Description
This festive Christmas Jello Salad features colorful layers of cherry and lime jello cubes mixed with pineapple chunks, set in a creamy coconut milk gelatin base. Garnished with maraschino cherries, sliced strawberries, lime slices, and fresh mint, this cool and refreshing dessert is perfect for holiday gatherings and adds a vibrant, sweet touch to your festive table.
Ingredients
Scale
Jello Layers
- 3 ounce package cherry jello
- 3 ounce package lime jello
- ½ cup canned drained pineapple chunks, diced small
Coconut Milk Mixture
- ¼ ounce (1 envelope) unflavored gelatin
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons canned unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 ¼ cups boiling water
- ¼ cup cold water
Garnishes
- Maraschino cherries
- Sliced strawberries
- Lime slices
- Fresh mint leaves
Instructions
- Prepare Cherry and Lime Jello: Mix cherry and lime jello separately according to package instructions, then pour into separate loaf pans and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour until set.
- Add Pineapple to Lime Jello: Remove lime jello after 1 hour, stir in diced pineapple chunks, then return lime and cherry jello to refrigerator for an additional 3 hours to fully chill and set.
- Prepare Coconut Milk Gelatin Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine unflavored gelatin and sugar. Add coconut milk and ¼ cup cold water, whisking until dissolved, about 2 minutes.
- Dissolve Gelatin in Boiling Water: Add 1 ¼ cups boiling water to the gelatin mixture and whisk thoroughly. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature to avoid melting the jello cubes.
- Cube Jello and Layer: Cut the cherry and lime jello into 1-inch cubes. Layer the bottom of a jello mold or ring pan with the cubed jello pieces evenly spread.
- Add Coconut Milk Mixture: Pour the cooled coconut milk gelatin mixture over the layered jello cubes in the mold.
- Chill Until Firm: Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight until the entire salad is firm and set.
- Unmold and Garnish: Carefully unmold the set jello salad. Garnish the top with maraschino cherries, sliced strawberries, lime slices, and fresh mint leaves to add color and festive flair before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Ensure the coconut milk gelatin mixture is cooled to room temperature before pouring over jello cubes to prevent melting.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the jello into neat 1-inch cubes for even layering.
- For best results, chill the salad overnight to allow flavors to meld and the gelatin to fully set.
- This recipe is naturally gluten-free, but always check ingredient labels to confirm if dietary restrictions apply.
