Description
Midwestern green jello salad blends creamy sweetness with nostalgic charm, mixing marshmallows and pineapple in a playful dessert. Comfort and tradition shine through each spoonful, inviting you to savor a delightful slice of culinary heritage.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (6 ounces / 170 grams) box lime Jell-O gelatin
- 1 (8 ounces / 226 grams) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 (8 ounces / 226 grams) can crushed pineapple, undrained
Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 cup whipped topping (like Cool Whip)
Optional Ingredients:
- 0.5 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 0.5 cup mini marshmallows
Optional Toppings:
- Extra whipped topping
- Maraschino cherries for garnish
Instructions
- Pour boiling water over lime Jell-O in a spacious mixing bowl, stirring until the powder completely dissolves into a vibrant green liquid.
- Incorporate cold water and crushed pineapple, including its natural juice, mixing thoroughly to distribute the fruit evenly throughout the gelatin base.
- Utilize a hand mixer to transform cream cheese into a silky smooth consistency, then gently integrate it into the pineapple-Jell-O mixture until achieving a uniform, creamy texture.
- Transfer the mixture to the refrigerator, allowing it to partially set for approximately 30-45 minutes, monitoring until it reaches a slightly thickened but not fully solidified state.
- Delicately fold whipped topping into the chilled mixture, introducing optional additions like chopped nuts or mini marshmallows for extra texture and flavor complexity.
- Transfer the creamy gelatin mixture into your preferred serving vessel – whether a decorative mold, rectangular pan, or elegant dish – and return to the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours to ensure complete stabilization.
- Before presenting, consider garnishing with additional whipped topping and a sprinkle of maraschino cherries to enhance visual appeal and provide a delightful finishing touch.
Notes
- Enhance the texture by using a hand mixer when blending cream cheese into the Jell-O mixture for a silky-smooth consistency.
- Customize the salad by adding chopped nuts, mini marshmallows, or shredded coconut during the folding stage for extra crunch and flavor.
- Reduce sugar content by using sugar-free Jell-O and low-fat cream cheese for a lighter version of this classic dessert.
- Experiment with different fruit combinations like mandarin oranges or strawberries to create unique flavor variations of this retro-style salad.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg