In my year of doing a project to make a comfort food unique to each state, I’ve gotten one question over and over. “How much jello is on that list?” The answer? Only one. Ladies and gentlemen, mesdames et messieurs, the dining room proudly presents: Easy Jello Whip. This simple recipe comes together in minutes with a nice tang of 1960s nostalgia.
What is it with Utah and Jell-O?
While jello salads are popular across the American Midwest, the heart of the so-called “jello belt” rests in Deseret country, Utah. I knew I had to include at least one gelatin-centric recipe in this project, and the beehive state loves them some Jell-o. It’s even the official state snack! Utah doesn’t exactly have a strong agricultural history, so processed foods really took root their. Also, because they eschew drugs, alcohol, and coffee, many Mormons famously have a raging sweet tooth. Enter: jello whip.
Lest you think Jell-O is for grandmas, the enduring popularity of Jell-O desserts in Utah would tell you otherwise. This recipe has even gotten an upgrade in recent years. Now, many mommy bloggers tout its benefits as a “healthy keto dessert.” In fairness – those versions replace the Cool Whip with less processed alternatives, like heavy cream and cream cheese. My recipe uses the midcentury ingredients. Hey, it’s a comfort food project, not a health food project.
How to Make Easy Jello Whip
Easy Jell-O Whip
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- rubber spatula
- Measuring cups
- Kitchen scale optional
- Small cups or ramekins for serving
- Pastry bags and tips optional
Ingredients
- 3 oz Lime Jell-O/gelatin mix
- 1 ½ c Boiling water
- 8 oz Cool Whip thawed in the fridge
Instructions
- Combine the Jell-O mix and boiling water in your mixing bowl and stir to dissolve the Jell-O.3 oz Lime Jell-O/gelatin mix, 1 ½ c Boiling water
- Measure out 6 oz of Cool Whip. You can do this using a kitchen scale, or you can eyeball measuring out about ⅔ of the container.8 oz Cool Whip
- Gently stir the 6 oz of Cool Whip into the Jell-O until it fully melts. Be patient, this will likely take a few minutes.
- When fully incorporated, pour the mixture evenly into 4 ramekins or small clear cups. Note – with clear cups, you'll see the layers when it has set!
- Allow the Jell-O to set in the fridge for at least 3 hours.
- Top with the remaining Cool Whip (with a pastry bag if you're feeling fancy), and enjoy!
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