Description
Christmas Lush is a festive layered dessert featuring a buttery crust, vibrant lime and strawberry gelatin layers with creamy cream cheese and whipped topping, topped with fresh strawberries and festive garnishes. Perfect for holiday celebrations, this no-bake treat combines tangy, sweet, and creamy textures to delight your guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¼ cup nuts pecans or walnuts, chopped finely
- ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
First Layer
- 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
Second Layer
- 1 8oz package cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 8oz container whipped topping, thawed
Top Layer
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 small boxes 3 oz each strawberry gelatin
- 4 cups sliced fresh strawberries
Additional Toppings
- Additional whipped topping
- Sprinkles or candy
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13×9 inch baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and finely chopped nuts. Add the softened butter and mix well until the mixture is evenly combined. Press the crust mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Bake for 18 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool completely before adding layers.
- Make the first layer: In a large bowl, dissolve the lime gelatin in 1 cup boiling water by stirring continuously for 2 minutes. Place the gelatin in the refrigerator and chill until it is partially set, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, in another bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Slowly beat in the cooled lime gelatin until well combined and smooth. Fold in the whipped topping gently. Add green food coloring if a brighter green color is desired. Spread this mixture evenly over the cooled crust. Refrigerate until set, approximately 40 minutes.
- Prepare the second layer: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and sugar together until smooth and creamy. Fold in the whipped topping until fully incorporated. Spread this layer evenly over the set lime gelatin layer. Return the dish to the refrigerator and chill until this layer is firm, about 40 minutes.
- Make the top layer: In a large bowl, dissolve the two boxes of strawberry gelatin in 2 cups boiling water by stirring for 2 minutes. Stir in the sliced fresh strawberries. Place the mixture in the refrigerator and chill until it is partially set, stirring every 10 minutes to prevent it from becoming too thin. The gelatin should be thick enough to spoon but not too liquid. Once partially set, gently spoon this strawberry gelatin and fruit mixture over the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate the entire dessert until firm, about 3 hours.
- Garnish and serve: Before serving, garnish the Christmas Lush with additional whipped topping and sprinkles or candy as desired. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Use softened cream cheese for easy mixing and a smooth texture.
- If you prefer, substitute pecans with walnuts or other nuts according to taste.
- Green food coloring is optional and only needed if you want a more vibrant first layer.
- Ensure each gelatin layer is fully or partially set before adding the next to prevent mixing of layers.
- Refrigerate the dessert for at least 3 hours after adding the top layer to allow it to fully firm up.
- This dessert serves well chilled and should be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For a nut-free version, omit the nuts from the crust and increase flour slightly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
