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Jello Cream Cheese Bars

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Jello cream cheese bars are a tripled layered dessert with a shortbread crust, cream cheese center, and jello top. Perfect dessert to share at your next family get together.

jello cream cheese on a black plate

This yummy recipe comes from my mom. My mom always loved baking and this happens to be one of her go to desserts for family parties.

This triple layered dessert has a little bit of everything for everyone.

  • Crunchy: The bottom layer is a shortbread crust with walnuts crumbled in for just the right amount of crunch.
  • Creamy: The middle layer is for all the decadent cream lovers. Cream cheese with a hint of orange giving all the cooling vibes.
  • Sweet: And of course for the sweets lover the top strawberry Jello layer.
pan of jello cream cheese

If you like bar desserts you’ve got to try my sweet potato haupia pie bars or pumpkin crunch bars.

hand holding a fork with a piece of jello cream chese

Ingredients for Jello cream cheese bars

You can use any Jello flavors you wish, however this is my favorite combination.

jello cream cheese squares on black plates

Jell-O is a gelatin dessert that began in 1881 and became popular in the 1930s and 1950s. There have been over 50 different flavors of jello over the years.

How to store jello cream cheese?

This dessert is eaten cold. It can be stored covered in the refrigerator for about 5 days.

How to make Jello cream cheese?

Pre-heat oven to 375F. Spray not stick cooking spray or butter a 9×13 pan and set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl add flour, butter, and walnuts. Mix until butter is well combined with the flour and walnuts. Pour mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and use your hands to press down the mixture evenly.

bowl of shortbread crust
pan of shortbread crust

Bake at 375F for 15 minutes or until the crust just begins to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool completely.

Next combine 1 cup hot water and orange jello. Whisk until dissolved. Set aside to cool.

In a large bowl add cream cheese, Cool Whip, and sugar. Whisk until well combined. Then add cooled orange jello to the mixture and whisk until smooth and well combined.

hand mixer whipping cream cheese
orange jello poured in to a bowl of cream cheese

Then pour this mixture over the completely cooled crust. Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or until firm. Do not rush this step.

pouring the cream cheese layer shortbread

Once the cream cheese layer has chilled and is firm you can start the top Jello layer. To a medium size bowl add 3 cups hot water, strawberry jello, and gelatin. Whisk until Jello dissolves. Allow to cool. Before the jello sets, slowly pour over the cream cheese mixture. Cover pan and carefully transfer to the refrigerator to cool and set, at least 2 hours. ENJOY.

bowl of strawberry jello
pouring strawberry jello layer on cream cheese layer
jello cream cheese on a black plate

Jello Cream Cheese Bars

Relle Lum
Jello cream cheese bars are a tripled layered dessert with a shortbread crust, cream cheese center, and jello top. Perfect dessert to share at your next family get together.
4.49 from 74 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Additional Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 35 minutes
Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Servings 24 bars
Calories 162 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the crust layer

For the cream cheese layer

For the Jello layer

  • 3 cups hot water
  • 2 3 ounces each packages strawberry Jello
  • 1 0.25 ounce packet gelatin

Instructions
 

  • Pre-heat oven to 375F. Spray not stick cooking spray or butter a 9×13 pan and set aside.
  • In a medium mixing bowl add flour, butter, and walnuts. Mix until butter is well combined with the flour and walnuts. Pour mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and use your hands to press down the mixture evenly.
  • Bake at 375F for 15 minutes or until the crust just begins to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool completely.
  • Next combine 1 cup hot water and orange jello. Whisk until dissolved. Set aside to cool.
  • In a large bowl add cream cheese, Cool Whip, and sugar. Whisk until well combined. Then add cooled orange jello to the mixture and whisk until smooth and well combined.
  • Then pour this mixture over the completely cooled crust. Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or until firm. Do not rush this step.
  • Once the cream cheese layer has chilled and is firm you can start the top Jello layer. To a medium size bowl add 3 cups hot water, strawberry jello, and gelatin. Whisk until Jello dissolves. Allow to cool. Before the jello sets, slowly pour over the cream cheese mixture. Cover pan and carefully transfer to the refrigerator to cool and set, at least 2 hours. ENJOY.

Notes

*Be sure to allow each layer to completely cool prior to adding the next layer.
*You can substitute any flavor of Jello that you wish.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 162kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 2gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 41mgSugar: 8g
Keyword bars, cream cheese, dessert, jello, jello cream cheese, keeping it relle
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© Relle Lum for Keeping It Relle. Please do not copy and paste or screenshot recipes online or on social media. I’d love it if you share a link with a photo instead. Mahalo!

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jello cream cheese

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By on May 2nd, 2020

About Relle

Aloha, my name is Relle and welcome to my little home on the internet where I like to share all my favorite Hawaiian recipes (and local ones too).

I am a wife, mom of two, and nurse practitioner here in the beautiful state of Hawai’i. I was born and raised in Hawai’i and I am of native Hawaiian descent. In my spare time I love to cook and bake and I have compiled many of my favorite recipes here for you to enjoy.

More posts by this author.

10 thoughts on “Jello Cream Cheese Bars”

  1. I live in Canada and
    my Coolwhip container reads “one litre” Is this weight or volume or? Should I just measure out 8 ozs. in my measuring cup? Wanting to make it as it looks so yummy.

    Reply
  2. I attempted to make this for the first time and I cut the parchment paper to fit the pan! the jello layers ended up floating the whole crust and cream cheese layer….I’m going to try um again but I may just stick to buying um from zippys!

    Reply
    • Aloha Vonne. When the jello sinks below the cream cheese layer that means the cream cheese layer was not set enough and/or the jello layer was too warm. Make sure everything is set and cool before pouring in. Hope it works well next time. Happy Holidays.

      Reply
  3. I’ve made this several times and it is absolutely delicious. I add pecans with walnuts as well. I would like to make it with brown sugar. Has anyone tried it?

    Reply
  4. My mother used to make this for us when we were kids. It was our favorite. Do you think I can sub toasted almonds for walnuts? My son is allergic every nut except for almonds. Thank you.

    Reply

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