LAYERED MANDARIN JELLO SALAD (ALMOST SUGAR FREE)

Layered Mandarin Jello Salad (Almost Sugar Free) image

This is a new recipe I created for a guilt free dessert/salad that you'd never guess is virtually sugar free. It has alternating layers of cool, refreshing mandarin oranges in orange jello, and coconut flavored cream cheese. For a pretty presentation, be sure to assemble it in a clear glass bowl/dish, sprinkle with coconut and garnish with a few orange segments. Hubby said it was too pretty to eat, but he did and loved it! He said it reminded him of a Dreamsicle. If you're not concerned about sugar, you could use regular jello and real sugar in the same proportions.

Provided by Teresa G. @sokygal

Number Of Ingredients 9

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Ingredients

1 box(es) (sm.) sugar free orange jello
1 cup(s) boiling water
1 cup(s) cold water
1 can(s) (sm.) mandarin orange segments in natural juice, drained
8 ounce(s) cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup(s) granulated artificial sweetener
1/3 cup(s) heavy whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon(s) coconut extract
1/4 cup(s) shredded coconut

Steps:

Pour gelatin into a medium mixing bowl.
Pour one cup boiling water over gelatin, stirring until completely dissolved.
Add one cup very cold water, stirring well.
Pour 1/2 of the jello mixture into medium (1 qt.) clear glass serving bowl or 8"x8" pyrex dish.
Add 1/2 can of drained mandarin orange segments; stir to distribute evenly.
Reserve 5 orange segments for decoration; refrigerate all remaining oranges.
Place bowl in refrigerator until jello is set (about 1 1/2 hrs.)
Cover remaining jello with foil or plastic wrap; set aside on counter until needed later for the second jello layer.
After jello has set for 1 1/2 hours, make the cream cheese layer by beating cream cheese with hand mixer until creamy.
Slowly add 1/3 cup granulated artificial sweetener, beating until combined.
Add cream and 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract , beating until smooth and creamy.
Top the set jello with 1/2 of the cream cheese mixture by dropping dollops with a spoon, then carefully smoothing to the edges to completely cover jello.
Place remaining oranges on cream cheese layer.
Carefully pour remaining room temperature jello over oranges and cream cheese layer.
Cover remaining 1/2 of cream cheese mixture with foil or plastic; set aside on counter until needed for last layer.
Refrigerate jello dish until jello is set (about 1-1 1/2 hrs.)
When final layer of jello is set, top the set jello with remaining 1/2 of the cream cheese mixture by dropping dollops with a spoon, then carefully smoothing to the edges to completely cover jello.
Sprinkle shredded coconut over top; add remining orange segments for decoration.
Cover and refrigerate until served. May be doubled, just use a 9"x13" dish.