Festive Strawberry Jelly Dessert: A Kid-Friendly Christmas Treat with Ice Cream & Whipped Cream
As the holiday season twinkles, so does our desire for festive treats that delight both the eyes and the palate. This vibrant strawberry jelly dessert, layered with creamy ice cream, fluffy whipped cream, and garnished with fresh strawberries, is a true showstopper. It’s a symphony of colors and textures that promises to be a hit with everyone, especially the little ones. Imagine a dessert so enchanting, it feels like a splash of summer sunshine amidst the winter wonderland of Christmas celebrations.
This recipe isn’t just about delicious flavors; it’s about creating a memorable experience. The playful presentation, featuring beautifully angled jelly, makes it an unforgettable addition to your holiday table. It’s surprisingly easy to make, yet looks incredibly impressive, proving that you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to craft a show-stopping Christmas treat.
The Secret to Year-Round Strawberry Perfection
You might be thinking, “Strawberries aren’t in season during Christmas!” And you’d be right. Normally, I’d shy away from using out-of-season produce, but when it comes to my children’s favorite fruit, special occasions call for special measures. For this festive dessert, I’ve found a clever way to bring the full, glorious flavor of summer strawberries to your winter celebration.
The secret lies in preparation. While I use fresh strawberries as a bright, appealing garnish, the true strawberry essence within the dessert comes from my summer harvest. Each year, I freeze a generous batch of peak-season strawberries right after picking them. This ensures that their intense, sweet-tart flavor is locked in, ready to be released into my ice cream and jelly base. This method allows us to enjoy the rich, authentic taste of strawberries, uncompromised by the often bland or watery flavor of off-season fruit.
Using these frozen summer gems ensures that every spoonful of this dessert is bursting with genuine strawberry goodness, creating a truly great dessert that captures the essence of sunshine even on the coldest winter day. It’s a little trick that makes all the difference, transforming a simple dessert into an extraordinary one.
Mastering the Art of Angled Jelly Presentation
The visual appeal of this dessert is truly captivating, largely due to the unique angled jelly layer. I’ve often seen this brilliant technique on platforms like Pinterest, and it’s quickly become a favorite for adding a playful and sophisticated touch to any dessert menu. The best part? It looks incredibly complex but is surprisingly simple to achieve, making it perfect for impressing your guests without any added stress.
To create this eye-catching effect, all you need to do is pour your prepared gelatin mixture into your serving glasses while they are tilted at a 45-degree angle. You can easily achieve this by leaning the glasses against the rim of a mixing bowl, propping them up with a kitchen towel, or even placing them in a muffin tin to keep them stable. Once the jelly has set firm in this angled position, you can simply return the glasses upright. The jelly will retain its charming sloped shape, creating a delightful foundation for the subsequent layers of ice cream and whipped cream.
This simple trick elevates the entire dessert, transforming it from a standard treat into a work of art. The varying heights and clear lines of the jelly add an architectural element that kids and adults alike will find fascinating. It’s an ingenious way to add that extra “wow” factor, ensuring your Christmas dessert is as fun to look at as it is to eat. Plus, you can experiment with different colored jelly layers for an even more vibrant and festive display!
Crafting the Perfect Christmas Dessert Layers
The magic of this Christmas dessert lies in the harmonious combination of its few, yet perfectly balanced, components. Each layer contributes to a symphony of taste and texture that makes every spoonful a delight. Let’s break down the elements that make this treat truly special:
The Wobbly, Flavorful Jelly
The foundation of our dessert is a wonderfully wobbly strawberry jelly. Using strawberry syrup not only infuses a rich berry flavor but also gives the jelly a beautiful, translucent color. When preparing the gelatin, ensuring it’s fully dissolved without lumps is key to a smooth, clear jelly. The angled set described earlier creates that stunning visual effect, making the jelly not just a component but a centerpiece of the dessert.
The Creamy Heart: Strawberry Ice Cream
Nestled above the jelly is a generous scoop of strawberry ice cream. This adds a luxurious creaminess and a delightful chill that perfectly complements the jelly. The recipe calls for strawberry ice cream to maintain the cohesive berry theme, but if you’re feeling adventurous, a good quality vanilla bean or even a raspberry ripple could offer an interesting twist. Remember the tip: take the ice cream out about 15 minutes before serving to let it soften slightly. This makes it easier to scoop and ensures a wonderfully smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture when it meets the other layers.
The Cloud-Like Topping: Whipped Cream
No festive dessert is complete without a generous swirl of freshly whipped cream. Light, airy, and delicately sweetened with icing sugar, it provides a fluffy contrast to the firm jelly and creamy ice cream. The secret to perfect whipped cream is using very cold cream and a chilled bowl and whisk. Beat until stiff peaks form, but be careful not to overbeat, or you’ll end up with butter!
The Finishing Touch: Fresh Strawberries
Finally, a scattering of fresh strawberries serves as both a beautiful garnish and a burst of fresh, juicy flavor. The vibrant red against the white cream and pink jelly is undeniably festive and inviting. While our frozen strawberries provide the deep flavor within the dessert, the fresh berries offer a textural contrast and a final touch of elegance. A light dusting of icing sugar or a drizzle of berry coulis can further enhance the presentation.
Indeed, it’s a good taste! The combination of these simple ingredients creates a dessert that is both familiar and exciting, perfect for celebrating with loved ones.
Why This Dessert is a Holiday Must-Have (and Beyond!)
This strawberry jelly dessert isn’t just for Christmas; its universal appeal makes it suitable for a variety of occasions throughout the year. However, its vibrant colors and delightful flavors make it particularly perfect for the festive season, offering a refreshing alternative to heavier holiday fare.
Irresistible Kid Appeal
Kids are drawn to bright colors and fun shapes, and this dessert delivers on both fronts. The wobbly jelly, the vibrant red of the strawberries, and the creamy white of the ice cream and whipped cream create a visual feast that little ones will adore. The playful angled presentation often sparks curiosity and excitement, making mealtime even more engaging. It’s a sweet treat that feels special and magical, perfectly embodying the spirit of childhood wonder during the holidays.
Effortless Elegance
Despite its sophisticated appearance, this dessert is remarkably straightforward to prepare. The instructions are simple, and many steps can be done in advance, significantly reducing stress on a busy Christmas day. The angled jelly, while looking like a culinary feat, requires only a simple tilt of the glass. This combination of ease and elegance makes it a go-to recipe for home cooks who want to impress without being overwhelmed.
Customizable to Your Liking
While the strawberry version is a classic, this recipe is incredibly versatile. Feel free to experiment with different fruit syrups for the jelly—raspberry, cherry, or even a mixed berry could work wonderfully. You can also vary the ice cream flavor, perhaps opting for a classic vanilla bean or a rich chocolate for a different flavor profile. Add a sprinkle of festive edible glitter, crushed peppermint, or mini chocolate chips for extra holiday cheer. The possibilities are endless, allowing you to tailor the dessert to your family’s preferences or specific dietary needs, such as using sugar-free jelly or dairy-free ice cream.
Perfect for Make-Ahead Preparation
The jelly component of this dessert can be prepared a day or two in advance and stored in the refrigerator, allowing it ample time to set perfectly. This forward planning is a lifesaver during the hectic holiday period, letting you focus on other aspects of your Christmas meal. On the day of serving, simply add the softened ice cream, whipped cream, and fresh garnishes, and you’re ready to present a stunning dessert with minimal last-minute effort.
Whether it’s for Christmas, a birthday party, or a summer gathering, this strawberry jelly dessert is guaranteed to bring smiles and compliments. Its blend of visual charm, delicious flavors, and simple preparation makes it a truly versatile and beloved recipe.
Did you make this Christmas dessert with strawberries? Tag #byandreajanssen via Instagram or Twitter. I love it when you make one of my recipes and I’m looking forward to look it up. You can also share your recipes on my Facebook channel or pin this recipe on Pinterest so you can find it easy next time. See you soon!
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Andréa
Pin Recipe
Equipment
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Refrigerator
Ingredients
- 200 ml strawberry syrup
- 300 ml water
- 6 sheets gelatin
- 1 jar strawberry ice cream
- 150 ml cream
- 2 tablespoons icing sugar
- strawberries , fresh for garnish
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
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Soak the gelatin sheets in cold water.
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Heat the lemonade with the water until it just starts to boil
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Turn of the heat, take the gelatin out of the water and mix in the strawberry lemonade. Stir well with a whisk, so no limbs are formed.
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Pour the gelatin in glasses and put the glasses in a 45 degree angle (I placed them in an angle in a bowl) and let them stiffen.
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About 15 minutes before serving take the ice cream out of the freezer, so it softens a bit.
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Beat the half and half with icing sugar until it’s stiff.
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Put the ice cream on top of the jelly.
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Garnish with whipped cream and some fresh strawberries
Nutrition
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Essential Kitchen Tools for This Recipe
Having the right tools can make all the difference in preparing this delightful dessert smoothly and efficiently. Here are the kitchen utensils I recommend, along with a brief explanation of their use. While these are suggestions, you might already have suitable alternatives in your kitchen.
- A Good Pair of Knives: Essential for precisely slicing your fresh strawberries for garnish. A sharp chef’s knife or a paring knife will ensure clean cuts and a beautiful presentation.
- Cutting Board: A sturdy cutting board is indispensable for safe and hygienic preparation of your fruit. Choose one that is stable and easy to clean.
- Whisk (and a Mixing Bowl): Absolutely crucial for achieving a smooth, lump-free gelatin mixture and for beating the cream to perfect, stiff peaks. A balloon whisk is ideal for incorporating air, and a good-sized mixing bowl will prevent splatters.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: For accurate measurements of syrup, water, and icing sugar, ensuring the right balance of flavors and consistency.
- Saucepan: To gently heat the strawberry syrup and water before dissolving the gelatin.
- Serving Glasses: Clear glasses are best to showcase the beautiful layers and the angled jelly effect. Individual portions in elegant glasses make this dessert feel extra special.
Equipped with these simple tools, you’re all set to create a stunning and delicious strawberry jelly dessert that will be the highlight of your Christmas celebration!