 small orange)
2 tablespoons Swerve or equivalent granulated sweetener, optional*
1 cups ice
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
Lisa says
Thank You! Making this for Easter dinner 🙂
Jay says
I’m going to add this to my Thanksgiving menu. It’s kinda cranberry relish and kinda dessert. A perfect addition for my keto family members.
EmilyKrill says
That's great! Smart to make this when cranberries are in season. I always freeze a bunch when they are available so I can use them in recipes like this all through the year. So glad you ate adding this to your Thanksgiving menu, and thanks for letting me know.
Jennifer says
I'm always looking for new keto recipes that I can try and this jello salad looks so good!! Can't wait to make it this weekend!
★★★★★
EmilyKrill says
Awesome. Let me know how you like it.
Mary Bostow says
Absolutely love this method! That looks so mouth watering! Looks very tasty. And I want to make these asap.
★★★★★
Roxana Lopez says
I can tell from the recipe this is going to be delicious! I love bringing back retro recipes, too. Thanks, Emily.
★★★★★
EmilyKrill says
My pleasure!
Kelly Anthony says
What a great keto option when I'm craving something sweet! This cranberry pecan jello salad takes me back to my childhood and I love it!
EmilyKrill says
Yes, Sugar-Free Jello is my go-to keto dessert. Low calorie and no carb.
Danielle says
This looks like something I would have eaten at a potluck in the Midwest - brings back happy memories!
★★★★★
EmilyKrill says
Yes! It's based on this great Jello salad that my Oklahoma mother-in-law makes every Christmas. It's soooo good.
Tara says
So totally retro -- love it!
★★★★★