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Lime Gelatin Salad

This lime jello salad is a great recipe my mom made every year for Thanksgiving making it a family tradition for us — we just gobble it up! It looks just beautiful in a glass or crystal bowl.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 hours 25 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 10 people
Calories 4255.7 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl
  • 1 Small Saucepan
  • 1 Electric Mixer
  • 1 Chilled Mixing Bowl (for whipping cream)
  • 1 Decorative Serving Bowl

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 6 ounce package lime flavored Jell-O® mix
  • 1 20 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained with juice reserved
  • 1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Instructions
 

  • Gather the ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Combine boiling water and gelatin mix in a large bowl; stir until dissolved. Stir in 1/2 cup pineapple juice. Refrigerate until thickened but not set, about 1 hour. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Meanwhile, place crushed pineapple and remaining juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and cool to room temperature. Blend softened cream cheese and prepared gelatin until smooth. Mix in cooled pineapple. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Beat heavy cream in a chilled glass or metal bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Fold whipped cream into gelatin mixture. Fold in chopped nuts. Pour into a pretty glass bowl, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until set. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Notes

For optimal texture, ensure the gelatin is only thickened, not fully set, before incorporating the cream cheese and pineapple; this prevents lumps. Chilling your mixing bowl and beaters for the heavy cream is crucial for achieving stable soft peaks. Make sure the cooked pineapple is completely cooled before adding it to the gelatin mixture, as residual heat can prevent the gelatin from setting properly. For an enhanced flavor, consider adding a teaspoon of fresh lime zest when dissolving the gelatin or a splash of vanilla extract to the heavy cream before whipping.