No bake Pineapple Balls deliver a vivid, tropical twist to the basic flavors of Christmas. That includes crushed pineapple, cream cheese, coconut, graham crumbs, and pineapple jello, this recipe delivers a creamy, chewy, candy and tangy deal with to your dessert desk!
Pineapple Christmas Balls
Our Pineapple Balls recipe takes your style buds on a visit to the tropics! These bite-sized treats are supposed to seem like little pineapple snowballs, so even if you happen to’re basking within the solar, it nonetheless seems like the vacation season.
Old style pineapple Christmas balls had been initially made with canned Nestle Carnation Thick Cream, which has since been discontinued on account of a scarcity of demand.
You’ll have seen some recipes on social media that make pineapple Christmas balls with condensed milk or heavy whipping cream as an alternative, however I discover that cream cheese gives a firmer, thicker consistency to higher maintain their form and has a gentle tanginess to steadiness the sweetness and improve the tropical style.
Pineapple Balls Substances
- Pineapple: Drained crushed pineapple gives the tropical pineapple taste and a few pure sweetness. Draining it nicely is essential to forestall extra moisture, which may make the combination too moist and troublesome to type into balls.
- Cream cheese: Provides a creamy, clean texture and a slight tang that balances the sweetness. The cream cheese additionally acts as a binder, serving to the combination maintain collectively when rolled into balls. Be sure you use room temperature cream cheese to keep away from lumps within the combination.
- Pineapple Jello powder: There isn’t any must prep the packet; you might be simply utilizing the powder to supply the proper fruity punch! For those who want, lemon-flavored gelatin combine can be utilized as an alternative of pineapple-flavored gelatin combine.
- Graham crackers: Provides a refined crunch and a touch of taste that enhances the pineapple. The graham crumbs additionally assist soak up moisture, enhancing the feel and making the combination simpler to work with.
- Unsweetened coconut flakes: You’ll be able to substitute sweetened coconut flakes if you happen to want a sweeter coating and even add chopped nuts for a little bit of crunch.
See the recipe card for full info on elements and portions.
Find out how to Make Pineapple Balls
- Put together The Pineapple Combination: Beat the cream cheese till clean and no lumps stay. Sprinkle within the gelatin and proceed to combine till mixed. Stir within the graham cracker crumbs and pineapple items, cowl, and chill within the fridge for 4 hours.
- Roll And Coat In Coconut: Scoop roll the combination into balls. Coat the balls within the coconut flakes and place on the ready pan.
- Serve: Retailer within the fridge till able to serve. Get pleasure from!
Serving Options
Christmas pineapple coconut bites are good for last-minute vacation gatherings. Serve them in festive cups for a enjoyable, portion-controlled snack or pile them on a plate for visitors to seize as a lighter dessert choice than truffles or cookies.
They’re additionally nice for gifting—their tangy style and home made contact can at all times brighten somebody’s day!
Suggestions & Variations
- Cowl In Coconut: As an alternative of rolling the balls within the coconut flakes, you’ll be able to sprinkle the coconut flakes on high of the balls instantly after rolling.
- Ditch The Dairy: Use a dairy-free cream cheese for a vegan model.
- Go Gluten-Free: Select gluten-free graham crumbs to make this a gf pineapple coconut balls recipe.
- Customise the Colours: Experiment together with your favourite Jello flavors and colours for a festive platter. Use purple and blue Jello to make patriotic jello balls; make Jello Halloween coconut balls with orange gelatin; and inexperienced and blue Jello balls are nice for Earth Day. Or use basic purple and inexperienced Christmas colours and make my Christmas Jello balls.
What Sort Of Coconut Is Greatest
If you would like the coconut flakes to be smaller, you should use common coconut flakes and pulse them in a meals processor. The advantageous texture seems to be nearly like a contemporary snowfall!
You too can skip this step and purchase unsweetened desiccated coconut on the retailer. Unsweetened advantageous desiccated coconut is extra powdery and can create a softer texture in comparison with coarser coconut. For those who want a extra conventional “snowball” look, use medium or coarse desiccated coconut. It’s all concerning the texture you want greatest!
Correct Storage
- To Retailer: Retailer any leftovers in an hermetic food-safe container or a gallon dimension ziplock bag for as much as 7 days.
- To Freeze: You’ll be able to freeze the Pineapple Christmas balls in a freezer protected container with wax paper between the layers, or a gallon dimension freezer protected ziplock bag, for as much as 1 month.
Extra Tropical Treats
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Use a advantageous mesh sieve to empty as a lot liquid from the canned crushed pineapple as potential.
20 ounce can crushed pineapple
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Add the softened cream cheese to a medium dimension mixing bowl.
8 ounce bundle cream cheese
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Use a handheld mixer to beat the cream cheese on medium velocity for about 1 minute, or till clean and no lumps stay.
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Sprinkle the pineapple flavored gelatin over the cream cheese and proceed to combine on medium velocity simply till mixed.
3 ounce bundle pineapple flavored gelatin combine
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Stir within the crushed graham cracker crumbs and the nicely drained pineapple, till the entire elements are nicely integrated.
¾ cup finely crushed graham crackers
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Cowl the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and chill within the fridge for two hours. (It will enable the combination to agency up and make scooping and rolling simpler)
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Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Add the unsweetened coconut flakes to a shallow bowl.
2¼ cups unsweetened coconut flakes
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Take away the pineapple cream cheese combination from the fridge. Scoop out the combination with a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, and roll right into a ball.
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Roll the balls within the unsweetened coconut flakes and place on the ready baking sheet. Preserve refrigerated till able to serve.
- To Retailer: Retailer any leftovers in an hermetic container or a gallon dimension ziplock bag for as much as 7 days.
- To Freeze: You’ll be able to freeze the Pineapple Christmas balls in a freezer protected container with wax paper between the layers, or a gallon dimension freezer protected ziplock bag, for as much as 1 month.
Suggestions :
- As an alternative of rolling the balls within the coconut flakes, you’ll be able to sprinkle the coconut flakes on high of the balls instantly after rolling.
- Use a dairy-free cream cheese for a vegan model.
- Select gluten free graham crumbs to make this a gf pineapple coconut balls recipe.
- If you would like the coconut flakes to be smaller, grind it utilizing a meals processor.
Energy: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 2g | Fats: 7g | Saturated Fats: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 1g | Ldl cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 58mg | Potassium: 52mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 109IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg