Coca-Cola Salad for Retro #SundaySupper

Coca-Cola Salad | Magnolia Days

Yes, it is a Jello salad. When was the last time you had one of those? I seriously doubt it or any gelatin salad has been on a restaurant menu in many years, if ever. You may have seen it at potlucks. Coca-Cola salad is sweet and tart with the flavors of cherry, cola, pineapple, and nuts. It is incredible with ham. My mom makes it often and still gets requests for the recipe. I was so excited for the opportunity to share it here. Why share it today? Well...

Sunday Supper is celebrating retro foods. This salad is about as retro and southern as you can get. Retro because of the popularity of gelatin salads back in the 60's, 70's and early 80's. Southern because of the Atlanta-based Coca-Cola company and Georgia being the leader of US pecan production. I could not think of a better recipe to share. Plus it is really good. Really.

Coca-Cola Salad | Magnolia Days

How good is it? Let's see...I made it, took photos, and served it for dinner. My husband had two helpings. A little later I found him in the kitchen snacking on it. Half of it was gone by the next evening. The rest disappeared shortly thereafter. This is a treat for you if you like Jello, Coca-Cola, cherries, pineapple, and pecans. It looks really cool too with the vibrant red color and the way it shines.

Coca-Cola Salad | Magnolia Days

Notes on the recipe: The one I had in my notebook is what I got from my mom long ago. It shows it's age because it called for cherries in a #2 can. Um, what is a #2 can? I had to call my mom to clarify. I honestly have not seen recipes stating can type sizes. Have you? I have no clue where the recipe came from originally. I think my mom got it from a friend who got it from a friend and so on.

Coca-Cola Salad | Magnolia Days
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5 from 4 votes

Coca-Cola Salad

A recipe for Coca-Cola salad, a gelatin salad made with Jello, Coca-Cola, cherries, pineapple, and nuts. Serve it as a side dish or dessert.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Author Renee

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces cherry-flavored Jello not sugar-free
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 10 ounces Coca-Cola
  • 1 can red tart pitted cherries in water 14.5 to 16 ounces
  • 1 can crushed pineapple 8 ounces
  • 1 cup chopped pecans raw or lightly toasted

Instructions

  • Place the Jello in a large bowl. Pour the boiling water over it and stir until dissolved. Stir in the Coca-Cola. Refrigerate mixture until partially firm, about 30 minutes. NOTE: check and stir every 3 to 5 minutes. You want it a thickened but not set.
  • Place the cherries and juice in a food processor fitted with a knife blade or in a blender. Pulse or blend a few times to lightly chop the cherries.
  • Once the Jello mixture has thickened, stir in the chopped cherries and it's juice, pineapple and it's juice, and pecans. Pour into a Jello/gelatin mold. Refrigerate until set or overnight. Remove salad from the mold by inverting onto a serving platter. Serve cold.

Notes

If you do not have a Jello or gelatin mold then you can leave it in the large bowl. Invert onto a serving dish when ready to serve.

Are you ready for more retro recipes? Take a look at what the talented Sunday Supper bloggers are sharing:

Sunday Supper Retro Appetizers:

Sunday Supper Retro Salads:

Sunday Supper Retro Breads and Sandwiches:

SundaySupper Main Dishes:

Sunday Supper Retro Sides and Veggies:

Sunday Supper Retro Desserts and Cocktails:

What fun to read the stories about the recipes! There's lots of great food in the list. I admit I still make and enjoy many of them. Nice to see some updated versions too. Which one is your favorite?

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Special thanks to Terry and Jim Gardner for letting me borrow their old coke bottles for the photo!

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136 Comments

  1. I have no idea what a #2 can is! Please let us know what your mom says! This recipe looks so intresting. I can honestly say that I've never seen anything like it! It looks bright red and beautiful. Nice touch with the cola bottles ;-))

    1. 5 stars
      I have a chart explaining old can sizes I’ll share:

      No 1 can = 1 1/2 cups, typically soup, baked beans, fruits, vegetables

      No 1 tall can = 2 cups

      No 2 can = 2 1/2 cups, typically fruits, beans, peas, corn

      No 2 1/2 can = 3 1/2 cups, tomatoes, beets, pumpkin pie filling

      No 3 can = 4 cups

      No 5 can = 7 cups (almost half-gallon), fruit juices

      No 10 can = 1 gallon, typically fruits, vegetables.

  2. Gotta love Jello salads. Every family get together bbq or picnic had some type of jello dish when I was a kid.

    I have no idea what a #2 can of cherries are but I have seen that many many times in my vintage cook book collection. I'll have to ask my MIL.

    1. Yes, the Jello salads were so popular for barbeques or picnics. I wonder why they went out of style. Some are so good.

      1. You have no doubt figured out the answer already but the answer is yes, grease the mold lightly. This is the first time I have seen this recipe in print. I got mine from my mother-in-law back in the early 60's. I don't know where she got it.

  3. I had never heard of this salad until just now. I was intrigued to see what it was all about. I will have to make this for my family. My sister and Mom love Coke--anything!

  4. Wow, coca cola salad? never seen or heard of such a salad before. It's ncie to look at. =) So what's the can Nr 2?

  5. What a unique ingredient for a jello-salad. I'm not a huge fan of jello myself but this one is very intriguing. Love that you found your husband snacking on it later that night. Too funny!

  6. I remember #2 cans. They're big, huge commercial kitchen size. I worked in a camp kitchen while in high school and that's all we had around. You should have seen the can opener we used for those things. 🙂

    I love the sound of this salad! It's a gorgeous color too. I'll be trying it for Valentine's Day dinner. Many thanks.

      1. There must be two different #10 cans because the one I'm familiar with is a lot smaller than a gallon.

  7. Boy, this brings me back to the holidays of my childhood! I loved these sorts of jello salads as long as green jello and veggies weren't involved :/ Yours looks wonderful, Renee!

    1. I actually have a recipe for lime salad and it uses green Jello. It's quite good too. Perhaps one day I will share it also.

  8. I haven't had a jello salad in forever! My mom never made them, but I have had them at potlucks before. Great choice!

  9. This is so creative, Renee! I haven't had a jell-o salad since my great-grandmother was alive. She used to make the best jell-o molds.

    1. Jello salad is unique to think about if you have never had it. I grew up with them so they are such a part of my past. Some of them (like this one) are mighty tasty.

  10. Beautiful photo and well written (IMHO)! Jello certainly takes me back to my childhood. I feel like you couldn't avoid it back then and now I rarely see it anywhere!

    1. Thank you Amy for your kind words on my writing. Perhaps there will be a resurgence of Jello salads? Who knows. I do wonder why they are not "fashionable" anymore.

  11. I honestly have not had a Jello Salad in years. But ours never, ever looked as good as this one. It's beautiful, Renee. AND, I am actually going to make it to go with our Easter Ham. Thank you! 🙂

  12. I must say out of all the Jello salads yours does look the prettiest and I love that you managed to get your hands on some retro Coke bottles!

    1. Thanks Susan! I was thrilled to be able to borrow those Coke bottles. One is 10 ounces which is exactly what is called for in the recipe. I don't think I've seen a 10 ounce bottle of Coke in a long time.

  13. It turns out that it´s an interesting recipe after all...I might even try it, cherry jello is the only one I kinda like. The color is gorgeous Renee! Have a great day!

  14. Ok, this is seriously cool! Not only pretty in color, but I think the flavors sound pretty tasty as well! I want a slice, please!

  15. Love it! My favorite retro jello recipe is from my grandmother, and it calls for a #5 can of pineapple... Like you, I have NO CLUE, so I just use a normal can of crushed pineapple, and it's fine. 🙂

  16. Oh, it is a Jello type of salad. I was wondering all along what it could be and envisioned something brown, with mayo 🙂

    This looks fantastic and I think my entire family would love it as a special treat 🙂 Thank you, Renee.

    1. Thanks Tara. I think folks here in Atlanta or the South came up with hundreds of recipes for Coca-Cola. I just don't see many of them anymore.

  17. I had completely forgotten about this dish until you posted it. I loved it as a kid! Thanks for the reminder!

  18. No clue about the #2 can either, and I graduated from college in the mid-70's. I've also never seen a jello dish with cocoa-cola! This is perfect for our theme this week. Just perfect!!

  19. Yep...this is total southern retro food! No respecting Baptist church "dinner on the ground" would be without an entire table of these jello salads.

  20. This is very appropriate because I haven't had a jello salad in years. I hear you regarding old recipes. Over Christmas, my parents and I went through their old recipe box filled with faded newspaper clippings, etc. It was actually quite fun.

  21. How fun! And I love the vintage coca cola cans. This was my first Sunday Supper and I'm having so much fun getting to know everyone and seeing what everyone came up with for this week!

  22. Wow I've never heard of such a thing but it does look delicious, almost like dessert for dinner!! That's a riot about the #2 can too, I laughed out loud! Happy Sunday!!

  23. OK now I need to break out the jello mold--this sounds wonderful! My family always makes the green jello with the pineapple and cottage cheese, and I love it. Time for me to try something new!

  24. I should have done this Sunday Supper, I just did a party for 20 with all retro themed food & drink! Tomato aspic, Chex mix, sloppy joes, cheese balls, punch, etc. it was epic!

  25. Aww, this is another dish that reminds me of my Oma. She always made a "jello mold" for the holidays, too.

  26. I've had many Jello salads in my life but never this one. I think my husband would adore it because of the Coke and pineapple. I'll have to make it for him one night!

  27. Oh yum! My grandmother used to make a layered christmas jelly salad for me every year - I could eat the entire thing myself! I'll have to try this recipe, it sounds so very nice!

  28. lol - nothing says retro to me more than a jello mold salad! This one sounds delicious and the colour is gorgeous! I love the fruit and nuts in it for different flavours and texture.

  29. Don't you just love mystery ingredients in old recipes? I am totally pinning this - it sounds amazing!

    1. I seriously love old recipes and running across those mystery ingredients. I think it is the research part and finding out what they are that is so exciting. So cool how recipes and ingredients have changed over the years.

  30. I'm getting such an education around the #SundaySupper table! The South holds a mysterious fascination to me and so I've read quite a bit about Southern ways but Coca Cola Jello Salad is a first! Love that your recipe is originally from your Mom and her friends =) Thank you, Renee, for the how-to and this fun post.

  31. How pretty! My girls are just starting to enjoy jello. Their father detests it so I rarely serve it. This is the perfect recipe to share with them.

  32. I've never heard or tried Coca Cola Salad, and quite frankly not knowing what it was didn't paint a very pleasant picture in my mind LOL The cherry Jello and coke sound like an awesome pairing. I love cherry coke.

    1. I can see how the recipe title could sound strange in a way. Not so much once you see the recipe. It is like cherry coke flavored.

  33. Too funny. We used to stop in Georgia at a place called the New Perry Hotel that serves this and many other retro southern classics.

    1. Then it's time to put the Tupperware mold to use! Oh, I also use it for making ice rings for punch. Works great for it too.

  34. #1 can - 10-1/2 oz
    #2 can - 20 oz.
    #300 can - 15-1/2 oz.
    #303 can - 16 oz.
    #5 can - 64 oz.

    Have had this taped inside my pantry door for years, don't know where I got it. Old recipes frequently used these terms instead of measurements. Hope this helps!!

    1. Thank you so much for the information Debi! Interesting to see how can sizes have changed. Now a #2 can would be 14.5 ounces. It was 16 ounces for a while. Smaller packaging seems to take over through the years.

      1. I've heard containers get smaller because prices go up to produce food and people are more likely to buy groceries in smaller containers if price goes up, simply because they are less likely to notice the container got a little smaller, or they can still afford to buy it in smaller containers, but if the company kept the container the same size and raised the price people would complain about it or simply buy less because they could afford less.

      2. I'm sure that keeping the price the same is why the containers get smaller. I wish they would stay the same size though.

  35. Oh my my, I've never tried this before. Cocacola salad? Definitely the kind of salad that I want to try.

  36. I'm not familiar with Coca-Cola Salad's but yours sure looks pretty! My husband is actually quite the fan of retro gelatin salads like this. I bet he'd love it.

  37. ok I have to honest and say that I have never heard of a coca cola salad but if I was to have jello, I would like for it be made this way. So much I missed in the 60's. lol Looks delicous Renee!

  38. Wow, Renee! Your photo is so gorgeous! Love the retro coke bottles too! I'd def give the jello a try too. Never had anything like it.

    1. Thanks Karen. I'm so glad I could borrow those coke bottles from my friend Terry and Jim. They were perfect for the photos.

  39. You know, this is one salad I've never tried but have always been curious about. Now that I see your recipe and the gorgeous photo, I know what to expect. Beautiful!

  40. So retro-tastic! Being Australian I've never tried a jello salad (but) heard of it of course! Yours looks incredible and the simple styling does it much justice. Looks awesome 🙂

  41. I can count on one hand the number of times I've made Jell-O! This is so unique I may save it for some summer potlucks!

  42. What! I have made Coke Sald for years at evey holiday occasion. It is a substitute for cranberry sauce, Your recipe is so different.
    I grew up in Atlanta so I am well aware of the many uses for Coke ( My Dad went to GT in the shadow of Coke World Headquarters)

    My recipe uses
    black cherry jello
    1can Coke (no Pepsi)
    1 can Bing Cherries
    Pecans

    No Pinapple. I have never seen that. Maybe give it a try...not sure 🙂

    1. I think there are a lot of variations of Coca Cola salad. The pineapples add a nice extra flavor so give it a try.

  43. I've heard about the Coca-Cola Salads for years but have never seen or tasted one. The recipe looks easy enough. I just might try it! Thanks Renee.

  44. Goodness, you cannot take a gelatin salad out to a picnic or to a church salad, it melts! My college foods teacher introduced me to it, but it had cream cheese, makes it much better. Sorry I lost her recipe. I've been frustrated with can size changes when using older recipes...often given them up. Also noted 3 oz. cream cheese size no longer available.

    1. Yes, it is best to take gelatin salads to indoor events during the hot summer. I wish the 3 ounce size of cream cheese was still available. I now buy the 8 ounce package and use the amount I need. Besides, it is not a bad thing to have extra cream cheese in the fridge.

  45. We ALWAYS had this at holiday meals. My grandmother's version called for a brick of cream cheese cubed and added to the slightly thickened gelatin mixture. We also used dark sweet cherries instead of the tart ones. (Might have to give that a try). Instead of boiling water, we used the juice from the pineapple and cherries plus enough water to make 2 cups. I have also made it with sugar free jello and diet coke. Love, love, love this salad.

    1. Thank you Kay. I'll have to try using the cherry and pineapple juice too. We also have a recipe for a lime salad that has cream cheese (I haven't posted that recipe yet).

  46. Just discovered your blog. I love jello and congealed salads. Please post your green salad recipe. Thank you for sharing your ideas.

    1. Thank you Pauline and I'm glad you discovered my blog. I certainly will put the green salad recipe on my blog to-do list.

  47. This has been a tradition in my family probably since the 1950s. The variation in our recipe is that we use black cherry jello, Bing cherries, and we add cubed cream cheese to it. The cream cheese has always been my favorite part.

  48. This recipe has been a Thanksgiving tradition in my family for as long as I can remember. I can't believe I found this recipe online! It is so good with turkey! I like to freeze cream cheese and then grate it on top to give a snowy look for the holidays.

  49. 5 stars
    This is the same exact recipe handed down from my great grandmother, which dates it somewhere in the 30's or 40's. Thanks for modernizing it because I was clueless about the cans. Everyone should try this because it doesn't get much more retro and it will amaze.

  50. 5 stars
    This is an interesting idea about Coca-Cola salad. I read your blog and find the best idea. I think I will apply it in my kitchen

  51. 5 stars
    I LOVE Coca-Cola salad! My family is Latino and I've been exposed to many, many Jell-O based desserts in my time. Mostly milk Jell-Os. They've never been my favorite but, this Jell-O salad is a game changer!! It's so refreshing on a hot summer day.

  52. Haven't tried yet - but will soon! - but there is much discussion here about food can sizes and how big they are nowadays. I got this chart from a website - https://www.webstaurantstore.com/guide/675/types-of-food-cans-and-food-can-sizes-guide.html

    Can Size Quick Reference Chart
    Can Size Weight Cups
    #1 11 oz. 1 1/3 cups
    #1 tall 16 oz. 2 cups
    #1 square 16 oz. 2 cups
    #2 1 Ib. 4 oz. 2 1/2 cups
    #2.5 1 Ib. 13 oz. 3 1/2 cups
    #3 51 oz. 4 cups
    #5 56 oz. 7 cups
    #10 6 Ib. 6 oz. 12 3/4 cups
    #300 14 - 16 oz. 1 3/4 cups
    #303 16 - 17 oz. 2 cups

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