Gluten and Dairy Free Mixed Berry Jello Salad
What are some of your favorite childhood dishes? Growing up jello salad was one of my favorite things my mom used to make. This Gluten and Dairy Free Mixed Berry Jello Salad is my twist on the classic.
Some dishes are just timeless. You know the ones that no matter how many times you have it, that first bite always takes you back to when you first experienced it. This easy and festive dish does that for me every time.
A Family Classic
Who grew up eating jello salad? This retro dish seems as popular now as it was when it was created in the 1960’s. Gluten and Dairy Free Mixed Berry Jello Salad packs all of the nostalgia while being ideal for modern life.
There’s something about all of the texture of jello salad. A little creamy, a bite of crunch, and of course the fun little dance as you cut into it. It’s such a happy dish!
Everyone grew up with their own versions and combinations but the key components remained the same. Of course there was always some variety of jello, a favorite combination of fruit, and then the creamy addition of whipped topping and cream cheese.
For this recipe I am putting my twist on my mom’s recipe with frozen mixed berries. In addition to the berries crushed pineapple adds tart sweetness, walnuts deliver on earthy crunch, and the cream cheese and whipped toppings have been replaced with Dairy Free versions.
This is a fun and festive dish to serve year round because of the frozen mixed berries. However there’s just something festive about it that makes it so well suited to backyard barbecues and family gatherings.
Putting the Jiggle in Gluten and Dairy Free Mixed Berry Jello Salad
This colorful and fun creation is as easy as it’s delicious. The best part of this dessert is there’s zero baking required!
- Drain your crushed pineapple, but reserve the juices.
- To the pineapple juice add enough water to make it an even 2 cups.
- Add the liquid to your box of jello and cook according to the package directions.
- Pour the jello into a glass bowl and allow it to chill in the refrigerator until it is just beginning to set.
- Mix your room temperature Dairy Free cream cheese in a separate bowl until whipped and creamy. Mix in the jello.
- Fold in the Dairy Free whipped topping into your Gluten and Dairy Free Mixed Berry Salad.
- Fold in your remaining ingredients until just combined. Be gentle.
- Pour the mixture into a 7×10 making dish and allow to set up in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
Are you looking for more fun and easy berry recipes? Make sure you check out my recipe for Gluten and Dairy Free Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes. Now let’s get cooking!
Gluten and Dairy Free Mixed Berry Jello Salad
Equipment
- 2 mixing bowls
- 1 7"x10" baking dish
Ingredients
- 3 oz strawberry jello
- 20 oz crushed pineapple
- 1 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries, defrosted and drained
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
- 8 oz Dairy Free cream cheese, room temperature
- 8 oz Dairy Free whipped topping, defrosted
Instructions
- Drain the crushed pineapple, reserving the pineapple juice.
- Add enough water to the reserved pineapple juice to make exactly 2 cups.
- Add the pineapple juice to the jello and cook according to the package directions.
- Pour the jello mixture into a glass bowl and allow to refrigerate until it's just starting to set up.
- Add the room temperature cream cheese to a bowl and mix until creamy and fluffy.
- Mix in the jello mixture.
- Gently fold in the whipped topping, walnuts, mixed berries, and crushed pineapple.
- Allow to chill in the refrigerator for at least four hours to set up.
- Enjoy!