Lime Jello Salad

Ingredients

• Milk – I use whole milk. There is so much going on in this salad that you can use any milk or non-dairy milk product without affecting the finished dish.
• Marshmallows – I use large marshmallows because that’s what my mom and grandma used. You can use mini marshmallows; use 2 cups. You can also use 1 cup marshmallow fluff.
• Lime gelatin– any brand of lime gelatin will work.
• Cream cheese – regular, low-fat, and Neufchâtel cheese all work here. You can use either cold or softened cream cheese. Since I cut mine into cubes, I find cold cream cheese easier to work with. The recipes calls for 6 ounces because long ago, you could buy cream cheese in 3 ounce cubes. If you want extra cream cheese pieces, it won’t hurt anything if you use all 8 ounces.
• Crushed pineapple – Don’t drain this; you will need the liquid to keep your Jello salad from being thick and heavy.
• Whipped cream – My mom always made hers with Dream Whip. You can use frozen whipped topping like Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream.
• Mayonnaise – Use mayonnaise, not salad dressing like Miracle Whip.
• Maraschino cherries – These are optional, and when I use them, they are only for decoration.
• Pecans – these are also optional. Add 1/2 cup of chopped or diced pecans for a little crunch. I used to love pecans in my Green Jello Salad; my tastes have changed, and I no longer use them. If you prefer walnuts, go ahead and use those instead.

How to Make Green Jello Salad

1 – In a saucepan, heat the milk and marshmallows over medium heat until the marshmallows are melted and the liquid is smooth. Stir occasionally; it will speed things up.

2 – Dissolve the Jello powder in the melted marshmallow mixture in a large bowl.

3 – Stir the cream cheese into the Jello mixture until only small pieces of cream cheese. Alternatively, you can mix it until it is smooth. 

4 – Fold in the crushed pineapple.

5 – Stir in the whipped cream, and mayonnaise. Add the cherries and nuts now if using.

6 -Pour the mixture into a serving dish and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until firm.

7 – Remove from the refrigerator, serve chilled, and enjoy!

Pro Tips

• This recipe does not use any boiling water. It uses milk and marshmallows that have been heated to dissolve the gelatin.
• Do not drain the crushed pineapple; you need to add the pineapple with the liquid at the same time.
• Other Jello flavors can be used. Cherry and cranberry are some of my favorites.
• Allow at least 4 hours of refrigeration time before serving.
• This is firm enough to cut into slices to serve but soft enough that it can be scopped out with a spoon.
• This can be made a day in advance.

Using Different Marshmallows

16 large marshmallows are equal to 2 cups of mini marshmallows. The marshmallows offer some support in the salad, but the gelatin does most of the work. So, don’t sweat the exact measurements of mini marshmallows. You won’t notice the difference of a few mini marshmallows.

16 large marshmallows equals 1 cup of marshmallow fluff. The same applies here; don’t waste time or get frustrated over the exact measurements of marshmallow fluff for this recipe.

Best Pineapple for Jello Salad

Original recipes for Lime Jello Salad call for undrained crushed pineapple. That’s the kind I use. 

I have never tried substituting crushed pineapple with tidbits or canned pineapple. There might be too much pineapple juice in other types. If I ever do, I’ll update with the results.

Fresh pineapple will not work in this salad or any Jello recipe. It will not be set due to an enzyme in fresh pineapple (bromelain) breaking down collagen. Bromelain is denatured during the canning process. 

Can I Make This in a Mold?

Yes, you can! 

Make sure the mold you use doesn’t have any intricate details. You’ll want to use a simple Bundt pan or a mold designed. 

Be sure to spray the mold or Bundt pan with baking spray, or you could line it with plastic wrap. 

Allow the Jello salad extra time in the fridge to make sure it is completely set before removing it from the mold.

Can I Make This With Other Flavors?

Absolutely! Here are a few of the flavors I have used.

• Cherry – This is one of our favorite versions.
• Cranberry – This one is seasonal; I can only find cranberry Jello during the holiday season.
• Lemon – Lemon Jello it is as refreshing as lime; I tend to use this one in the spring.
• Strawberry – When using strawberry Jello, top with fresh strawberries rather than cherries.
• Orange – this one is a lot like an orange fluff salad without big bits of marshmallows in it.

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