Coca Cola Trifle

Glass trifle bowl filled with Coca Cola fruit trifle topped with whipped cream and cherries, surrounded by cherry pie filling, Jell-O box, and a glass Coke bottle.

Coca Cola Trifle is a nostalgic gelatin salad made with cherry gelatin, crushed pineapple, dark sweet cherries, and Coca-Cola, creating a sweet, fruity dish with a light, jiggly texture. Quick to prepare and perfect for everything from holiday meals to potlucks, this classic recipe is an easy, crowd-friendly favorite.

Prep Time10

Cook Time5

Chill Time4 30

Total Time4 45

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Coca Cola Salad Recipe, Coca Cola Trifle Recipe

Servings:

Calories: 376kcal

Ingredients

20 ounces crushed pineapple, drained but juice reserved
15 ounces pitted dark sweet cherries in heavy syrup, drained but juice reserved
6 ounces cherry flavored gelatin (two 3-ounce packages)
8 ounces Coca Cola, I used the glass bottle Coca Cola
1 cup chopped walnuts
8 ounces thawed whipped topping
4 ounces cream cheese, softened

Garnish

Maraschino cherries, drained and patted dry

Instructions

Measure out 1 cup each of the reserved pineapple and cherry juices. (You can add water to the juice to ensure you have 2 cups of juice in total)
In a small saucepan over medium high heat, bring the juices to a low boil. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the juice into a heat safe bowl.
Stir both packages of cherry gelatin into the hot juice until completely dissolved.
Slowly stir in the Coca Cola. Set the liquid aside to cool for just a few minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. This will allow the juice and gelatin to cool to a thin syrup-like consistency.
Remove the plastic wrap from the cooled gelatin and stir in the crushed pineapple, cherries and chopped walnuts. Stir to combine.
Spoon the gelatin, fruit and nut mixture into a 3 quart footed trifle bowl, or a serving bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to overnight, or until firmly set.
Just before serving, using an electric hand mixer and a medium size bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until completely smooth. Spoon in the thawed whipped topping and continue to mix until well combined.
Spoon the topping mixture over the top of the set gelatin, and top with the maraschino cherries. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Notes

Raspberry, strawberry and even black cherry flavored gelatin can be substituted for plain cherry gelatin.
If canned pitted dark sweet cherries are not available in your area, substitute regular canned pitted cherries, or well drained stem-less maraschino cherries.
Cherry Coca Cola is also a great option for an extra burst of cherry flavor.

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