A lovely blend of pineapple, cream cheese, graham crumbs, coconut, and pineapple Jell-O, these Christmas balls are truly sublime. Exotic flavors might not be associated with Christmas as much as stick-to-the-ribs type hearty treats, eats and sips, but the holidays are all about delicious food. And these pineapple balls are definitely delicious!
The tropical touch of pineapple jazzes up the Christmas dessert table and you can make them in about ten minutes flat (you need an hour to chill the mixture first though!) This recipe makes a fun and unusual Christmas treat but it’s also great for the warmer months. It’s a very easy recipe, just calling for the ingredients to be combined, chilled and rolled. There’s no baking involved.
It’s a great recipe if you have last-minute guests to feed or unexpected guests turning up hungry on your doorstep! You can easily adapt the recipe if you want to make the pineapple balls gluten-free or vegan.
Why You’ll Love the Recipe:
These tropical tangy pineapple Christmas balls are a special treat. They’re fun and easy to make and everyone will love them.
How to Serve Them:
Enjoy these as a sweet snack, bring them to a potluck meal or serve them for dessert.
Variations and Substitutions:
Use sweetened coconut if you want an extra-sweet result. Use a vegan cream cheese alternative and use vegan Jell-O for a vegan version, or use gluten-free graham cracker crumbs for a gluten-free result.
Ingredients:
- Canned crushed pineapple, drained very well
- Unsweetened fine coconut flakes
- Cream cheese
- Pineapple Jell-O powder
- Graham cracker crumbs
How to make Pineapple Christmas Balls:
Step 1. Beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer and then add the drained crushed pineapple, half the coconut flakes, and the Jell-O powder.
Then, add the graham crumbs and beat again.
Step 2. Put the bowl in the fridge for an hour.
Step 3. Divide the mixture into 24 equal pieces and roll each one into a ball.
Step 4. Roll the balls in the coconut flakes and keep them refrigerated until serving.
These juicy coconut and pineapple balls are easy to prepare and they are so delicious. You probably should make a double batch since these tend to disappear fast!
Can You Make Them Ahead?
Yes, you can prepare these ahead, as long as you keep them refrigerated.
Storage Instructions:
These pineapple Christmas balls will keep for up to a week in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They also freeze for up to a month.
Pineapple Christmas Balls
These tropical tangy pineapple Christmas balls are a special treat. They’re fun and easy to make and everyone will love them.
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 24 1x
Ingredients
- 14 ounces canned crushed pineapple, drained very well
- 2 cups unsweetened fine coconut flakes
- 8 ounces room temperature cream cheese
- 3 ounces pineapple Jell-O powder
- ½ cup graham cracker crumbs
Instructions
- Beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer and then add the drained crushed pineapple, half the coconut flakes, the Jell-O powder, and the graham crumbs and beat again.
- Put the bowl in the fridge for an hour.
- Divide the mixture into 24 equal pieces and roll each one into a ball.
- Roll the balls in the coconut flakes and keep them refrigerated until serving.
Notes
plus 1 hour chilling time
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
Marie Rayner is a retired Chef, freelance writer, recipe developer, food blogger, and Cookbook author. She makes her home in Chester, UK, where she lives with her husband, Todd, and their much beloved English Cocker, Mitzie. Her motto is “Life is far too short to eat bad food,” and her goal is to share delicious and easy recipes which anyone can enjoy and cook in the comfort of their own home.
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