A bowl of Red Hot Jello is a delicious addition to potlucks, parties, or holiday dinners. This sweet red Jello gets a spicy cinnamon kick from Red Hot candies.
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I love making sweet salads for church potlucks or holiday dinners. The simplicity of using a few ingredients to create a tasty side dish is so satisfying.
A few of my go-to salads and parfaits are this banana split fluff salad, strawberry fluff salad, or this orange protein Jello!
But my all time favorite dessert salad is this cinnamon Jello. I grew up eating it at my grandparent's house, and now I make it for our kids.
Why You Will Love Applesauce Jello
Red Hot Jello is vintage recipe that is still popular today for many reasons. For me, it brings up some great childhood memories of eating my grandma's easy jello dessert.
- Easy to make in minutes with just 3 ingredients.
- The combination of red jello, applesauce, and cinnamon candies is amazing.
- Delicious side dish to serve with ham or turkey.
- Adds a pretty pop of red color to holiday dinner tables.
Ingredients Needed
One of the great things about making this applesauce jello recipe is that you only need 3 simple ingredients.
- Red Jello - One 6 ounce box of strawberry Jello is used as the base. You can also use cherry or raspberry Jello. Honestly, any flavor gelatin will work.
- Unsweetened Applesauce - This ingredient gives the gelatin an amazing texture.
- Red Hot Candies - The candies are melted down and mixed in to create a delicious cinnamon Jello flavor. If you cannot find Red Hots, look for cinnamon Imperials instead because they are the same thing.
BruCrew Tip - Use leftover cinnamon candies to make this homemade cinnamon applesauce.
How To Make Red Hot Jello
Now that you have your 3 ingredients, let me show you the quick and easy steps to prepare this applesauce cinnamon Jello. The longest part is waiting for it to set up, so you can dig in.
- Melt the candies. Place hot water and Red Hots cinnamon candies in a saucepan on the stove top. Stir and simmer on low heat until the candy is melted.
- Add the Jello. Remove from the heat and add the dry Jello powder. Stir or whisk until dissolved.
- Add the applesauce. Stir in the applesauce until everything is mixed together.
- Refrigerate until set. Pour the mixture into a 2 quart size bowl, and chill in the fridge until set.
Storage Recommendations
Store this applesauce Jello in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Tips and Tricks
- Do not cover the warm jello until it sets. You want to allow the steam to escape, so it doesn't form condensation on top of the red jello salad.
- Serve it as a side dish at holiday meals instead of cranberry sauce.
- Add some fresh fruit, nuts, or celery to the applesauce Jello salad to change it up.
- Top it with a swirl of whipped cream or Cool Whip and fresh strawberries.
Recipe FAQ's
This is a cold dessert salad made with red hots, applesauce, and strawberry Jello.
Certain fruits can cause Jello to set up poorly. Some of the best fruits to add are apples, oranges, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Some people also like to add celery for that extra crunch.
There are a few reasons Jello does not set properly. Not stirring the dry Jello powder until fully dissolved or adding too much liquid are two common mistakes.
Yes and no. Jello can set faster in the freezer but only if you are partially setting a layer before adding another. You only want to do this for about 20 minutes. Jello can lose its "gelling" properties if it is in the freezer too long.
More Jello Desserts
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Recipe
Red Hot Jello
This Red Hot Jello is an easy and refreshing side salad that comes together in minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cinnamon Red Hot candies
- 2 cups hot water
- 1 - 6 ounce box strawberry Jell-O
- 4 cups unsweetened applesauce
Instructions
- Place hot water and red hots in a saucepan on the stove top. Stir and simmer on low heat until melted.
- Remove from the heat and add the dry Jello powder. Stir until everything is dissolved.
- Stir in the applesauce and pour into a 2 quart size bowl. Chill until set.
- Serve in small parfait cups or glasses with a swirl of Cool Whip and a fresh strawberry, if desired.
Notes
- Do not cover the warm jello until it sets. You want to allow the steam to escape, so it doesn't form condensation on top of the red jello salad.
- Serve it as a side dish at holiday meals instead of cranberry sauce.
- Add some fresh fruit, nuts, or celery to the applesauce Jello salad to change it up.
- Top it with a swirl of whipped cream or Cool Whip and fresh strawberries.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 80Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 5mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 8gSugar: 11gProtein: 1g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Red Hot Jello was first published July 2010. It has been updated and republished December 2022.
**We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com .
Diana
Okay, going with the snickers salad! Can anyone tell me if making it the night before works or if my apples will turn color on me? Also, just curious how much will it make?
Excited to try and share with fellow workers!
Jocelyn Brubaker
This is fine to make the night before. If you want, you can dip your apples in a little bit of lemon juice to keep them from coloring. And I want to say, I think it makes around 4 cups. I hope you enjoy it!
carissa @ lowercase letters
i totally forgot about snickers salad! i love it. again, i'll have to wait till i get off my strict diet to enjoy it, but i can't wait to taste the goodness again! oh and the red hot jello salad sounds perfect. i can't wait to taste it!
Stephanie
Thanks for the easy Snicker Salad recipe. You totally need buttons to link to your recipe posts and your crafty posts! I would so use them!