Our Best Jell-O Mold Recipes (2024)

Home Recipes Salads Jello Salads

Katie BandurskiUpdated: Jan. 05, 2022

Craving a recipe from your childhood? Step back in time with these vintage Jell-O mold recipes. They're just like the ones mom and grandma used to make!

1/19

Molded Strawberry Salad

This refreshing salad has two layers – a pretty pink bottom that includes sour cream, and a ruby red top with strawberries and pineapple. For years, Mom has included this salad in meals she prepares for our family. -Gloria Grant, Sterling, Illinois

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2/19

Grandmother's Orange Salad

This orange salad dessert is slightly sweet and tangy, too. It adds beautiful color to any meal and appeals to all ages! —Ann Eastman, Santa Monica, California

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3/19

Molded Cranberry-Orange Salad

When I take this dish to potlucks during the holidays, people always ooh and aah. Feel free to top with whipped cream for added appeal. —Carol Mead, Los Alamos, New Mexico

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4/19

Taste of Home

Peach Bavarian

Fruit molds are my specialty. This one, with its refreshing peach taste, makes a colorful salad or dessert. —Adeline Piscitelli, Sayreville, New Jersey

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Pina Colada Molded Salad

My gelatin ring gets a tropical twist from coconut, pineapple and macadamia nuts. It's a wonderful anytime treat. Now that I'm retired from teaching, I have more time for kitchen experiments. —Carol Gillespie, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

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8/19

Cran-Raspberry Gelatin Salad

Just like Grandma’s, this pretty gelatin salad has full berry flavor without being too tart. It’s perfect for any holiday dinner. —Rosemary Burch, Phoenix, Arizona

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9/19

Orange Buttermilk Gelatin Salad Mold

A dear friend shared this recipe with me years ago. Now it's my favorite dish to take to a church meeting, shower or any potluck event—it's always a hit. Whenever I serve this salad, people ask for the recipe. They find it hard to believe it's really made with buttermilk! —Juanita Hutto, Mechanicsville, Virginia

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10/19

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. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia

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11/19

Sangria Gelatin Ring

This gelatin is enjoyed by everyone because you just can't go wrong with fresh berries. —Nicole Nemeth, Komoka, Ontario

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12/19

13/19

Taste of Home

Simple Lime Gelatin Salad

Looking for a festive dish to light up the buffet? This pretty green gelatin salad is eye-catching and has a delightful, tangy flavor. —Cyndi Fynaardt, Oskaloosa, Iowa

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14/19

Taste of Home

Apricot Gelatin Mold

After my husband and I got married, he asked me to get this special holiday recipe from my mother. Mom prepared it for every family celebration, and now I make it for my family! You can replace peach with orange gelatin if you prefer. —Suzanne Holcomb, St. Johnsville, New York

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15/19

Cranberry-Eggnog Gelatin Salad

Refreshing and bursting with flavor, this festive jello salad is a great choice for a holiday potluck or make ahead Thanksgiving side. The sweet pineapple-eggnog layer contrasts nicely with the cool and tangy gelatin on top. Since it has to chill overnight, it’s a good pick for those dishes you want to prepare a day ahead. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania

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16/19

Taste of Home

Fluffy Cranberry Mousse

This is a delicious and pretty salad for the holidays, but it's so good that I serve it at other times, too. I got the recipe from a neighbor who had served it with a traditional turkey dinner. —Helen Clement, Hemet, California

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17/19

Taste of Home

Rosey Raspberry Salad

Whenever I make this pretty raspberry salad, people talk! It's a festive side dish that works well for celebrations throughout the year. —Jane Vanderground, Macedonia, Ohio

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18/19

Taste of Home

Mango Gelatin Salad

My Aunt Nannette often made this salad as a convenient make-ahead dish. The mango mold has hints of apricot and can be served with pork, chicken and beef—or for dessert. —Debra Sult, Chandler, Arizona

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19/19

Taste of Home

Molded Cranberry Nut Salad

We try lots of cranberry recipes, and this one is always requested when we have family get-togethers at Thanksgiving and Christmas. It has also been a favorite dish at every church potluck I've taken it to! —Eleanor Arthur, Seattle, Washington

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Originally Published: September 18, 2020

Katie Bandurski

As Senior Shopping Editor, Katie connects Taste of Home readers with the best gifts, deals and home products on the market. An avid foodie and a holiday enthusiast, Katie is an expert at cultivating meaningful moments.When she’s out of the office, you’ll find her exploring Wisconsin, trying out new vegetarian recipes and watching Christmas movies.

FAQs

Should I spray a silicone mold for Jello? ›

Spray your mold: Make sure you spray your mold—no matter what type you use—with cooking spray before filling. This will make removing the gelatin easier.

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How much Jello do you need for a mold? ›

Purchase as many boxes of Jello as colors you would like to be layered in your mold. You will need about five boxes of Jello to fill a standard Bundt pan. You will need one and one-fourth cups of boiling water and a bowl for each color of gelatin.

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Can you spray a jello mold with Pam? ›

Spraying the mold with Pam or some other cooking spray is another common trick, but one that may leave a residue and flavor on the Jell-O, which you may not want depending on what you are making. Certain molds, including newer plastic ones and some vintage molds, also come with removable seals to help with unmolding.

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What is the best material for jello molds? ›

Jello molds or moldes para gelatina are as versatile as Jello desserts themselves. Plastic, metal, ceramic, stoneware, porcelain, glass and silicone are all suitable materials for molding Jello.

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What fruit Cannot go in jello? ›

Some fresh fruits prevent Jell-O and other types of gelatin from gelling. These are fruits that contain high levels of proteases. Proteases are enzymes that break chemical bonds in proteins, such as collagen in gelatin. Pineapple, kiwi, papaya, mango, and guava are examples of fruits that cause a problem.

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Can I use juice instead of water in jello? ›

This recipe works best with sweet juices, like grape juice or apple-cranberry juice. For a sweeter result, you can replace the boiled water with an extra 1/2 cup of juice that has been heated to a boil in a small saucepan. (So you'd use 4 cups juice in total.)

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What fruit goes best in jello? ›

Fresh fruits like strawberries, blueberries, bananas, kiwis, or peaches are great additions. Other fruits have enzymes in them that make them unsuitable for adding to jello. Avoid using fresh pineapple or kiwi as they won't allow the gelatin to properly firm up.

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Can you use Pam for silicone molds? ›

NEVER use nonstick spray of any kind on your silicone molds or Silpats. The propellants in the spray will leave a residue that will build up over time and leave a sticky residue that will have the opposite effect and everything will stick.

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Will Jello pop out of silicone molds? ›

In general, it's easier to remove food from silicone trays. Any shape works for JELL-O, but when it sticks to the trays or molds containing them, it can rip. After JELL-O rips, you can't repair it—it will only lose its shape. The best time to remove it is when it's completely cooled and ...

Do you use less water when making a jello mold? ›

Use less water if the gelatin is to be molded. For a four-serving size package, use 3/4 cup cold water. Some recipes include this adjustment. * Unmolding: Gelatin should be chilled and set until firm.

Why did people make jello molds? ›

Gelatin-based dishes were a staple of this genre, especially since shaped molds allowed for elaborate presentations. Cooks could showcase ingredients with a clear gelatin or aspic, using "sinkers" and "floaters" to achieve a certain look, or fold cream or mayo into the gelatin for an opaque appearance.

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What can I use instead of a jello mold? ›

Jello molds are collectables for some folks, but you actually don't need any special mold for molded desserts. You can use a Bundt pan, a loaf pan, or even a mixing bowl to set large molded desserts, or small cups, ramekins, or even espresso cups for individual servings.

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Do you have to grease Jello shots? ›

Tipsy Tips for Making Fun Jello-Shots

To make this easier, spray some cooking oil into the cups before pouring the liquid in, or rub them with a tiny drop of vegetable oil. This won't affect the taste.

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Do you need to oil a jelly mould? ›

No oil or anything, run hot water over the mould once it has set in the fridge, run a knife around the top of the rim, and if you put a plate over it and flip the whole thing upside down, bob's your uncle!

How to keep jello shots from sticking? ›

That wisdom starts with making sure the Jell-O doesn't stick to the sides of the plastic cup, and all you need is a little vegetable oil or non-stick cooking spray to demonstrate your prowess.

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Can you put jello on parchment paper? ›

Mix and chill.

It's okay if you see some bubbles on top of the mixture. Prepare an 8-inch square pan by lightly spraying it with oil, then press a piece of parchment paper into the bottom. This will ensure the jello is easy to remove later. Use a slotted spoon to remove any excess bubbles on top, if you like.

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