No bake Pineapple Balls bring a bright, tropical twist to the classic flavors of Christmas. Featuring crushed pineapple, cream cheese, coconut, graham crumbs, and pineapple jello, this recipe delivers a creamy, chewy, sweet and tangy treat to your dessert table!
Pineapple Christmas Balls
Our Pineapple Balls recipe takes your taste buds on a trip to the tropics! These bite-sized treats are meant to look like little pineapple snowballs, so even if you’re basking in the sun, it still feels like the holiday season.
Old-fashioned pineapple Christmas balls were originally made with canned Nestle Carnation Thick Cream, which has since been discontinued due to a lack of demand.
You may have seen some recipes on social media that make pineapple Christmas balls with condensed milk or heavy whipping cream as a substitute, but I find that cream cheese provides a firmer, thicker consistency to better hold their shape and has a mild tanginess to balance the sweetness and enhance the tropical taste.
Pineapple Balls Ingredients
- Pineapple: Drained crushed pineapple provides the tropical pineapple flavor and some natural sweetness. Draining it well is important to prevent excess moisture, which could make the mixture too wet and difficult to form into balls.
- Cream cheese: Adds a creamy, smooth texture and a slight tang that balances the sweetness. The cream cheese also acts as a binder, helping the mixture hold together when rolled into balls. Make sure you use room temperature cream cheese to avoid lumps in the mixture.
- Pineapple Jello powder: There is no need to prep the packet; you are just using the powder to provide the perfect fruity punch! If you prefer, lemon-flavored gelatin mix can be used instead of pineapple-flavored gelatin mix.
- Graham crackers: Adds a subtle crunch and a hint of flavor that complements the pineapple. The graham crumbs also help absorb moisture, improving the texture and making the mixture easier to work with.
- Unsweetened coconut flakes: You can substitute sweetened coconut flakes if you prefer a sweeter coating or even add chopped nuts for a bit of crunch.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Pineapple Balls
- Prepare The Pineapple Mixture: Beat the cream cheese until smooth and no lumps remain. Sprinkle in the gelatin and continue to mix until combined. Stir in the graham cracker crumbs and pineapple pieces, cover, and chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours.
- Roll And Coat In Coconut: Scoop roll the mixture into balls. Coat the balls in the coconut flakes and place on the prepared pan.
- Serve: Store in the fridge until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Christmas pineapple coconut bites are perfect for last-minute holiday gatherings. Serve them in festive cups for a fun, portion-controlled snack or pile them on a plate for guests to grab as a lighter dessert option than cakes or cookies.
They are also great for gifting—their tangy taste and homemade touch can always brighten someone’s day!
Tips & Variations
- Cover In Coconut: Instead of rolling the balls in the coconut flakes, you can sprinkle the coconut flakes on top of the balls immediately after rolling.
- Ditch The Dairy: Use a dairy-free cream cheese for a vegan version.
- Go Gluten-Free: Choose gluten-free graham crumbs to make this a gf pineapple coconut balls recipe.
- Customize the Colors: Experiment with your favorite Jello flavors and colors for a festive platter. Use red and blue Jello to make patriotic jello balls; make Jello Halloween coconut balls with orange gelatin; and green and blue Jello balls are great for Earth Day. Or use classic red and green Christmas colors and make my Christmas Jello balls.
What Kind Of Coconut Is Best
If you want the coconut flakes to be smaller, you can use regular coconut flakes and pulse them in a food processor. The fine texture looks almost like a fresh snowfall!
You can also skip this step and buy unsweetened desiccated coconut at the store. Unsweetened fine desiccated coconut is more powdery and will create a softer texture compared to coarser coconut. If you prefer a more traditional “snowball” appearance, use medium or coarse desiccated coconut. It’s all about the texture you like best!
Proper Storage
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight food-safe container or a gallon size ziplock bag for up to 7 days.
- To Freeze: You can freeze the Pineapple Christmas balls in a freezer safe container with wax paper between the layers, or a gallon size freezer safe ziplock bag, for up to 1 month.
More Tropical Treats
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Pineapple Balls
Ingredients
- 20 ounce can crushed pineapple very well drained
- 8 ounce package cream cheese softened
- 3 ounce package pineapple flavored gelatin mix I use Jell-O brand
- ¾ cup finely crushed graham crackers
- 2¼ cups unsweetened coconut flakes
Instructions
- Use a fine mesh sieve to drain as much liquid from the canned crushed pineapple as possible.20 ounce can crushed pineapple
- Add the softened cream cheese to a medium size mixing bowl.8 ounce package cream cheese
- Use a handheld mixer to beat the cream cheese on medium speed for about 1 minute, or until smooth and no lumps remain.
- Sprinkle the pineapple flavored gelatin over the cream cheese and continue to mix on medium speed just until combined.3 ounce package pineapple flavored gelatin mix
- Stir in the crushed graham cracker crumbs and the well drained pineapple, until all of the ingredients are well incorporated.¾ cup finely crushed graham crackers
- Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours. (This will allow the mixture to firm up and make scooping and rolling easier)
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the unsweetened coconut flakes to a shallow bowl.2¼ cups unsweetened coconut flakes
- Remove the pineapple cream cheese mixture from the refrigerator. Scoop out the mixture with a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, and roll into a ball.
- Roll the balls in the unsweetened coconut flakes and place on the prepared baking sheet. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container or a gallon size ziplock bag for up to 7 days.
- To Freeze: You can freeze the Pineapple Christmas balls in a freezer safe container with wax paper between the layers, or a gallon size freezer safe ziplock bag, for up to 1 month.
- Instead of rolling the balls in the coconut flakes, you can sprinkle the coconut flakes on top of the balls immediately after rolling.
- Use a dairy-free cream cheese for a vegan version.
- Choose gluten free graham crumbs to make this a gf pineapple coconut balls recipe.
- If you want the coconut flakes to be smaller, grind it using a food processor.
