Cherry Pineapple Marshmallow Jello Salad

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This Cherry Pineapple Marshmallow Jello Salad is a long-time family favorite recipe. There’s a cherry layer paired with a tangy lemon cream cheese layer.

To some, jello salads are strange. Combining fruit, Jello, marshmallows and calling them a “salad”, just doesn’t seem right. But to this midwesterner? It’s comfort food.

Jello salads can be a nice change of pace from the traditional desserts. This particular Cherry Pineapple Marshmallow Jello Salad is one that my mom used to make often. Buckle up cause it has a surprising ingredient, but this was one of my favorite jello desserts when I was young.

a piece of jello salad on a spatula

Why you’ll love this recipe:

  • 3 layers including flavors of raspberry & lemon, cherry and pineapple.
  • Bright and colorful, sweet & tangy.
  • A great make ahead dessert for family dinners.
  • Low calorie options to make it lighter.

Layered Jello

This layered jello has 3 parts:

  1. Cherry pie filling and raspberry jello. Have you ever had pie filling and jello mixed? So. Good.
  2. Lemon jello, cream cheese, cool whip, pineapple… and mayonnaise. Yes…you read that right…mayonnaise. The combination of these 5 unlikely ingredients make a tangy, creamy layer that goes perfectly with the cherry bottom layer.
  3. And on top? Lots of mini fruity marshmallows. This layer adds just the right amount of sweetness to a couple of tangy layers.

Plan ahead. Although this recipe doesn’t take long to mix up, you’ll need time for the first layer to set, then time for the whole dessert to set.

closeup of a piece of cherry jello salad on a plate

Recipe Variations

  • If you’d like to make this into a lighter dish, feel free to use sugar free pie filling, sugar free jellos, light cream cheese, light mayo, light Cool Whip.  Or use any combination of those things. We’ve used many different combinations over the years with excellent results each time.
  • One recipe fills a small glass pan. You can use either 11×7” or 9×9″ size. We’ve also doubled the recipe and put it into a 9×13 pan.
  • Use cherry jello on the bottom instead of raspberry.
  • Try lime jello in place of the lemon jello for the middle layer. This would give a red and green holiday look.
a slice of marshmallow jello salad on a plate
a slice of marshmallow jello salad on a plate

Cherry Pineapple Marshmallow Jello Salad

4.70 from 10 votes
his Cherry Pineapple Marshmallow Jello Salad is a long-time family favorite recipe. There’s a cherry layer paired with a tangy lemon cream cheese layer.
Servings 10
Prep Time 30 minutes
Chill Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 30 minutes

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Ingredients
 

  • 3 ounces raspberry jello
  • 2 cups boiling water divided
  • 21 ounces cherry pie filling
  • 3 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 3 ounces lemon jello
  • 1 cup crushed pineapple with juice
  • 1/2 cup whipped topping
  • 2 cups fruity mini-marshmallows

Instructions
 

  • Dilute a 3-ounce package of raspberry jello in 1 cup of boiling water. Mix in one can of cherry pie filling. Pour this in a 9×9 or 11×7 pan. Let set in the refrigerator.
  • In another bowl, beat a 3-ounce package of cream cheese with ⅓ cup mayonnaise until smooth. 
  • Dilute a 3-ounce package of lemon jello in 1 cup of boiling water. Add this jello to the cream cheese mixture and mix well to combine.
  • Fold in 1 cup of crushed pineapple (with juice) and ½ cup whipped topping. Spread this on the cherry mixture. 
  • Add 2 cups of fruity mini marshmallows to the top of the lemon layer. Let set in the refrigerator for at least 5 hours.
  • Serve chilled.

Notes

The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 10, with 1 serving being 1/10 of the jello. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**

Nutrition

Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 209mg | Potassium: 148mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Vitamin C: 7.4mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Calories 271
Keyword FRUIT SALAD, jello salad, jello salad with marshmallows
About JulieJulie Clark

About Julie Clark

I'm Julie Clark, CEO and recipe developer of Tastes of Lizzy T. With my B.A. in Education and over 30 years of cooking and baking, I want to teach YOU the best of our family recipes.

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Ericha
3 months ago

Do you mean 0.3 oz packages of JELL-O? (They come in 0.3 oz and 0.6 oz)

Rema
2 years ago

Hi I am excited to make this but i have a question. What is the purpose of the mayo? Is it flavor or texture? Can I substitute it?

Proudmama
2 years ago

Can I use something else in place of mayo? Whipped cream, Sourcream or cottage cheese ?

Last edited 2 years ago by Proudmama
MICHELLE
2 years ago

Can anyone tell me what size can of pineapple to use?

Anonymous
4 years ago

Can I add some cooked rice to the pineapple, cherry coolwhip dish?

Jdog
4 years ago

5 stars
Really good recipe just tryed it

Kira
6 years ago

What’s the result using Cherry Jello? Has anyone ever tried that, or is it too sweet?

Rose McIntyre
7 years ago

I will be trying this sounds so good

Dana
9 years ago

My mom used to make this! So happy to find a recipe so now I can make it for my kids!

Sherri
9 years ago

This sounds so good! Love me some congealed salad, any kind, any time. Especially during the summer, they are so refreshing. And cranberry congealed salad at Thanksgiving & Christmas. And peach-buttermilk congealed salad at Easter. And………………!

Liz
9 years ago

Thank you for the nice recipe.

Sheila Cox
9 years ago

I am going to be making this fro my grand kids. They are going to love it.
Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful recipes. I have made your Rees’s Butterfinger Bars. They are fabulous.

LISA SPELL
10 years ago

on the cherry pineapple marshmellow salad i have a question:
when you disolve the lemon jello in hot boiling water , do you add the softened cream cheese into the hot disolved lemon jello with the cool whip and stuff or do you let the disolved lemon jello COOL first??? thanks lisa spell