Christmas Ribbon Salad
This gorgeous and delicious Ribbon Salad can be served as a salad or dessert. It's easy to make and perfect for a Christmas get-together.
This gorgeous and delicious Ribbon Salad can be served as a salad or dessert. It's easy to make and perfect for a Christmas get-together.
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 1/2 cups boiling water
- (2) 3-oz. packages cherry jello
- 3 cups boiling water
- 3 -oz. package lemon jello (i used a .3-oz. package of sugar-free lemon jello.)
- 3 -oz. package cream cheese softened (i used 3 oz. of fat-free cream cheese.)
- 1 cup whipping cream whipped
- 3 -oz. package lime jello (i used a .3-oz. package of sugar-free lime jello.)
- 15 1/4 -oz. can crushed pineapple undrained
- cooking oil spray for dish
- Carbohydrate 0.1395 g
- Cholesterol 6.85 mg
- Fat 1.85 g
- Fiber 0 g
- Protein 0.1025 g
- Saturated Fat 1.1516 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (59g)
- Sodium 3.529375 mg
- Sugar 0.1395 g
- Trans Fat 0.0953999999999999 g
- Calories 17 calories
Step-by-step
- Dissolve 2 packages cherry Jello in 3 cups boiling water.
- Pour into a 12-inch by 8-inch by 2-inch glass dish. (You need clear glass to display the ribbons in this salad. Also, you may want to spray the dish, in order to remove the salad for molds or squares, etc.)
- Chill, until layer is firm.
- Dissolve 1 package of lemon Jello in 1 ? cups boiling water.
- In a large bowl, combine the hot lemon Jello with 3 oz. cream cheese that has been softened to room temperature.
- Blend with a spoon until smooth.
- Refrigerate until cool.
- Prepare whipped cream, and fold it into the cooled lemon Jello and cream cheese mixture.
- Pour over the first (cherry Jello) layer.
- Chill until firm.
- Dissolve 1 package lime Jello in 1 cup boiling water.
- Chill, until consistency of unbeaten egg white.
- Stir 15 ?-oz. can undrained crushed pineapple into lime Jello.
- Pour over lemon/cream cheese layer.
- Chill salad until firm.
- It is ready to serve, straight from the glass dish, or, if it is in a mold, you may unmold it onto a nice serving plate, or you may cut it in individual squares, and place each square on a couple of leaves of lettuce.
- All methods of serving this salad are gorgeous!
- I make this salad every year for my family for Christmas.
- I think you will love it!
Standard molded gelatin treats rely on a single, uniform setting phase. Multi-tiered ribbon preparations demand precise timing and distinct textural states for each stratum.
Judging Firmness Without a Thermometer
Gelatin requires specific physical cues to ensure layers adhere without bleeding into one another. The initial cherry tier must reach complete firmness before the next liquid is introduced. Press a clean fingertip lightly against the surface; it should bounce back without leaving an indentation or wet residue. The intermediate cream cheese layer needs to chill until it holds a distinct fingerprint yet remains tacky. For the final fruit tier, cool the lime mixture until it reaches the consistency of unbeaten egg whites before folding in the undrained pineapple. This prevents the heavy fruit from sinking directly through to the bottom.Managing Dairy and Sugar Modifications
Light cream cheese and sugar-free mixes alter the structural integrity of the middle tier. Standard full-fat dairy provides structural stability through higher milk solids. When substituting reduced-fat cream cheese, soften it completely to room temperature before mixing to prevent graininess. Whisking the hot liquid into the cheese until entirely smooth guarantees a uniform emulsion once the whipped cream is folded in.Serving Context
Pairing rich gelatin desserts with savory proteins creates a balanced holiday table. Roasted turkey or glazed ham cuts through the sweet fruit and gelatin base. Clear glass vessels showcase the distinct color boundaries.
