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This Christmas Jello Salad is always a hit! Both kids and adults love the bright colors and flavors. Is it side dish or dessert? I’ll let you be the judge!

Three slices of Christmas Jell-O salad on a plate with whipped cream and sprinkles.

Jump to Recipe

I love how fun and colorful this Jell-O salad is. It is the perfect addition to Christmas dinner, parties, or any gathering leading up to Christmas. It’s especially a hit with the kids. The bright colors and fun sprinkles pull them in like a tractor beam. They can’t resist! Let’s be honest, there are two kinds of people in the world, those who love Jell-O and those who say they don’t like Jell-o, but secretly love it. I mean, what’s not to love? It’s cute, it’s jiggly, and a hit at parties… if you think I am about to draw a comparison to myself, you would be correct.

Fork cut into a slice of Christmas Jell-O salad topped with whipped cream and sprinkles.

Jello Salad: Side Dish or Dessert?

So is it salad or is dessert? Well, it can be both! Technically, a Jell-O salad is when you mix Jell-O with any kind of extra ingredients, including fruit, pretzels, cottage cheese, marshmallows, and/or cream cheese. Because this recipe calls for mini marshmallows and cream cheese in the center layer, it is considered a “salad”. Just because it is a salad doesn’t mean has to be savory. This is a sweet treat! However, and this is just my opinion, I don’t think Jell-O Salad should go on a plate along with mashed potatoes, ham, and green beans. If it is served as a side dish or salad, I would argue that it needs to have its own plate and eaten after the main course. I’m sure you are thinking, “wait, but then isn’t that the actual definition of dessert?” Maybe. But I still like calling it a salad because then I can have this *and* dessert!

Ingredients

The ingredients in Jell-O Salad are simple:

Jell-O – (2) Lime, (1) Lemon, (1) Raspberry, (1) Cherry
Mini marshmallows
Pineapple juice
Cream cheese
Whipped cream
Christmas sprinkles

How to Assemble a Christmas Yellow Salad

Make your Jell-O salad layer by layer:

First Layer (Green)

Step 1: Spray a clear 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
Step 2: Combine 2 packets of lime Jell-O with hot water and mix. Pour into the baking dish and refrigerate until completely firm. This takes about 1 hour.

Second Layer (Creamy Center)

Step 1: Mix 1 packet of lemon Jell-O with hot water, set this aside.
Step 2: In a medium sized bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth, set this aside.
Step 3: In a saucepan at medium heat, combine mini marshmallows and pineapple juice. Constantly stir until totally melted, this will take about 5 minutes.
Step 4: Combine lemon Jell-O, cream cheese, and marshmallow mixture and mix well. Allow this mixture to completely come to room temperature.
Step 5: Pour the lemon yellow mixture on top of your first green layer, making sure that the lemon mixture is COMPLETELY cool. If it is warm at all, it will melt the green layer and the two will combine. Put the baking dish back in the fridge to continue setting.

Glass baking dish with white Jell-O layer.

Third Layer (Red)

Step 1: Combine raspberry and cherry Jell-O and mix with hot water. Mix until everything is dissolved.
Step 2: Wait until the mixture comes to room temperature and then pour the red mixture over your second, center layer.
Step 3: Allow this to set (about 1 hour) before serving.

To serve: Cut into 2-3 inch squares and top with whipped cream and sprinkles.

Alternative Middle Layer

Sometimes the middle layer can turn out looking a little on the yellow side because of the lemon Jell-O. I still like this way best because it is easy, it tastes good, and the yellow tint doesn’t really bother me that much. If you want to ensure a white-looking layer, you can combine one (14 ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk and 1 cup of boiling water. Then, in a separate bowl mix 2 packages of Knox brand unflavored gelatin with ¼ cup cold water and allow it to stand for about 1 minute to allow the gelatin to dissolve. Stir ¾ cup boiling water into the gelatin mixture and stir until it dissolves completely. Combine the gelatin mixture with the condensed milk mixture and allow to cool enough to pour over the first layer. Continue as directed in the recipe.

Christmas Jell-O salad slice on a plate with whipped cream and sprinkles.

Topping Ideas

I usually just top each Jell-O square with whipped cream some Christmas sprinkles. They are simple toppings but they always do the trick. If you want to try something different, you can also add colored sugar, maraschino cherries, raspberries, sliced strawberries, green grapes, pomegranate seeds, more marshmallows, and/or mint leaves.

Tips for Success

Make sure each layer is totally cooled before adding the next layer

Making this in a 9×13 as directed makes thinner layers, but allows for more squares to be cut for serving purposes. If you want the Jello salad to be thicker use an 8×8 baking dish. You will also need more cooling time between layers if you do this.

Don’t add fruit to the layers unless you are ok with it looking un-tidy. I like the crisp, clean look of the layers. Adding fruit is a tasty alternative but it won’t set the same.