Description
These Christmas Jello Balls are a festive, no-bake holiday treat combining strawberry or cherry flavored Jello with shredded sweetened coconut, crushed vanilla wafer cookies, and sweetened condensed milk. Rolled into bite-sized balls and coated with coconut or sanding sugar, they make a colorful and delicious dessert perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Jello Mixture
- 1 (6 oz) box strawberry or cherry flavored Jello
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 ½ cups finely shredded sweetened coconut
- 1 ½ cups crushed vanilla wafer cookies
- ½ cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For Coating
- ½ cup finely shredded sweetened coconut
- Green and red sanding sugar (optional, for decorating)
Instructions
- Dissolve the Jello: In a large bowl, pour the boiling water over the Jello powder and stir until completely dissolved. Allow the mixture to cool slightly for about 10 to 15 minutes until it is warm but not hot.
- Combine Ingredients: Add 1 ½ cups of shredded sweetened coconut, crushed vanilla wafers, chopped nuts if using, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract to the dissolved Jello mixture. Stir thoroughly until the mixture forms a thick, dough-like consistency.
- Chill the Mixture: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the mixture for 30 to 45 minutes so it firm ups enough to handle easily.
- Form the Balls: Once chilled, use a spoon or scoop to take portions of the mixture and roll them into 1-inch diameter balls using your hands.
- Coat the Balls: Roll each ball in the remaining ½ cup of shredded coconut or in green and red sanding sugar to create a festive coating.
- Final Chill: Place the coated balls on a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to let them firm up completely.
Notes
- You can use lime Jello to make green balls or mix red and green Jello balls for a colorful Christmas platter.
- Store the balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
