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St. Patrick's Day Jell-o Parfait

St. Patrick's Day Jell-O Parfait

The St. Patrick's Day Jell-O Parfait is a festive, layered dessert that offers a delightful burst of traditional green flavors and textures perfect for any St. Patrick's Day celebration. This easy-to-make recipe is incredibly useful for anyone looking to add a fun, budget-friendly, and visually appealing treat to their Irish-themed festivities.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
prep time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 6 parfaits
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 (3 ounce) package lime Jell-O
  • 1 (3 ounce) package lemon Jell-O
  • 2 cups boiling water divided
  • 1 cup cold water divided
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 (8 ounce) container whipped topping thawed
  • optional Green food coloring for deeper green
  • Whipped cream for topping
  • Green sprinkles for topping
  • Shamrock candies or green edible glitter for garnish

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • Electric mixer or hand mixer
  • 6 individual parfait glasses or serving dishes
  • Spoon or piping bag

Method
 

  1. Prepare the Lime Jell-O Layer: In a medium bowl, dissolve the lime Jell-O package in 1 cup of boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved, then add 1/2 cup of cold water. Stir well and pour into the bottom of 6 individual parfait glasses or serving dishes, filling each about one-third of the way. If you desire a deeper green hue, add a drop or two of green food coloring at this stage. Place the glasses in the refrigerator and chill for about 1 hour, or until firm but not completely set.
    1 (3 ounce) package lime Jell-O
  2. Prepare the Lemon Cream Cheese Filling: While the lime Jell-O is chilling, prepare the creamy filling. In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with the powdered sugar until smooth and fluffy. Gently fold in the thawed whipped topping until well combined and no streaks of cream cheese remain. If desired, you can add a very small amount of green food coloring to this mixture for a subtle pale green color, or leave it white for a striking contrast.
    1 (3 ounce) package lime Jell-O
  3. Add the Cream Cheese Layer: Once the lime Jell-O has firmed up slightly, carefully spoon or pipe the cream cheese filling over the lime layer in each parfait glass. Distribute the filling evenly among the glasses, ensuring you don't disturb the Jell-O layer too much. The mixture should be thick enough to sit on top without sinking.
  4. Prepare the Lemon Jell-O Layer: In a clean medium bowl, dissolve the lemon Jell-O package in the remaining 1 cup of boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved, then add the remaining 1/2 cup of cold water. Stir well. Let this mixture cool slightly at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes. It should be liquid but not hot.
    1 (3 ounce) package lime Jell-O
  5. Assemble the Top Layer: Once the lemon Jell-O mixture has cooled slightly, carefully spoon it over the cream cheese filling in each parfait glass. Again, aim to fill each glass about one-third of the way with this final Jell-O layer, creating a distinct third layer.
  6. Chill and Garnish: Place the assembled parfaits back into the refrigerator and chill for at least 2-3 hours, or until all layers are completely set and firm. Just before serving, top each St. Patrick's Day Jell-O Parfait with a generous dollop of whipped cream, a sprinkle of festive green sprinkles, and a shamrock candy or a dusting of edible green glitter for that extra touch of St. Patrick's Day magic.
    1 (3 ounce) package lime Jell-O

Notes

Store leftovers tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Do not freeze.
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