Name: Christmas Fruit Jello Dessert Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 7 h 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour; 2 tablespoons granulated sugar; ¼ cup nuts pecans or walnuts, chopped finely; ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, softened; 1 cup boiling water; 1 small box 3 oz lime gelatin; 1 8oz package cream cheese, softened; 1 8oz container whipped topping, thawed; Green food coloring optional; 1 8oz package cream cheese, softened; ½ cup granulated sugar; 1 8oz container whipped topping, thawed; 2 cups boiling water; 2 small boxes 3 oz each strawberry gelatin; 4 cups sliced fresh strawberries; Additional whipped topping; Sprinkles or candy

There's something truly magical about this vibrant, creamy, and fruity treat that brings the spirit of the season to the table. This Christmas Fruit Jello Dessert Recipe is more than just a pretty face—it's a crowd-pleaser with layers that sing holiday cheer with every bite.

The image shows a thick square slice of layered dessert on a white plate, resting on a white marbled surface. The bottom layer is a light brown, crumbly crust with visible small nuts or grains. Above that is a thick, smooth, and light green layer with a slightly porous texture. Next is a white creamy layer that looks soft and fluffy. On top of this is a bright red, translucent gelatin layer. The dessert is finished with a thick, white whipped cream layer spread unevenly on top. Scattered on the whipped cream are shiny, round candies in red and green colors. In the background, a larger, rectangular version of the dessert is visible in a clear dish. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Fruit Jello Dessert Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Fruit Jello Dessert Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Fruit Jello Dessert Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I first made this Christmas Fruit Jello Dessert Recipe years ago at a family's holiday potluck, and it quickly became a tradition. The combination of tart gelatin, creamy layers, and fresh strawberries wrapped in a buttery crust is irresistible and festive.

Layered Texture: Each layer brings a unique taste and feel, from crunchy crust to creamy filling to fruity jello topping.
Bright Holiday Colors: The green lime layer and red strawberry jello look so festive on the plate, adding instant Christmas vibes.
Make-Ahead Friendly: Prepare it a day or two in advance to let the flavors meld and the jello set perfectly.
Customizable: You can easily switch up the fruit or gelatin flavors to fit your family's preferences or whatever you have on hand.

This dessert slice has four clear layers from bottom to top: a light tan crumbly crust, a thick layer of light green creamy filling, a bright red jelly layer, and a top white whipped cream layer decorated with evenly spaced red and green round candies. The slice is on a white plate sitting on a white marbled surface, with a woman's hand holding a fork lifting a piece showing all layers clearly. In the background, there is a bowl filled with red and green candies, a glass dish with more of the layered dessert, and another slice of the same dessert on a white plate. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Christmas Fruit Jello Dessert Recipe plays a key role in balancing texture and flavor—from the crunchy nut-studded crust to the smooth cream cheese layers and sweet gelatin. Picking fresh, ripe strawberries and quality cream cheese will truly elevate your dessert.

Flat lay of a small mound of pale all-purpose flour, two tablespoons of fine granulated sugar in a neat pile, a handful of finely chopped pecans and walnuts mixed together, a stick of unsalted butter softened with a slight sheen, a small white bowl filled with steaming boiling water, an uncracked brown egg with a smooth shell, a block of smooth cream cheese in soft white, a fluffy cloud of whipped topping in a white ceramic bowl, a few drops of green food coloring in a tiny white bowl, a second uncracked egg with a clean shell, another small white bowl of granulated sugar, a larger white bowl holding fresh, bright red sliced strawberries glistening with natural juice, a small white bowl with clear strawberry gelatin mixture, and an additional small white bowl of whipped topping, all meticulously arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: Provides the sturdy base for the crust to hold up all those luscious layers.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the crust and cream cheese layers evenly without overpowering.
Nuts (pecans or walnuts): Adds a lovely crunch and a subtle nutty flavor that complements the sweetness.
Unsalted butter: Binds the crust ingredients and adds richness without extra saltiness.
Lime gelatin: Gives the first layer its bright, tangy pop that wakes up your taste buds.
Cream cheese: Adds creaminess and a slight tang, balancing the sweet gelatin nicely.
Whipped topping: Lightens the cream cheese layers for a fluffy, airy texture.
Green food coloring (optional): Takes the lime layer from subtle to show-stopping Christmas green if you want extra festive vibes.
Strawberry gelatin: Sweet and fruity, this is the star of the top layer that holds fresh strawberries.
Fresh strawberries: Brings natural sweetness and freshness, elevating this from just a jello salad to a real dessert.
Additional whipped topping & sprinkles or candy: Perfect for garnish if you want to dress it up even more.

📝

Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love to swap out the strawberries for raspberries or blueberries sometimes, depending on what’s freshest or what I have leftover. The lime layer is fun to keep green, but if you prefer, you can skip the food coloring for a more natural look.

Variation: I once made this with orange gelatin instead of lime and topped it with mandarin segments — it was a total hit and added a lovely citrus twist.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Fruit Jello Dessert Recipe

Step 1: Bake the Nutty Crust

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and prepping your 13×9 baking dish with a quick spray of cooking oil. Mix together the flour, sugar, finely chopped nuts, and softened butter until it sticks together nicely. Press this mixture firmly into the pan to form an even crust. Bake it for about 15-18 minutes until it’s golden brown and smells buttery and toasty. Let it cool completely before layering on the next part — this prevents the gelatin layers from melting into the crust.

Step 2: Prepare the Lime Gelatin Layer

In a bowl, dissolve the lime gelatin in boiling water by stirring well for 2 minutes — no lumps here! Pop it in the refrigerator for about an hour until it’s partially set, just thick enough that it’s gelatinous but still spoonable. Meanwhile, beat softened cream cheese until smooth, then slowly mix in the cooled lime gelatin, beating gently to combine. Finally, fold in the whipped topping for that light, fluffy texture. Add a few drops of green food coloring if you want that eye-catching Christmas green. Spread this over your cooled crust and refrigerate for 30-40 minutes to set firmly.

Step 3: Make the Cream Cheese Middle Layer

Beat together the cream cheese and sugar until silky smooth, then fold in the whipped topping. This way, it stays fluffy and spreadable. Evenly spread this mixture over the lime layer once it’s set, and chill again for another 30-40 minutes. This layer adds richness and smoothness against the fruity gelatin.

Step 4: Finish with the Strawberry Gelatin Topping

For the top, dissolve the strawberry gelatin in boiling water just like before. Once dissolved, stir in the fresh sliced strawberries. Refrigerate this mixture for about 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. You want it partially set — thick, but still spoonable to avoid sinking through the cream cheese layer. Gently spoon this fruity layer over your creamy middle, spreading carefully. Refrigerate the whole dessert for 2 to 4 hours or until firm. When ready, top with whipped cream and your choice of sprinkles or holiday candies for extra festive flair.

Top Tip

From my experience, timing and texture are everything in this Christmas Fruit Jello Dessert Recipe. I’ve learned some handy tips to help you nail it every time.

Partial Setting Is Key: Don't rush setting the gelatin layers in the fridge – the partial set before layering prevents colors from bleeding together.
Fresh Fruit Prep: Use firm, ripe strawberries and slice them evenly for the best look and distribution.
Room Temperature Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese blends smoothly, so it’s worth setting it out early.
Gentle Folding: Fold whipped topping gently to keep that light, airy texture instead of deflating it.

How to Serve Christmas Fruit Jello Dessert Recipe

Christmas Fruit Jello - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like topping mine with a big fluffy swirl of whipped cream and festive red and green sprinkles or tiny candy canes for a playful, holiday look. Fresh mint leaves also add a lovely touch of green and a hint of freshness.

Side Dishes

This dessert pairs perfectly with rich holiday mains like ham or roast turkey because it offers a cool, fruity contrast. I’ve also served it alongside gingerbread cookies to round out the holiday sweets table beautifully.

Creative Ways to Present

For a party, I like to serve this in clear glass trifle bowls so the layers show off their vibrant colors. You can also make individual servings in clear cups topped with tiny candy canes or a peppermint stick for a charming touch.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I always cover the dessert tightly with plastic wrap to avoid fridge odors and keep it fresh. It stays delicious for up to 3 days, though I recommend enjoying it within 24-48 hours for best texture.

Freezing

Freezing isn’t my go-to for this recipe because the gelatin texture changes upon thawing and can become watery. I prefer making it fresh or a day ahead.

Reheating

This dessert is best served cold, so no reheating is needed. Just take it out of the fridge 10-15 minutes before serving to slightly soften the cream cheese layers for easy slicing.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use other fruits besides strawberries?

Absolutely! This Christmas Fruit Jello Dessert Recipe is versatile—you can swap strawberries for raspberries, blueberries, or even canned mandarin oranges depending on your taste or what’s fresh. Just make sure to adjust the gelatin setting time accordingly.

How far in advance can I make this dessert?

You can make this dessert a day or two in advance and keep it in the refrigerator. The flavors meld beautifully with time, but I wouldn’t recommend making it more than 3 days ahead as the gelatin texture might start to degrade.

Can I make this dairy-free or vegan?

This version relies heavily on cream cheese and whipped topping for texture and flavor, so making a fully dairy-free or vegan version would require substitutions like vegan cream cheese and coconut-based whipped toppings. While possible, expect some difference in texture and taste.

What if my gelatin doesn’t set properly?

Make sure you’re following the exact water-to-gelatin ratio and stirring thoroughly until the powder dissolves completely. Also, giving each layer enough time to partially or fully set before adding the next is crucial to preventing it from leaking or mixing. If your gelatin isn’t setting, double-check the expiration date or try reducing the amount of water slightly.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Fruit Jello Dessert Recipe has a special place in my holiday heart—it’s the perfect balance of nostalgia, flavor, and festive fun all in one pan. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I’ve enjoyed sharing it with my family and friends. It’s an easy way to add a sweet, colorful, and refreshing touch to your holiday celebrations, so go ahead and make it your own!