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–+ servings
Black Cherry Salad
Black Cherry Salad is a retro-style gelatin salad blending sweet and savory elements. Popular during the mid-20th century, this dish features Bing cherries, orange gelatin, chopped pecans, and a surprising savory twist, sliced stuffed olives. The sweet-tart balance of cherries and citrusy lemon juice with the richness of pecans and briny olives makes this salad a uniquely nostalgic side. Often served on lettuce with a dollop of mayonnaise, it represents the era’s creativity in combining fruit, nuts, and unexpected ingredients for buffet tables, holiday meals, or luncheons.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Chill Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 185 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3½ cups pitted Bing cherries
  • ⅓ cup lemon juice
  • 3 oz orange-flavored gelatin
  • ¾ cup pecans (chopped )
  • 3 oz stuffed green olives (sliced)
  • Water

Instructions
 

Step 1: Prepare Liquid Base

  • Drain cherries, reserving the syrup.
  • Add water and lemon juice to the cherry syrup to make a total of 1¾ cups liquid.

Step 2: Dissolve Gelatin

  • Heat the combined liquid until hot.
  • Pour over orange gelatin powder and stir until fully dissolved.

Step 3: Add Ingredients

  • Chill gelatin mixture until partially set.
  • Stir in cherries, chopped pecans, and sliced olives.

Step 4: Mold and Chill

  • Pour mixture into individual molds or shallow serving pans.
  • Chill until completely firm, about 3 hours.

Step 5: Serve

  • Serve on lettuce leaves with a dollop of mayonnaise, if desired.

Tips

  • Swap Bing cherries for dark sweet cherries if canned Bing is unavailable.
  • Replace orange gelatin with cherry or black cherry gelatin for deeper flavor.
  • Omit the olives for a more traditional sweet gelatin salad.
  • Add diced celery for extra crunch, common in mid-century salads.
  • Fold in whipped cream or Cool Whip before chilling for a fluff-style salad.
  • Use walnut pieces instead of pecans for a stronger nutty note.
  • Serve in a ring mold with mayonnaise or whipped salad dressing in the center.
  • Turn into a dessert by replacing lemon juice/water with cherry juice or soda.
  • Add mini marshmallows for a sweeter, softer texture.

Nutrition

Calories: 185kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 3gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 160mgPotassium: 140mgFiber: 2gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 60IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 0.7mg
Keyword cherry gelatin, classic jello salad, heirloom recipe, holiday side dish, retro salad, sweet and savory, vintage recipe
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