Retro Jello Recipes That Are Actually Delicious and You Need to Try Today (2024)

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By Lisa Sharp 5 Comments

These retro jello recipes aren’t the scary retro recipes we see sometimes with fish in sweet jello or other horrifying recipes. These are delicious!

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Can you talk about retro food and not talk about jello? Gelatin has been around since the time of the Egyptians and in the 1600s we have written evidence of it being experimented with as food.

The brand Jell-O and what we largely think of when we think of gelatin now was first patented in 1845. It didn’t catch on for a while though. It finally started to catch on after a successful marketing campaign in 1902.

They started to advertise in the Ladies Home Journal and 15 million booklets were distributed. And the popularity just kept growing. You can’t look at a vintage magazine without seeing a recipe featuring Jell-O.

Now we think of it as only a dessert but the mid-century loved to use Jell-O in everything, especially weird salads. You can see some of those interesting recipes in the post Vintage Recipes Made Modern.

We did kind of throw out the baby with the bathwater though with the move away from the weird Jell-O dishes. There were some really fun recipes that we seem to have lost. Honestly, Jell-O by itself is kind of boring so I think we need to bring back some of the Jell-O-based desserts from the mid-century.

Below is a Jell-O ad from a Ladies Home Journal that I own. It is the June 1953 issue. This is a good example of a retro Jell-O recipe that still sounds delicious. This is a recipe I hope to recreate and share soon as well.

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And really while some mid-century recipes seem very unhealthy they did use a lot of fruit in their desserts and that is a good thing to bring back. We still need to be aware of how much sugar we are consuming but I’m a firm believer in moderation and throwing some fruit in there at least gives some nutrition value.

Now there are even vegan-friendly gelatin alternatives if that’s more your speed. And there are a lot of natural jello options that avoid dyes and other artificial ingredients.

These retro jello recipes are ones that are actually delicious and we should bring back. They are the ones I think we are missing out on since we moved away from the questionable past of jello-based recipes.

Retro Jello Recipes

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Polly's Pink Stuff (Raspberry Jello Mold)

Photo Credit: www.lanascooking.com

"A retro recipe for a festive raspberry jello mold. My grandmother's holiday specialty served every Christmas and Easter dinner."

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Lemon Jello Salad

Photo Credit: www.frieddandelions.com

"Lemon Jello Salad is my vegan spin on the all American classic side dish!"

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7 up Jello Salad Recipe

Photo Credit: www.serenabakessimplyfromscratch.com

"7 Up Jello Salad is an old fashioned Jello Salad recipe passed down from my husband’s Grandmother. Lemon Jello is made with 7 Up, pineapple, banana, and marshmallows than covered with a pineapple mousse."

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Rhubarb Dump Cake

Photo Credit: www.greedygourmet.com

"Looking for an easy dessert? Here's a Rhubarb Dump Cake that uses rhubarb, cake mix, jello, sugar, and butter. It really is that simple!"

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Sea Foam Salad

Photo Credit: www.thebittersideofsweet.com

"Sea Foam Salad is the perfect no-bake dessert any time of the year! We love it for around the holidays! Just a few simple ingredients and it is ready to go!"

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Fresh Strawberry Pie

Photo Credit: www.lanascooking.com

"Fresh Strawberry Pie made with strawberries at the height of their season. A sweet ending to a weeknight dinner or a special occasion."

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Dori's Cherry Pineapple Gelatin

Photo Credit: www.cookingwithcarlee.com

"This fun cherry pineapple "salad" is sure to be a hit with your family. It is a simple make-ahead side dish that is festive for a holiday or fun for a BBQ."

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Raspberry Jello Fluff

Photo Credit: momsdinner.net

"This recipe for Raspberry Jello Fluff is super easy to make and only requires FOUR INGREDIENTS- crushed pineapple, raspberry jello, cool whip, & cottage cheese. Easy & delicious."

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Cranberry Jello Salad with Cream Cheese Topping

Photo Credit: houseofnasheats.com

"Cranberry Jello Salad is a sweet-tart dessert salad loaded with crushed pineapple, chopped pecans, cranberries, and a tangy cream cheese topping! It’s perfect to serve for Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, or any night of the year!"

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Lime Congealed Salad

Photo Credit: www.lanascooking.com

"A very southern, lime congealed salad with crushed pineapple, celery, nuts, and marshmallows."

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Lemon Pineapple Jell-O with Pineapple Whipped Cream Topping

Photo Credit: houseofnasheats.com

"Lemon Pineapple Jell-O with Pineapple Whipped Cream Topping is a light and refreshing slice of vintage wonderfulness! The deliciously sweet and citrusy stuff can be served as a salad or a dessert and served with or without the chopped walnuts on top."

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Creamy Strawberry Jello Mold

Photo Credit: bellyfull.net

"This Creamy Strawberry Jello Mold has a smooth and creamy texture, so delicious, and super easy using only a few pantry items. Great for a small crowd and perfect for a Sunday brunch!"

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Marshmallow Cookie Bars

Photo Credit: www.rockrecipes.com

"Marshmallow Cookie Bars. Easy to make in any flavour you like. The shortbread cookie bottom gets topped by a homemade marshmallow layer made from your favourite flavour of Jello!"

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Raspberry Jello Salad

Photo Credit: www.plantbasedcooking.com

"This plant-based version of traditional raspberry jello salad with vegan sour cream is sure to hit the spot and won’t affect your waistline either."

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Rainbow Layered Jello

Photo Credit: www.freutcake.com

"My Grandma always made this Rainbow Layered Jello for every birthday and special occasion! It takes patience but the results are worth it. Such a family favorite!"

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Cranberry Jello Salad

Photo Credit: neighborfoodblog.com

"This Cranberry Jello Salad recipe has been in our family for years! It's a must make for the holidays, but a super easy and refreshing dessert any time of year."

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Strawberry Cream Pie

Photo Credit: www.simplystacie.net

"Strawberry Cream Pie - Tastes like a dream! This easy summer pie is creamy, sweet and refreshing."

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Orange Jello Fluff Salad

Photo Credit: www.mamagourmand.com

"Favorite Orange Jello Salad Recipe is an effortless dish perfect for potlucks and celebrations. Easy orange jello fluff salad combines Cool Whip, mandarin oranges, cottage cheese, orange gelatin, and pineapple for a refreshing tropical side dish."

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Jello Cream Cheese Dessert

Photo Credit: www.mightymrs.com

"We are kicking it old school today with this Jello cream cheese dessert made with pineapples and cherry pie filling!"

More Retro Recipes

  • Old-Fashioned Cake Recipes
  • Vintage Cranberry Noel Dessert Recipe
  • Vintage Cheesy Potato Casserole Recipe
  • Retro Ham and Cheese Pancake Recipe

If you want to see even more retro recipes be sure to sign up below, you will also my meal planning ebook for free. It’s a great way to keep up with what’s going on over here on the blog.

Retro Jello Recipes That Are Actually Delicious and You Need to Try Today (2024)

FAQs

What are the old Jell-O flavors? ›

1897 – The original four Jell-O gelatin flavors were raspberry, strawberry, lemon, and orange. 1904 – Cherry and chocolate flavors are introduced. 1918 – Coffee flavor is introduced, but only in certain regions. 1930 – Lime flavor is introduced, accompanied by a recipe book.

Why was Jell-O so popular in the 70s? ›

Jell-O, particularly, was able to capitalize on the low prices of their products and the nostalgia women felt toward the aspics prepared by their grandmothers in the Victorian era.

How to make Jell-O better? ›

It's important to use the right amount of water, as using too much or too little can affect the taste and texture of the Jell-O. Additionally, you can add fruit, whipped cream, or other ingredients to enhance the flavor.

Was Jell-O popular in the 80s? ›

Throughout the 1960s through the 1980s, Jell-O's sales steadily decreased. Many Jell-O dishes, such as desserts and Jell-O salads, became special occasion foods rather than everyday items.

Why is Jell-O no longer popular? ›

Jell-O shifted to single-serve cups and more convenient options as competition for snacks and desserts grew. Kraft in the early 2000's shifted the focus of Jell-O's advertising away from kids and toward adults. It pitched sugar-free Jell-O, for example, as a treat for Atkins dieters.

What is the most expensive Jell-O in the world? ›

Made by jellymongers Bompas and Parr, the three 'Xperiabots' have been created to promote Sony's Xperia mobile. Sony claims that that each is worth 'thousands of pounds' because they use gold, truffles, gemstones and platinum.

What state uses the most Jell-O? ›

Utah eats more Jell-O than any other state

The people in Utah love their Jell-O! The state has an entire holiday week dedicated to the jiggly treat, and it's even Utah's official state food.

What was Jell-O originally called? ›

Although the exact history of how Peter Cooper created the product is unknown to us today, we do know that in 1845 he secured a patent (US Patent 4084) for a gelatin dessert powder called “portable gelatin.” His invention was a basic edible gelatin that had no flavoring to it.

What was Jell-O originally made for? ›

In 1897, Pearle Wait, a carpenter in LeRoy, was developing a cough remedy and laxative tea in his home. He experimented with gelatine and came up with a fruit flavored dessert which his wife, May, named JELL-O.

Why do you put vinegar in Jello? ›

Entire cookbooks were devoted to lime Jell-O, according to Belluscio, often instructing cooks to add a tablespoon of vinegar to cut the sweetness when using flavored gelatins in savory vegetable salads.

What does salt do to Jello? ›

The effect of the addition of sodium chloride to gelatin solutions is shown from the Donnan relationship to increase the ionisation of the gelatin, the increase produced in acid solutions reaching a maximum at about 1/1000 molar salt concentration. This effect is attributed to the formation of complex ions.

What is the secret ingredient in Jello? ›

Gelatin, the primary ingredient in Jell-O, is derived from collagen, a protein found in the connective tissues, bones, and skin of animals," Sabat says. "Historically, gelatin was obtained by boiling the bones and tissues of animals, such as cows or pigs, to extract collagen.

Why do hospitals serve Jell-O? ›

Glycine, the amino acid found in gelatin, has anti-inflammatory properties that not only accelerate wound healing, but they improve the quality of an individual's sleep.

What is the most popular flavor of Jell-O? ›

Strawberry Jell-O might just be the most quintessential Jell-O flavor there is, especially when it comes to on-the-go Jell-O cups.

What was the downfall of Jell-O? ›

As the American appetite for Jell-O began to wane in the 1970s, the brand made a hard pivot to resuscitate its struggling product. At the time, Americans were more enthused about bœuf bourguignon and fondu than towering domes of fish-filled gelatin, and the situation on the homefront was changing as well.

How many Flavours of Jell-O are there? ›

Jello mix flavored gelatin powder variety pack includes a total of 15 flavors, each in a 3oz box. Jello Flavors include- cherry, peach, raspberry, strawberry, grape, lime, berry blue, orange, black cherry, watermelon, apricot, strawberry banana, island pineapple, cranberry, and lemon.

What unusual Flavour did the Jell-O Company try in 1942? ›

Cola Jell-O

According to the Jell-O Facebook page, it was totally a thing in 1942. Intriguing as it sounds, the brand gave no information about why the flavor was discontinued. Mid Century Menu, however, tells us that it was discontinued that very same year. Seems that it flopped hard and fast.

Was Jell-O popular in the 1950s? ›

While both sweet and savory gelatin became popular after World War II, Jell-O's golden years were in the 1950s, when the new American middle class created dishes such as jellied bouillon with frankfurters and strawberry cottage cheese mold. A “best of” Jell-O cookbook was published, and revised throughout the '60s.

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