Layered Jello Dessert

Ingredients

6 boxes of Jell-O, various flavours
8 cups of water
2 cups of sour cream (1 pint)

Takes 240 Minutes, serves 12-24.

Instructions

Dissolve an entire package of Jell-O in 1 cup of boiling water. Divide into two bowls. Set aside one bowl. Add a 1/3 cup of cold water to one bowl and whisk until well combined. Pour the clear Jell-O into a 3 quart (9x13-inch) glass casserole dish. The layer will be very thin. Refrigerate until set. Then add 1/3 cup of sour cream to the second bowl of reserved Jell-O, whisk until well combined and pour onto the clear layer.
Repeat process with other 5 boxes of Jell-O.
Cut into small squares or serve as-is, allowing guests to scoop out portions as they wish. Always serve chilled.

A LAYERED JELLO DESSERT is a thing of beauty. It’s fun to eat too!

This colourful concoction, affectionately referred to as a LAYERED JELLO DESSERT gets top marks for its retro vibe. Jello salads were traditionally made with everything from chopped slaw and luncheon meats to canned fruit and marshmallows. No, I’m not joking. Head HERE to learn more about them.

Just to be clear, we kept ours clear on purpose. We wanted it to be a dessert although you can still serve it on diner buffets throughout the year or, as a fun dessert for kids. One friend sent us a message saying she cuts it up into tiny squares and passes them around at parties. Love the concept!

I owe my appreciation of this recipe to my Aunt Liz who used to make one with nuts, pineapples, cream and bananas over the holidays. Thankfully my cousin Linda is now the keeper of Aunt Liz’s recipes. She sent me this colourful variation.

Looking at the photos of the completed creation you might think this is a lot of work. It’s actually quite easy and the process gets easier and easier by the layer. Just allow for a bit of time for all the chilling required. After that, Polly, put the kettle on, and let’s get going!

Here are a few tips on how to make a LAYERED JELLO DESSERT:

JELL-O

I used brand name Jell-O for this recipe, the classic powdered gelatin blended with flavourings, and sugar or artificial sweeteners. Dissolved in hot water then chilled, it can be moulded into all kinds of fun shapes for desserts and snacks.

Jell-O comes in a wide range of colours and flavours, so you can create the perfect look and taste by assembling your favourites. I selected mine based on colour as I was looking for a red and green layered look. Head HERE to learn about the many different flavours and types of Jell-O available.

The various layers of the jello chilled in a casserole dish

TIMING

It took about 3½ to 4 hours to make this, but most of that was waiting for each layer to chill and set. Despite the starts and stops, I found the entire process to be quite fascinating. I love how the product and this recipe perform.

Linda mentioned the importance of having a level fridge to avoid lopsided chilling. Tilts can easily be levelled by placing small pieces of folded paper under the corners of the glass dish once it’s placed in the fridge.

I couldn’t help but think about how much fun it must be to make this recipe with kids. The only difficult step is adding boiling water at the beginning of each new colour, but with adult supervision, I think kids will be fine.

SERVICE

Serve this salad as a stand-alone sweet treat or present it as an interesting delight on a holiday buffet. No matter how you slice it, everyone will love this whimsical menu item.