Dear Dr. Julie-Ann
Now that my parents have FINALLY downsized and moved to a retirement community, I FINALLY get to host the holiday dinners at my house.I am really looking forward to creating an old-fashioned holiday meal filled with family favorites.
My father often talks about a cream cheese Jell-O salad —and we shall use that word loosely—that his mother used to make in the 1950s and 60s.I would like to surprise him and make something similar.
Do you have any suggestions?
Signed,
FINALLY Setting Up the Grown-Up Table
Dear FINALLY,
Hosting old-fashioned holiday meals are one of my favorite things to do!And, I think I have a great recipe that will make your father happy: my grandmother’s vintage Christmas Jell-O gelatin salad with cream cheese (some people also call this a Ribbon Salad).This salad is such a family favorite that I’m required to make it for every family gathering (I just change the flavors of the Jell-O I use when I make it during the summer months).
I remember my grandmother making this Christmas Jell-O salad when I was growing up in the 1960s.Unfortunately, she developed cancer and wasn’t able to do much cooking beginning in the early 1970s.After she passed away, I thought the recipe was gone forever because I couldn’t find it in my grandmother’s recipe box.You can imagine my delight when I discovered it was one of her submissions for a mimeographed cookbook created by her missionary circle in the mid-1960s.
You will find a lot of different vintage recipes for Christmas Jell-O salad recipes.Some use sour cream and mandarin oranges or other fresh fruit, others have miniature marshmallows or use heavy cream. I like this one because it is a very easy side dish recipe to make and only requires about four hours of set-up time between each layer. The full instructions and video are on the recipe card, below.
Can This Be Used For An Old Fashioned Dessert?
While my family generally has this as a side dish on special occasions, this recipe could easily be translated into an easy dessert that would be a great substitute for an ice cream sundae. Simply use individual molds and then top with your favorite whipped topping (I happen to be a fan of freshly made whipped cream, myself). You could even add a fruit mixture to the gelatin layers. Just do your research, first, to make sure you can use the fruit in Jell-O. Some fruits, such as fresh pineapple, prevent the gelatin from setting.
Tips for Better Results
Pro tip #1: If you let a single layer of the Jell-O get too hard, the next layer will slide off of it. Unfortunately, I know this from my first time making the salad. Since I have a big family, I used a cake pan as a mold.I proudly put my beautifully layered Christmas Jell-O salad on the table.Everyone complimented me on it and then we watched my top red-layer split down the middle in slow motion and slide right off of the serving dish and onto our holiday dinner table.In our family lore, it will forever be known as “the parting of the Red Sea.”
Pro tip #2: Use only about half the amount of cold water called for in the Jell-O instructions if you plan to use a mold.
Pro tip #3: Before unmolding your salad, place it in hot water for a few seconds to help release it from the mold.Trust me on this.To see what happens when you don’t, just watch my video demonstration, below.
Printable Recipe Card and Video Demonstration
Grandma’s Holiday Season Cream Cheese Jello Salad
Yield: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 12 hours
Total Time: 12 hours 15 minutes
Are you looking for a vintage Christmas Jell-O salad recipe? Perhaps with a layer of yummy cream cheese? You'll love this easy-to-make family favorite! This is my Grandmother Lois' version of the popular side dish.
Ingredients
- 1 regular box of strawberry gelatin
- 1 regular box of lemon gelatin
- 1 regular box lime gelatin
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup half and half
Instructions
- In a small bowl, dissolve strawberry Jell-O in 1 cup of hot water but only 1/2 cup of cold water according to the directions on the box. Pour into a gelatin mold, cover with plastic wrap, and put into the refrigerator until set.
- When the strawberry Jell-O is set, dissolve lemon Jell-O with 1 cup of hot water. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream the cream cheese using either a hand mixer or stand mixer on low speed; add half and half to the cream cheese. Cream mixture until thoroughly blended. Add lemon Jell-O and mix again. Pour the Jell-O mixture into the mold over the set strawberry Jell-O. Use a rubber spatula to get all the goodness out of the large mixing bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set.
- When the cream cheese layer is set, dissolve lime Jell-O in 1 cup of hot water but only 1/2 cup of cold water according to the directions on the box. Pour over the set cream cheese layer and refrigerate until set.
- When the final layer is set, dip the mold up to the brim in hot water for a few seconds. Place a serving plate over the mold and flip it over to release the Jello from the mold.
- Save any leftovers (hahahahaha...there won't be any!) in an airtight container.
Notes
Depending upon the size of your mold, you may not be able to create three layers. As you can see in my video, I'm only able to make two layers when I use my star mold. I am able to get three layers if I use a bundt pan.
Of course, these Jell-O flavors are geared for the Christmas holiday. Use any flavors you believe will work well together to enjoy this salad year-round.
Pro-tip #1: If you let a Jell-O layer get too hard, the next layer will slide off of it. Unfortunately, I know this from my first attempt at making the salad.
Pro-tip #2: Use only about half the amount of cold water called for in the Jell-O instructions if you plan to use a mold. This recipe has already reduced the amount of cold water, so you don't need to reduce it again.
Pro-tip #3: Before unmolding your salad, place it in hot water for a few seconds to help release it from the mold.Trust me on this.To see what happens when you don’t, just watch my video demonstration, below.
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Your Turn
Do you have a favorite Jell•O salad that is a “must have” at your family gatherings? Share the details or ask any questions over on the Modern Retro Woman Facebook page!
Until next time, have a fabulous Technicolor day!
Dr. Julie-Ann
