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This Blueberry Jello Salad recipe is a fun variation from the original Jello salad. It’s the perfect side for picnics, parties, and barbecues.
Featured with this Recipe
This Blueberry Jello Salad recipe, or Blueberry Gelatin Salad is the perfect recipe to branch out from the traditional, plain Jello salad. The rich, fresh flavors make it the perfect side dish or dessert to take to picnics, parties, barbecues or holiday meals like Easter dinner. We use pineapple because it gives the jello layer more fruity texture. But if you don’t like the thicker texture, just omit the pineapple and it is still delicious! Some have argued that this is more of a dessert than a salad. I’m not exactly sure why these types of dishes are called “salads”. In all honesty, I think it is more of a side dish or like many of you, closer to a dessert than a salad, but historically it called a Jello salad so we are just going with it. No matter what you call it, it is a great picnic addition!
Ingredients in Blueberry Jello Salad
- Blackberry Jello – if you can’t find blackberry jello, you can also use black cherry jello or grape jello.
- Crushed Pineapple
- Blueberry Pie Filling – you should be able to find a can of blueberry pie filling in the baking aisle.
- Cream Cheese – for the smoothest cream cheese topping, let the cream cheese sit out on the counter to soften before using.
- Sugar
- Cool Whip
- Fresh Blueberries – for garnish. You can also sprinkle the salad with crushed nuts like walnuts or pecans.
Substitutes or Additions to this Jello Salad
The beauty of Jello salad is you can change up the ingredients any way you like! I love the fresh sweet taste of the blueberries topped with the thick, fluffy cheesecake-like top layer of this salad. But here are some ideas to switch it up:
- You can substitute the blueberries with other fruits like bananas, strawberries or raspberries.
- If you don’t want a top layer or you have someone in the family with lactose intolerance, you can just serve it plain without the topping and it will still be great.
- We have had people ask us if they can use different flavors of Jello besides blackberry. Of course! Try blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, lemon or whatever you like or have on hand. Any flavor will taste great, but you might not get the color you’re looking for. We like using blackberry because it gives the Jello a nice, deep, true blueberry color.
- We have also been asked about using fresh blueberries instead of canned pie filling. You can use fresh, you just won’t have as full of a flavor. You can also use other kinds of pie fillings, but by that point you may not have “blueberry” Jello salad anymore.
Frequently Asked Questions
The first popular Jell-O salad was a dish called Cranberry Perfection. It was made in 1904 in Pennsylvania and it won 3rd place in the the Better Homes and Gardens recipe contest that year.
I would try to eat any leftovers within a few days.
You can put it in the freezer for about 15 minutes to speed along the setting process, but don’t leave it in for too long or it will freeze. If your jello freezes, it will be ruined.
Read Next:50+ Picnic Food Ideas
Perfect for Party Time
This is the perfect make-ahead recipe. You can easily make this a day ahead of your picnic or party. Just cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. If you’re heading to a party, you will be a big hit with this yummy salad. Here are a few other sides you can try the next time you’re planning to attend a potluck.
- Picnic Cake
- The BEST Potato Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad
- 4th of July Cake
- Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad
- Authentic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
How to Make Blueberry Jello Salad
Blueberry Jello Salad
Video
Equipment
- 9×13 inch pan
Ingredients
- 2 c. water boiling
- 6 oz blackberry Jello
- 16 oz crushed pineapple drained
- 1 can blueberry pie filling
Topping
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 16 oz Cool Whip softened
- fresh blueberries optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine Jello and boiling water. Stir until dissolved. Mix in pineapple and pie filling. Pour into 9×13 inch pan and refrigerate about 2 hours until firm.
- Topping: Mix cream cheese and sugar together well. Stir in Cool Whip.
- Spread topping over set Jello. Refrigerate at least half an hour before serving. Top with fresh blueberries if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute the blueberries with other fruits like bananas, strawberries or raspberries.
- If you don’t want a top layer or you have someone in the family with lactose intolerance, you can just serve it plain without the topping and it will still be great.
- We have had people ask us if they can use different flavors of Jello besides blackberry. Of course! Try blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, lemon or whatever you like or have on hand. Any flavor will taste great, but you might not get the color you’re looking for. We like using blackberry because it gives the Jello a nice, deep, true blueberry color.
- We have also been asked about using fresh blueberries instead of canned pie filling. You can use fresh, you just won’t have as full of a flavor. You can also use other kinds of pie fillings, but by that point you may not have “blueberry” Jello salad anymore.
Nutrition Information
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We’ve been making a variation of this for generations.
The story is great grandma ran an apartment building in DC in the 60’s which was a hippy commune. They loved their sweets!!!
I have the same recipe but I don’t drain the pineapple. Because it’s a large box of jello, you would normally use 2cups hot water 2 cups cold if you were making jello, but you are only using 2cups in this recipe so your recipe is the only one where I’ve seen it say drained. It’s sets up just fine without draining the crushed pineapple. And this is fantastic made with raspberry jello Fyi
Awesome! Jello and blueberries 🫐 topped with a thick, rich, tasty fluffy creamy sweet treat. Our family’s 👪favorites.
I found blackberry flavor in Royal Gelatin, but the box is 1.41 oz Is there a difference in measurement size between Royal Gelatin and Jello? Royal comes in 1.41 oz box vs Jello in 3oz box. You used two boxes of Jello, would I use 4.25 boxes of Royal to get to the six oz, or use two boxes of Royal?
I would use enough to get to the 6 oz of gelatin mix.
I tried this recipe and was amazed at the wonderful flavor. Thinking this is more along the lines of a dessert, I first layered the pan with a graham cracker crust, the proceeded with the recipe. Instant hit. Thank you.
It’s a family favorite and so delicious!
The recipe calls for 6oz of blackberry jello but the video shows using 2 6oz packets of jello. Should I use 1 or 2 6oz packages? I made this years ago and loved it but can’t remember. Thanks!
I believe in the video we used (2) 3oz packets because we couldn’t find a 6 oz packet that day.
This is a wonderful jello salad recipe. My family loved it and I’m sure it will be a big hit at Thanksgiving.
OH my goodness, why haven’t I ever heard of anything like this?! This looks absolutely delicious.. once again, another wonderful recipe!