30 Old Fashioned Jello Salad Recipes (2024)

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These old fashioned jello salad recipes bring back memories. Whether you’re looking for a vintage recipe like grandma used to make or just a fun new twist on this classic, these old fashioned jello salad recipes will be just what you need. Most of these jello salads are healthy, and filled with fruit but are also so delicious you would never know.

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Old fashioned jello salad recipes are great for Thanksgiving, Christmas or any holiday dessert or just a quick and easy snack. The best thing about jello salad is that there is so many different ways to make it and it can be made with all different kinds of flavors and fruits. In this collection you’ll be able to find jello fruit salad, layered jello salad, molded jello recipes and more!

The jello mixture in most of these salads can be made with sugar-free jello if you’re looking for a lower-sugar option. And, there are unique additions such as mini marshmallows, walnuts, ice cream, fruit co*cktail…even mayonnaise. When combined together the ingredients make a fun and tasty jell-o salad recipe.

MORE JELLO RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Cranberry Jello Salad | Strawberry Jello Shots | Chocolate Jello Pudding Pie

Expert Tips for Making Jello Salad

Jello salad is overall a pretty easy thing to make. Just make sure the jello sets for long enough and serve. If you are making a jello mold, just make sure you have a good jello mold. You can find them here.

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  • Spice it up: Spice up your jello salad by molding it into different shapes. You can find different kinds of jello molds here.
  • Easy to swap: If you see a recipe you think you would like but want a different fruit, but easily swap out the fruit to your favorite one.
  • Assembling Tip: Closely follow the instructions for best results. It’s best to chill the jello for 1-2 hours until it is like a thick jelly, and then fold in the fruit evenly and let it chill for another 2-3 hours.
  • Variety: From layered jello salad, cherry jello salad, green jello salad, pistachio jello salad or Jello fruit salad there is something for everyone and every occasion.
  • Use the Proper Tools: Use a large enough mixing bowl. A large bowl ensures you won’t slosh the mixture all around. In most cases, you don’t need a mixer. You can easily use a whisk.

Jello Fruit Salad

Jello fruit salad is a simple and easy treat that is full of flavor. Its like eating a fruit salad but with a little sugary gelatin. There is so many ways to make jello fruit salad but here are some of the most tasty recipes.

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Strawberry Jello Salad

This Strawberry Jello Salad is super easy to make and super delicious! Its a great healthy option with cottage cheese for a little protein and crushed pineapple to satisfy your sweet tooth.

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Lime Jello Salad

Lime Jello Salad combines simple ingredients in a tasty way. You’ll love the sweetness of the pineapple and crunch from the walnuts. It’s made in pan, not a jello mold.

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Cherry Jello Pretzel Salad

Amazing as a salad or dessert, this incredible Cherry Jello Pretzel Salad is the ultimate side dish for any occasion.

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Creamy Raspberry Jello Salad

The color is so inviting, the texture creamy and the flavor sweet and wonderful. It’s a fun twist on regular jello.

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Cherry Jello Salad

Cherry Fruit Salad is a delightful, light and fruity dessert after a heavy meal. It is so delicious and can be modified to create a dessert your family will love.

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Spiced Peach Jello Salad

Spiced peach jello salad — made with peaches, cinnamon, and cloves — tastes like a juicy peach pie in jello form.

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Sea Foam Salad (Creamy Pear Jello)

This creamy Sea Foam Salad recipe is perfect for the holidays! It combines pears, jello, cream cheese, and fresh whipped cream to make a light and spongey, perfectly-1950s jello side dish.

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Layered Jello Salad

For a healthy and delicious dessert, try these layered jello salad recipes. While the layers may look intimidating, these recipes are easy to make and everyone will be talking about not only how good the dessert is but how nice it is presented.

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Layered Rainbow Jell-O Salad

So easy! And no one will ever guess how much healthier this Layered Rainbow Jell-O Salad is one of my favorite gelatin salads.

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Pistachio Lush

Prepare yourself for a nut-TASTIC taste sensation in this pistachio flavored dessert. Very easy to make!

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Layered Blueberry Jello Salad

MyLayered Blueberry Jello Saladis gonna make you smile. Bring these tasty beauties to your next potluck and you’ll be everyone’s new best friend….promise.

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Raspberry Layered Jello Salad

Raspberry Layered Jello Salad begins with a base of frozen raspberries, pineapple, and fresh bananas topped with a layer of sour cream, topped off with another thin layer of raspberries and jello! It’s the perfect side salad for Holidays and Special Occasions.

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Layered Cranberry Jello Salad

This impressive Layered Cranberry Jello Saladfeatures four layers that are beautiful, festive and delicious with raspberry and lime gelatin, pecans and other delicious additions! Great to make ahead!

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Creamy Layered Jello

A delicious creamy layered jello recipe loaded with fresh fruits! A creamy layer of jello with cool whip and strawberries topped with classic jello.

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Jello Recipes with Molds

The great thing about jello mold recipes is that you can customize it so many different ways. Get creative and fun with your ingredients and just stir them in.

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Jello Mold with Cream Cheese

Cream cheese jello mold recipe . A sweet milk and cream cheese gelating layer covered with strawberry jello and topped with fresh fruits.

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Orange Sherbet Jello Salad

This orange jello salad mold is simply made with orange jello and mandarin oranges.And it has orange sherbet in it too, so that makes it the best jello salad ever!!!

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Blueberry Yogurt Jello

This blueberry jello mold with blueberries and vanilla frozen yogurt will be a huge hit!

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Fizzy Berries Jello Mold

Fizzy Berries Jello Mold is a vintage throw back perfect for serving your holiday crowd! It will make the perfect compliment to any dinner occasion.

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Snowy Raspberry Gelatin Mold

This mold is always on our holiday table. The raspberry layer makes an attractive base for the creamy cream cheese layer.

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Strawberry and Chocolate Jello Mold

You won’t find any funky meat, cheese, or veggies in this stunning Strawberries and Chocolate Jello Mold. It’s not like Grandma used to make!

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Jello Recipes With Pretzels

These jello salad with pretzels recipes are just what you need for the holidays. It’s a fruity, sweet, and salty dessert that everyone will love.

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Raspberry Pretzel Salad

Raspberry Pretzel Salad is sweet, salty, made with Jell-O, and topped with cool whip.

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Peaches and Cream Pretzel Salad

Made with a salty-sweet pretzel crust, a delicious cream cheese filling, and an amazing layer of peaches this jello pretzel salad is perfect for your next holiday meal.

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Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe

This strawberry pretzel salad is always a hit at parties. It’s a strawberry pretzel dessert that is dangerously good! Sweet, salty, tart and irresistible!

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Pineapple Pretzel Salad

It is the perfect holiday side dish recipe! Wow your guests with this twist on classic Strawberry Pretzel Salad. This Pineapple Pretzel Salad Recipe is an absolutely delicious flavor combination.

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Orange Gelatin Pretzel Salad

Salty pretzels pair nicely with the sweet fruit in this refreshing layered salad. It’s a family favorite.

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Strawberry Lime Pretzel Salad

The combination of salty, sweet, creamy and fruity is always a hit!

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Other Jello Salad Recipes

Try out these other fun Jellodesserts! They are such easy dishesto make and super tasty.

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Easy Mosaic Jello

This easy Mosaic Jello is a fun, kid-friendly snack.

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Pina Colada Fluff

Bring that tropical feeling home with Pina Colada Fluff! An incredibly easy and delicious dessert salad!

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Lime Dinner Jell-O

A very simple lime dinner jello recipe. Certainly sounds strange, but in practice it’s very tasty and rather fun to eat!

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The BEST Ambrosia Salad

One of my favorite desserts of all time – Ambrosia Salad! So easy to make and always a big hit with kids and adults alike, serve this at your next party!

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Watergate Salad

Watergate Salad isn’t just any salad, it’s dessert too! It’s always a win at potlucks, and holiday meals.

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30 Old Fashioned Jello Salad Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why did people in the 50s eat so much Jell-O? ›

After World War II, when food shortages and rationing ended, gelatin became a creative kitchen tool, as well as a shortcut. Congealed molded dishes quickly earned a place at the table as impressive salads. According to Clark, mid-century meals had more courses than we serve at home today.

What happened to Jell-O salads? ›

Jell-O even introduced savory flavors, like celery, mixed vegetable, and "Italian salad," during the 1960s. By the mid-1970s, though, their popularity had declined so much that they were pulled from shelves.

How to make Jell-O step by step? ›

Whisk together 1 cup of hot water with 1 packet of jello in a large bowl. Add 1 cup of cold water to the mixture and whisk it in. Pour the mixture into a jello mold and add some fruit, if desired. Let the jello set in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours, then serve.

What is Jello salad made of? ›

Jello salad is an American salad made with flavored gelatin, fruit, and sometimes grated carrots or (more rarely) other vegetables. Other ingredients may include cottage cheese, cream cheese, marshmallows, nuts, or pretzels.

Why is Jell-O no longer popular? ›

With Jell-O salads becoming less popular, the brand looked for its next hit. But it had a problem: With the increase in women entering the workforce, families weren't sitting down for as many meals and eating dessert like they once did. And new, ready-to-eat foods were hitting the market that were more convenient.

Why do hospitals always serve Jell-O? ›

Why do hospitals serve so much Jell-O? There are a few reasons: Jell-O is easy to swallow and digest, making it suitable for patients who have difficulty eating solid foods or have digestive issues.

Why wouldn t you want to use pineapple in a jello salad? ›

Bromolain in pineapple, papain in papaya and actinidin in kiwi are all enzymes capable of breaking down proteins, hence the warning that these fruits cannot be used in Jell-O.

What country is Jell-O from? ›

Jell-O
Product typeGelatin dessert, pudding
OwnerKraft Heinz
Produced byKraft Foods
CountryUnited States
Introduced1897
3 more rows

What is the difference between gelatin and Jell-O? ›

So, while jelly and jello both contain gelatin as an ingredient, they are not the same thing. Jelly is a fruit spread that is thickened with pectin, while jello is a brand of gelatin dessert mix that contains gelatin as its primary thickening agent.

What makes Jell-O jiggle? ›

When you dump gelatin powder into boiling water, the weakened bonds are broken. As the mixture cools in the refrigerator, some of the bonds do not reconnect. The gaps fill with water, giving Jell-O that signature not-quite-solid wobble and wiggle.

Is gelatin and Jell-O the same thing? ›

Jell-O is made from gelatin — which is derived from animal bones and skin. That means it isn't vegetarian or vegan. However, vegetarian jello desserts made from plant-based gums or seaweeds like agar or carrageenan are available.

What should not be added to gelatin salad? ›

Pineapple, kiwi, papaya, mango, and guava are examples of fruits that cause a problem. Heat inactivates proteases, so cooking fruit before adding it to gelatin prevents any issue.

Are jello salads still popular? ›

People were still eating colorful gelatin, but they were no longer serving it as a main course as frequently as they used to. These days, it's more of a quirky novelty snack than an accepted meal option.

Why was jello so popular in the 1970s? ›

It's cheap, aesthetically pleasing (by the standards of the day), and relatively easy to prepare.

Why was everything Jell-O in the 50s? ›

I think the main reasons were: -It was a cheap, quick way to make a seemingly very large dish, although one without much substance. This was especially important at group functions such as church socials, family picnics, etc. -The chef needed very little skill or preparation time.

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

Soldiers came back from the war with a newly acquired taste for SPAM, and women were integrating the workplace in droves. Cheap and quick to prepare, products offered by companies like Heinz, Jell-O and Hi-Liner were perfectly adapted to this new reality.

Why do elderly eat Jell-O? ›

It also provides essential amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, which can provide potent health benefits. The protein and amino acids in gelatin can help the body build more collagen, a vital element in healthy skin. As people age, their natural collagen levels drop.

What era was Jell-O popular? ›

The dessert was especially popular in the first half of the 20th century.

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