Old‑fashioned Christmas Jello Balls are colorful, coconut‑covered bites made with just Jell‑O, Greek yogurt, and shredded coconut. They look like tiny snowballs in red and green, require no baking, and are perfect for cookie trays, party platters, and edible gifts.
Old‑Fashioned Christmas Jello Balls
These vintage Jello balls use strawberry and lime gelatin for classic Christmas colors, plenty of sweet coconut, and creamy yogurt to bind everything together. The texture is soft and fudgy inside with a snowy coconut coating on the outside, and they come together in under 30 minutes of hands‑on time.
Ingredients
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1 box (3 oz) strawberry Jell‑O
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1 box (3 oz) lime Jell‑O
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1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt, divided
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6 1/2 cups sweetened finely shredded or desiccated coconut, divided
This amount of coconut includes what gets mixed into the balls and what you roll them in to create the fluffy outside.
Step 1: Prep the Coconut and Pans
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Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats so the Jello balls do not stick while they chill.
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Pour about 2 cups of the shredded coconut into a shallow dish; this will be used for rolling the finished balls.
Finely shredded or desiccated coconut works best because it packs easily and coats each ball evenly.
Step 2: Make the Red Jello Mixture
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In a medium bowl, combine 3/4 cup Greek yogurt with the strawberry Jell‑O powder and stir until the mixture is smooth and bright red.
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Add 2 1/2 cups shredded coconut and mix thoroughly until all the coconut is evenly tinted and a soft, moldable dough forms.
If the mixture seems too sticky, add a tablespoon or two more coconut; if it is crumbly, stir in a spoonful of yogurt until it holds together when pressed.
Step 3: Make the Green Jello Mixture
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In a clean bowl, stir remaining 3/4 cup Greek yogurt together with the lime Jell‑O powder until smooth and evenly colored.
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Add another 2 1/2 cups coconut and mix until everything is well combined and the texture matches the red mixture.
These two bowls give you separate red and green “doughs” so you can create a festive mix of Christmas Jello Balls.
Step 4: Shape and Coat the Jello Balls
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