Summer comes with heat. And it’s hot. Darned hot! So when you are in need of a cooling and simple dessert to wow a crowd, you know it’s time for a jello mold! Make this Summer Fruit Jello Dessert, and your guest will be cool all summer long.
After many days of meandering down memory lane we have come to jello molds. Yes, I said jello molds. Now before you bounce right off of this page, please understand that my people are fond of these jiggly, layered things. And by “my people”, I mean Midwesterners. Not all of us, but I doubt you will encounter a Midwesterner who hasn’t seen/made/eaten/turned our noses up at a jello mold at Grama’s house.
I can remember the days of going to my aunt’s house for holiday meals, and the amount of food on the buffet table was always enormous. And there was ALWAYS at least one jello dessert. Yes, we often have more than one. I’ve seen them with crumbled pretzel crusts and strawberries; with cookie crumbles and chocolate pudding; with shredded carrots and crushed pineapple in lime jello. Yeah, that was the one that always had me reaching for something else. And of course, my mom always brought the citrus layered jello that had the added benefit of ice cream.
Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!
After all, it’s actually health food. Fruits? Check. Dairy? Check. Gelatin? Check. (yes, gelatin is alleged to be good for you) Any leftovers of this one found my mom and I huddled over the pan, spoons in hand, making sure that none of it went to waste.
So it comes as no surprise that the flavors, textures, and smells of this dish bring me right back to my childhood. I decided that it was high time that I made this dessert for a recent cookout, and I even figured I’d make two with the additional one being a red, white, and blue theme for the 4th.
When I asked my mom to send me the recipe, she scanned her actual recipe card for me. I have to admit, I love that the card is stained, creased, yellowed and well-used. This just shows how well-loved this recipe has been over the years.
When I brought out the jello desserts, guests weren’t quite sure what to make of them. But once I dug into the first one, their curiosity got the best of them and before long they were all vying to try them both. Some liked the berry version. Others loved the citrus. But all agreed that this refreshing throwback dessert was a hit.
Me? They just taste like my childhood. And that is darned tasty.
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 10 people | 3 hours |
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Like so many basic, throwback recipes, they aren't complicated. They may take a little patience, as this one requires as each layer sets, but the result is simple perfection. And because the jello comes in such bright colors, kiddos love helping to make this. They feel like mad scientists! So many options of flavors and fruits, so little time!
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- 1 3 oz. box lemon Jello (or blueberry jello, if making the berry version)
- 1 3 oz. box orange Jello (or strawberry jello, if making the berry version)
- 3 cups boiling water, divided
- 1 cup vanilla ice cream
- 2 8 oz. cans mandarin oranges, juice included (or 8 oz. frozen raspberries for the berry version)
- Cool Whip (for topping each jello dessert)
- Remove ice cream from freezer 10 minutes prior to starting recipe to allow ice cream to begin to soften.
- Pour 1 1/2 cup of hot water into lemon jello mix. Stir to incorporate until all of the crystals dissolve.
- Add 1 cup ice cream to jello mixture while water is still hot.
- Mix ice cream into jello mixture until it melts completely and is incorporated into jello.
- Pour mixture into glass dish. Refrigerate for at least an hour, or until the mixture sets up completely.
- Once lemon layer is set, mix 1 1/2 cup hot water into orange jello mix.
- Pour mandarin oranges into jello mixture, including any juices from each can. Allow the orange mixture to begin to cool and set up slightly so that it doesn't melt the lemon layer once added.
- Pour orange and jello mixture over lemon layer.
- Refrigerate for at least an hour, or until orange layer sets completely.
- Remove from refrigerator and top with Cool Whip. Serve immediately and enjoy this refreshing summer dessert!
As I mentioned above, I also made a red, white and blue version of this dessert for the 4th. But you could use any combination of flavors, colors, and fruits. Which combination would YOU try with this throwback jello dessert?
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This sounds amazing! Classic recipes are the best. My mother recently sent me some her old recipe cards, too, by taking photos of the cards and texting them to me. Technology is awesome 😀
Love that recipe card!
I mostly grew up in the midwest going to a baptist church full of born and bread for generations midwesteners. My mom never really made them (she wasn’t from the midwest) but potlucks ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS had them. So, they have a warm spot in my heart. This looks delicious!
I love a stained recipe card! I had one from my grandma and I keep it in my recipe box. This is an awesome recipe idea.
Ok, so I am one of those too-healthy, turn-my-nose-up jello snobs. BUT I will say that my sister still makes jello for the holidays out of nostalgia. And we have fond memories of this cool jello mold that our mom made with different colors of jello looking like confetti. Yes, I am proud to say that my mom was queen of the jello mold. She and my sister would want to join you at your table and enjoy your awesome fruit jello mold. I don’t judge. I feel comforted by many foods that take me back to my childhood too.
I love Jello with fruit, used to serve it with Ice Cream at Birthday parties when I was a kid. 🙂