If there’s one thing I absolutely love, it’s a dessert that’s both easy to make and delicious. That’s where this Easy Jello Salad comes in. This recipe is a staple at many family gatherings and parties, and for a good reason. Its simplicity is what makes it a winner. It’s one of those ‘mix and chill’ types of desserts that requires minimal effort but delivers maximum flavor. The beauty of this dessert is that you can customize it according to your preference. Love lime Jell-O with pineapple? Go for it! More of an orange Jell-O and mandarin oranges fan? That works too! The options are endless, and that’s what makes this dessert a favorite of mine. Also, don’t let the word ‘salad’ fool you. This is a sweet treat through and through, and it’s one that’ll have everyone coming back for seconds. So, are you ready to whip up this easy and delicious Jello Salad? Let’s get started!
Ingredients
- 8 oz. cottage cheese
- 6 oz. Cool Whip
- 3 oz. Jell-O
- fruit, well drained
Mixing Instructions
- You may use any combination of Jell-O and fruit you want. (Lime Jell-O and pineapple, orange Jell-O and mandarin oranges.)
Calorie: 150
Total cooking time: 15 minutes
Difficulty level: Easy
The Jello Salad Journey
It all started on a sunny day when I decided to try my hand at an easy Jello Salad. It seemed like a piece of cake… or jello, in this case, right? But let me tell you, there’s more to it than meets the eye. It’s a saga of cottage cheese, Cool Whip, Jell-O, and a rainbow of well-drained fruit, all coming together in a wobbly, jiggly symphony.
A Dance with Cottage Cheese and Cool Whip
Now you might be wondering, “Cottage cheese in a jello salad? Are you out of your mind?” I thought the same, but trust me, this unassuming cheese is the unsung hero of our tale. We start with an 8 oz. tub, and no, you don’t need to make it yourself. I’m not a cheese-making grandma from Wisconsin, and chances are, neither are you.
Then comes the Cool Whip. This 6 oz. tub of fluffy, white goodness is the stuff dreams are made of. And by dreams, I mean the kind where you’re running through a field of whipped cream, and not the ones where you have to give a speech in your underwear.
Jell-O, Jell-Yes!
Next up, the star of the show – the Jell-O. You’ve got a 3 oz. box at your disposal and the world is your oyster. You can pick any flavor you like, and I mean any. Want to go classic with strawberry? Be my guest. Feeling a little wild? Try lime. Want to confuse your taste buds? Go for the apricot. Just remember, this isn’t a time to be a shrinking violet. Bold flavors are the name of the game here.
Fruit Fiesta
Now, the fun part – the fruit! You can use any fruit you want, as long as it’s well-drained. I cannot stress this enough. The last thing you want is to end up with a soupy salad. That’s a different recipe altogether. I went for pineapple with my lime Jell-O, because I was feeling a bit tropical and I couldn’t find my coconut bra.
Mixing and Matching
The mixing process is where things get interesting. You may use any combination of Jell-O and fruit you want. I paired my lime Jell-O with pineapple, feeling like a mad scientist as I mixed the green powder with the yellow fruit. Then, I took a bold leap of faith and mixed in the cottage cheese and Cool Whip. Yes, it looked like a unicorn had a party in my bowl, but hang in there, it will all come together.
The Waiting Game
After everything is nicely combined, it’s time for the hardest part of the cooking process – waiting. Yes, you heard me, waiting. You have to let this psychedelic mixture sit in the fridge until it sets. This could take a few hours, so find something to distract yourself. I took up knitting, but it turns out, I’m not very good at it.
The Finale
Finally, the moment of truth. I took out my jello salad, and I have to say, it looked pretty good. It was colorful, it was jiggly, and most importantly, it was edible.
So there you have it, folks. My Jello Salad journey. It was a wild ride, but I’d do it all over again. Because nothing beats the joy of watching your friends’ faces when you tell them there’s cottage cheese in their jello salad.
