12 Layer Christmas Jello Salad Recipe

Published: December 20, 2011Updated: November 16, 2018Author: Kristen Hills
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12 Layer Christmas Jello Salad Recipe


I love Christmas Dinner! One of my favorite things my mom would make when we were growing up is her famous 12 Layer Jello Salad. We would often have it for any holiday dinner or special occasions.  This jello salad not only tastes amazing, but it looks awesome too! And the kids will LOVE it! Just give yourself a few hours to make! But so worth it!
Serves: 20
Ingredients:
6 (3 oz) small boxes of Jello, use the following flavors/colors: lime, lemon, orange, strawberry, raspberry, black cherry
16 ounces sour cream
8 oz tub of cool whip
1 cup water, divided
Directions:
1. Take a glass measuring cup and fill it with 1 cup of water. Boil the water in the microwave. After it is done boiling add one box of jello and stir with a fork until dissolved. Layer the jello in order listed in the ingredients starting with the lime.
2. Pour the jello into 2 bowls with equal amounts in each bowl.
3. Add 1/3 cup sour cream to one bowl and mix well. Then add 3 Tablespoons of Cold water to the other bowl and mix well.
4. After both are mixed pour the “sour cream mixture” into a 9X13 pan and put in the fridge. Leave the “water mixture” on the counter.
5. It usually takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 45 minutes for the first layer to set up. After it is set slowly spoon the “water mixture” that was on the counter over the cloudy layer  in the 9X13 pan. Put it in back in the fridge to set up.
After that layer is set, begin steps 1 through 5 again with the next color. The refrigeration time between layers is a lot less after the first 2 layers because it is colder.
Once you have completed all the jello layers and they are all set, spread the cool whip over the top and put in the fridge until ready to serve.
This jello can stay in the fridge for a few days, keep covered.
*just a couple of sidenotes*
1. This jello looks best in the  order listed in the ingredients..lime, lemon, orange, strawberry, raspberry, and black cherry.  Black cherry is difficult to find, so just get a flavor that is darker than the raspberry red color. Maybe grape or blackberry fusion.
2. I have tried making this jello in all the flavors of red… and it didn’t taste very good. Just FYI. 🙂
3. I have used Walmart Brand Jello and it just doesn’t set up quite the same. So I suggest paying a little bit more for the Jello brand.

Happy Cooking!!!

Here are some more great salad recipes!
5 Minute Jello Salad
Mandarin Orange Cookie Dessert Salad
Orange Fluff Jello Salad
Snicker Apple Pudding Salad
Barbecue Macaroni Salad

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  1. BettyJean @ Shabby Tea Party says:
    December 20, 2011
    I've never seen this salad before, it looks amazing, so festive! And who doesn't love Jello. I'm thinking of taking this to our family gathering on Christmas. I'm renaming it "12 Days of Christmas" salad in keeping with the Christmas theme and referencing the 12 layers. Thank you for sharing your recipe! Warm Hugs for a Merry Christmas
    Reply
  2. barcos rc says:
    December 21, 2011
    Outstanding Jello!!! I have seen 7 color layer Jello which consider rambo color, but never seen 12 layer Jello before. I am exciting to see large photo of this Jello. Hope you have.
    Reply
  3. Suzy says:
    December 21, 2011
    As a jello lover, I am so curious what jello+sour cream tastes like?!? This looks so good that's the only thing I wonder about!
    Reply
    • elaine says:
      December 9, 2015
      I have a similar recipe, but calls for canned milk instead of sour cream. I prefer the canned milk layer, so yummy!
      Reply
  4. Camille says:
    December 21, 2011
    @ Suzy- When my mom told me that she used sour cream mixed with the jello, I was super worried because it sounded gross. But actually, the flavor of the jello overpowers the sour cream and gives it a super creamy and smooth texture. It is seriously delicious. :)
    Reply
  5. n.davis says:
    December 21, 2011
    I love this jello! Our family uses sweetened condensed milk instead of sour cream, it's super yummy! I'm going to try this though, it looks divine!
    Reply
    • Ashley Iverson says:
      December 6, 2015
      Do you use the same amount of sweetened condensed milk as you would for sour cream? I'm not a fan of sour cream so the sweetened condensed milk sounds amazing :)
      Reply
  6. Anonymous says:
    January 1, 2012
    I made something similair to this recently, and it looked great, but due to the reduced amount of water, the Jell-o was more of a "jiggler" consistency which means tougher and less flavor. Which consistency is this dish?
    Reply
  7. The Hills Family says:
    January 2, 2012
    It is the same... more of a Giant Jiggler. It does have a little less flavor... which turns out well because there are so many different kinds of jello in there. But the sour cream gives it a different kind of flavor. This is really our families favorite jello and we would have it more often if it didn't take so long to make. :) Thanks for your comment!
    Reply
  8. Melissa says:
    December 22, 2012
    Had a similar recipe years ago that uses mayonnaise instead. It was fab but can't find the recipe now. This looks good though. Trying it this Christmas.
    Reply
  9. Crystal says:
    March 24, 2014
    My husbands grandmother makes something like this and I have tried, but my jello always comes out Lopsided. Grandmas always comes out perfect, so how do you get it to be even? haha!
    Reply
    • Carina says:
      March 25, 2014
      Your fridge or floors may be uneven causing the lopsided dish. Place a level on the shelf. If crooked, check the level on your glass dish when it is empty. Then place thin items under the dish on whatever side needed to make it even. You can also adjust the leveler feet under your fridge. Good luck!
      Reply
    • Cyd says:
      March 27, 2014
      My fridge is not level. I put a thin hot pad under the pan on the side that needs a little lift. There are little tricks you can do to get it just right. You need to figure out what side of your fridge is lower and then just prop something under the pan. Hope this helps. Cyd (mom of the six sisters)
      Reply
  10. Susan says:
    December 27, 2014
    I was looking for a fun jello recipe for Christmas eve, I saw this one and decided to try it. It was a hit! Turned out so beautiful. FYI I used Fage greek yogurt instead of sour cream and it was super yummy! Thanks for sharing!
    Reply
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