Jell-O Christmas Trees

Lime Jell-O Christmas Trees

Jell-O Christmas Trees are easy to make, fun to eat, and super pretty! I just like all things Jello! This is two simple layers of Jell-O, one mixed with a can of evaporated milk, and cut into triangles. If you want, you can add some sprinkles right before serving. 

I've had this recipe in my "To Make" files for years...so happy to finally make it! I can image doing this for many holidays - pinkish and reds for Valentines Day, Blue and Blue for a Dodgers game, pastel colors for Easter, and more! 

Thanks for Susan for helping me figure out how to cut these into 7 equal trees per row, with leftover scraps. Thanks to my friend JustJenn who came up with a plan that doesn't have leftover pieces. (Yes, I sent a group text as I was making this because my brain was dead and I couldn't figure it out... Yay friends!) Susan even broke out the ruler. 

If you add sprinkles, do that right before you serve them...the sprinkles can run. And I tried random red and green sprinkles and it was ugly (see photo of the color running after sitting out for less than 30 minutes). I prefer the Jell-O without sprinkles because the sprinkles add a lot of crunch and I like a smooth Jello.

Merry Christmas! ~ mary

Jell-O Christmas Trees

Original Recipe from Jell-O: https://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipe/138513/christmas-tree-jigglers

Ingredients:

- Boiling water (total of 2 cups, divided)

- 1 can (5 oz.) evaporated milk (Yo, it's not Sweetened Condensed milk like I use in lots of my Jell-O recipes. Be sure to get Evaporated Milk) (If possible, have it refrigerated before making the Jell-O)

- 2 large packages of 6 ounces each, or 4 small packages of 3 ounces each - Jell-O, Lime flavor (You need a total of 12 ounces of Lime Jello)

Prep: Lightly spray an 8 x 8 inch pan. Wipe out any excess spray. Set aside.

Plain Jell-O Layer:

• Pour 6 ounces of Lime Jell-O (1 big package or 2 small packages) into a medium bowl. Add 1 1/3 cups boiling water into the bowl, and stir until completely dissolved (2-3 minutes). 
• Pour Jell-O into 8 x 8 pan. (I used my Magic Line 8 x 8 x 2 pan)
• Refrigerate for 25 to 30 minutes, until set but not fully firm.

Milky Jell-O Layer:

• After the Plain Jell-O Layer has been in the refrigerator for 15 - 20 minutes, start on the Milky Jell-O Layer. 
• Pour 6 ounces of Lime Jell-O (1 big package or 2 small packages) into a medium bowl. Add 2/3 cup boiling water into the bowl, and stir until completely dissolved (2-3 minutes). 
• Stir in evaporated milk (shake well before opening can).
• Refrigerate mixture until slightly thickened (about 15 minutes). Pour over the plain Jell-O layer and return to the refrigerator
• Let set at least 4 hour or overnight.

Cutting:

• Unmold the Jell-O onto a cutting board. If the whole thing doesn't come out easily, you can cut into 4 equal rows. Then carefully pull out each row onto the cutting board. (See my photos above)
• Cut each row into 7 alternating equilateral triangles (you'll have 2 scrap pieces at the end). See photos and my friend Susan's drawing - thanks Susan! (Yes, that's the same Susan from Swedish Bread fame - always helping me out!). I made a cut line template on parchment paper and placed that under the Jell-O. 

Optional:

• Dip one side of the Jell-O piece in sprinkles. 
• Important note: Press into sprinkles right before serving...they will eventually start to bleed.
• Only use sprinkles that are coated. 
• I prefer it without sprinkles because the sprinkles add a lot of crunch and I like a smooth Jell-O.

Amazon links (affiliate links - if you buy stuff, I get a few cents without any cost to you):

Christmas Cool Whip Jello / Gelatin

Christmas Cool Whip Jello

Hey, it's almost Christmas! How did that happen?

Anyway, I'm working until 6 pm on Christmas eve. If you are like me, you need a quick and easy dessert. And here it is!

Jello + Cool Whip + Refrig = Easy Peasy.

It's not "natural" (have you seen what's in Cool Whip?) but kids love it and there is something nostalgic about Jello.

I made this before as Orange Creamsicle Jello. This time, I made it with Lime and Cherry Jello.

Just dissolve a pack of Jello (using less water than the package says to use so it will be stiffer) and add Cool Whip. Blend to melt and pour into containers. Fridge overnight. Done!

The Cool Whip layer rises to the top while it chills.

Another Christmas Jello recipe you might like is Christmas Broken Glass Jello! You need a little more time for this one, but it is super easy too!!

Christmas Cool Whip Jello / Gelatin 

You need to make two batches - one green and one red.

RED or GREEN:
1 cup boiling water
1 small box Green or Red Jello (3 ounces)
1/4 cup cold water
1 cup Cool Whip, thawed

1. Place contents of orange Jello packet in a large bowl. Add boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved.
2. Add 1/4 cup cold water.
3. Stir in 1 cup of Cool Whip. It will melt and dissolve. The mixture will be opaque. It will separate to a two layer Jello as it chills.
4. Pour into pan (I used 4-cup pyrex containers).
5. Chill until firm (preferably overnight) and cut into squares.

Merry Christmas 2012

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas! I hope it is filled with lots of laughs, family and hella food.
- xo, Mary the  Food Librarian and Cidney the Girl Dog


Dear Friends of the Food Librarian, I know Mary writes about me all the time and takes endless instagram photos on the beach, but can you believe this year's costume? It was a few sizes too small and had to be stretched over my head (luckily I have small ears). Then they put antlers on me too. Oh, the things I do for a daily walk and occasional run to the beach. :) I wish you and your furry friends a great holiday season!
- xo, Cidney the Girl Dog

Merry Christmas from the Food Librarian & Cidney the Dog

Why yes, my cousin and I did dress up Cidney the Girl Dog. After the graduation hat and Halloween sessions where Cidney just pretty much sat there, you can expect lots of torture, I mean, fun with the dog.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and holiday season!

On Monday, my family descends and we make 150 pounds of mochi!

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Holidays!

- mary the food librarian

"Okay, I'm done until the next costume. Where's my biscuit?"

Holiday Treats from the Food Librarian

Here are a few holiday treats you might want to make for your friends and family this holiday season. I can't believe the holidays are here already!

Please click on the link to go to the original post and recipe :)

Broken Glass Jello

Always a huge hit and so easy to make. Give yourself at least a day in advance to let the Jello set up...but your hands-on labor is only about 15 minutes!

Cafe Beaujolais' Buttermilk-Cinnamon Coffeecake

This is a great coffee cake to have on hand for visitors or overnight guests during the holiday. It feeds a lot of people and is simple to make...you may have all the ingredients handy. Last year, my uncle ate three pieces during our mochi making!

Baked Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins

Pumpkin pie is great and all...but these little donut-y muffins are divine. Have the kids help you roll them in cinnamon sugar...Santa will want to grab a few of these.

Noodle Kugel

My friend's mom makes this delicious noodle kugel for Hanukkah! (Note to Mrs. S - I miss you and hope to see you soon!!!)

Chocolate Rice Krispies with Bittersweet Chocolate Drizzle

Dressed up rice krispies. Yum! You can make these while the kids are running around. Hey, make they work a bit by stirring together this easy treat.

Happy Holidays! - mary

Christmas Broken Glass Jello

Christmas Broken Glass Jello

I have a thing for Jello. I've loved it since I was a kid. It was early "cooking" - hey, you learn how to measure water and stir! And patience as you waited for the Jello to set. So, I wanted to make a Christmas-themed Jello dish.

And...the oven died or is very sick. It's getting a check up now, so I'm making no-bake items. 

I received this beautiful dish for my birthday from my friend Jessica. And her boyfriend Andy did a great job wrapping the gift! (Andy, your bow was awesome! ;)

For the regular Broken Glass Jello, you use 4 different flavors (3 ounce boxes). For the Christmas one, I used a 6 ounce box of Raspberry and Lime. Here is the full recipe for Broken Glass Jello.

Carefully mix the blocks of Jello in a 9 x 13 pan. I have started to line my pans with a big piece of plastic wrap. This makes it so much easier! I'm able to lift out the fully set Jello onto a cutting board and cut it up. The edges have some "wrinkles" from the plastic wrap, but you can chop that off if you wish.

Let the sweetened condensed milk mixture cool a bit (or you might melt the cubed jello pieces), then pour over the cubes. I like to skim off the bubbles for a cleaner finish, but you don't have to do that.

My co-workers really like Jello too. One person walked into the break room, and shouted "Jello!!" This is a festive, no-bake, super easy recipe that spreads lots of Christmas joy! Recipe here.

Here are some of my other Jello creations. Yeah, I like Jello! :)

Row 1: Valentine's Broken Glass Jello, Candy Corn Jello Bundt, Coffee Jello
Row 2: 5-Layer Jello, Cantaloupe Jello Bundt, Ice Cream Jello
Row 3: Lakers Jello, Easter Jello, Broken Glass Jello

Hello Kitty Wishes you a Merry Christmas!

This is my lawn.

Funny what a little plywood, exterior house paint, acrylic paints, clear protective spray paint, wood stick and a tracer/enlarger can make!

Special thanks to Mrs. J for lending me her tracer/enlarger. Hello Kitty is basically a line drawing that has made billions of dollars.

I wanted to make some unique holiday decorations so I decided to spread the Hello Kitty love. I hope to make a whole Sanrio themed lawn display someday... Pandapple, Little Twin Star, that rabbit friend, tulips and all that is cute.

I'm going to invite my friend Diane down to LA for an "artists retreat" this summer and make her paint them with me (she painted the pink on HK with candy cane over Thanksgiving!) It's important to give your friends a creative outlet, no?! ;)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Food Librarian and her Hello Kitty friends!