Vintage Jell-O Salad with Fruit (Print Version)

A colorful molded gelatin salad combining fruit, vegetables, and creamy cottage cheese for a vintage potluck favorite.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Gelatin Base

01 - 2 packages (3 oz each) flavored gelatin (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

# Step-by-Step:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the gelatin in boiling water, stirring until completely dissolved.
02 - Add the cold water and stir to combine.
03 - Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, approximately 20 minutes.
04 - Stir in the crushed pineapple, mandarin oranges, grated carrots, cottage cheese, and chopped walnuts if using.
05 - Pour the mixture into a 6-cup gelatin mold or bundt pan, smoothing the top evenly.
06 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or until fully set.
07 - To unmold, dip the mold briefly in warm water, then invert onto a serving platter. Slice and serve chilled.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Its the perfect nostalgic conversation starter that disappears faster than you expect
  • The combination of sweet fruit and creamy cottage cheese creates an unexpectedly satisfying texture
02 -
  • Patience during the cooling phase prevents your cottage cheese from melting into weird white streaks
  • Thoroughly draining fruit saves you from a weeping, watery salad that never sets properly
03 -
  • Lightly oiling your mold before pouring helps with unmolding, though a quick warm water dip usually does the trick
  • If using vegetarian gelatin, follow the package instructions carefully as it behaves differently than traditional gelatin
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