Vibrant Jell-O Fruit Salad (Printable)

A molded gelatin dessert featuring fruit, carrots, and creamy cottage cheese with a nostalgic flair.

# What You Need:

→ Gelatin Base

01 - 2 packages (3 oz each) flavored gelatin (e.g., strawberry or orange)
02 - 2 cups boiling water
03 - 1 cup cold water

→ Fruit & Vegetables

04 - 1 cup crushed pineapple, well-drained
05 - 1 cup canned mandarin orange segments, drained
06 - 1 cup grated carrots

→ Creamy Additions

07 - 1 cup small-curd cottage cheese
08 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water, stirring until fully dissolved.
02 - Stir in cold water to combine with gelatin mixture.
03 - Allow gelatin mixture to cool to room temperature, approximately 20 minutes.
04 - Gently fold in crushed pineapple, mandarin oranges, grated carrots, and cottage cheese. Add walnuts if desired.
05 - Pour mixture into a 6-cup gelatin mold or bundt pan, smoothing the surface.
06 - Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 3 hours until fully set.
07 - Briefly dip the mold in warm water, then invert onto a serving platter.
08 - Cut into slices and serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks stunning and feels fancy, but honestly takes almost no real effort or skill.
  • The wobble is pure joy—it jiggles like it has its own personality and makes everyone smile.
  • You can prep it hours ahead, which is the kind of kitchen peace we all deserve.
02 -
  • The draining step for your fruit is absolutely critical—if you skip it or just drain halfheartedly, the extra liquid will dilute the gelatin and it won't set, no matter how long you refrigerate.
  • Room temperature cooling before adding fruit matters because if you add cold fruit to warm gelatin, it starts setting unevenly and you get weird texture pockets throughout.
03 -
  • Unmolding is easier if you run a thin knife around the edge first to release any spots where it might have stuck to the sides of the mold.
  • If your mold doesn't want to release, wrap a warm damp towel around the outside for 30 seconds and try again—patience beats forcing it.
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