When I was little, I remember my Grandma Davitt making this Christmas jello salad. It is so pretty – and it has a delicious cream cheese, whipped cream and pineapple middle layer that I love! I call it a salad, but for some reason (maybe the whipped cream and cream cheese layer) my kids say it really is a dessert! Whatever you call it, it is always fun to serve at Christmas because then I remember Grandma and Grandpa Davitt and all the fun times we had at their house.
It does take some time to make because you have to let each layer set before adding the next one. Start by dissolving lime jello in hot water, add pineapple juice. Pour into a 9 x 13 clear dish. Refrigerate until set.
Dissolve lemon jello in hot water. Add slowly into softened cream cheese. Fold in whipped cream and gently stir in pineapple. Layer on top of lime jello and refrigerate until set.
Dissolve strawberry jello in hot water, add cold water and stir. Slowly pour on top of lemon layer. Cover and refrigerate until set.
So pretty! Tastes extra good because I remember Grandma Davitt serving this – traditions make the holidays extra special.
Grandma Davitt’s Christmas Jello Salad
Ingredients
- 1 package lime jello
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1 package lemon jello
- 1 3/4 cup hot water
- 2 cups miniature marshmallows
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 1 large can crushed pineapple, drained, save juice
- 2 packages strawberry jello*
- 2 cups hot water
- 1 1/2 cups water
Instructions
- Dissolve lime jello in 1 cup hot water. Add 1 cup pineapple juice (from drained pineapple – if there is not enough juice, add hot water to equal 1 cup). Pour into clear 9 x 13 glass dish. Refrigerate until set.
- Dissolve lemon jello in 1 3/4 cup hot water. Stir in 2 cups marshmallows and mix to dissolve marshmallows (can carefully use whisk). Let cool. In a separate bowl, whip 1 cup of cream and store in the refrigerator until needed. In another bowl, gently mix cream cheese. Slowly mix in the marshmallow mixture with a mixer on low until well blended. Fold in the whipped cream. Add as much of the drained pineapple as you like. Mix. Layer on top of the set lime jello and return to the refrigerator so this layer can set.
- Dissolve 2 boxes of strawberry jello in 2 cups of hot water. Add 1 1/2 cups of cold water. Slowly pour over set lemon layer. Refrigerate until set.
- Cut into squares and serve. We called it a salad, but my kids call it a dessert – but it is delicious!
