We’ve all heard of Caesar salads, chef salads, and even egg salads. But a Jell-O salad? Popular in the 60’s, we're is bringing this recipe back with a variation that’s perfect for the 4th of July.
This cool, refreshing treat is traditionally made with gelatin and fruit. Other ingredients that could be added include cottage cheese, cream cheese, marshmallows, nuts, or pretzels. Because it has many elements, it tends to appear as speckled bits of color against a gelatin background- hence the name ‘salad’.
It is no surprise this dish caught on so quickly, as it is simple and inexpensive to make. Just prepare the gelatin, mix with the desired ingredients, and chill in a mold so it takes on the shape you would like it to appear in.
Jell-O salads can also be customized to feature colors that make it perfect for certain holidays and occasions. We chose a red, white and blue color combination that is great for patriotic holidays.
The deep crimson color of the raspberry gelatin, the creamy white mixture of cream cheese and vanilla, and the dark cerulean of the blueberries make this truly an eye-catching patriotic dessert that tastes as good as it looks.
Not only reserved for the 4th of July, this dessert makes an impressive statement on any national holiday, like Memorial Day or Labor Day.
So, the next time you are invited to a function, why not whip up a Jell-O salad? It’s easy to make, fun to eat, and sure to fit any occasion. Bon Appetit!
Jell-O Salad
Ingredients:
2 packages raspberry gelatin powder
2 cups boiling water
1 packet plain gelatin powder
1 cup cold water
1 cup half and half
1 cup sugar
8 ounces cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups blueberries (canned)
Directions:
1. Dissolve 1 package raspberry gelatin in boiling water. Pour into 9 x 13 x 2-inch pan. Chill until firm.
2. Combine packet of unflavored gelatin with cold water; set aside.
3. Mix half and half with sugar in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from heat.
4. Add softened cream cheese to the half and half mixture, beat until very smooth.
5. Add vanilla extract and unflavored gelatin mixture to the cream cheese mixture. Stir until gelatin is dissolved.
6. Cool, and then pour over the chilled layer. Chill until firm.
7. Drain blueberry juice into a small bowl, set aside the blueberries. Add enough water to blueberry juice to make 2 cups liquid.
8. Bring the blueberry juice to a boil. Add remaining raspberry gelatin package; stir until dissolved. Cool this mixture then stir in blueberries.
9. Pour this mixture over cheese layer and chill until firm. Decorate with sliced strawberries and a few reserved blueberries if desired.
Is Jell-O Good for a Diet?
You may have heard that Jell-O is a good choice for a diet, but is that true? If you're counting calories for any reason, the answer to this question is surely important to you. Thankfully, we've got the answer right here for you.
Jell-O is generally touted as a good diet food because it's low in calories. While this is true, it's important to ensure you're buying sugar-free Jell-O. Regular Jell-O has a high sugar content, making it a poor choice for those on a diet. If you really want to take advantage of Jell-O's low calories, you need to make sure you aren't eating Jell-O that's high in sugar.
There are plenty of sugar-free flavors of Jell-O. Of course, eating Jell-O with sugar one time isn't going to throw your diet off-course. Having a cheat day every now and again is okay. If you plan on making this Jell-O salad, or a similar version, regularly, though, you need to be sure you're picking up sugar-free Jell-O.
Beyond being low in calories, Jell-O doesn't offer any specific health benefits. It isn't high in nutrients. That being said, it's a great option for dessert for anyone who's watching their calories.
If you enjoyed this Jell-O salad recipe, be sure to check out some of our other recipes! We have great recipes for any time of the year, including a number of holidays. Enjoy!
The image featured at the top of this post is ©iStock.com/:Sarsmis .