Super Easy, Inexpensive Jell-o Salad Recipe and Review

The time had come, another family gathering, and it was my job to bring a dessert type dish to my brother's birthday. I am the queen of looking for something super easy to prepare, but I also wanted the dish to taste super yummy! After searching and searching for the perfect simple recipe, I found something that I hoped and prayed would be wonderful. It doesn't look like it would be that fabulous just by the ingredients, but I have to tell you, it was well worth the risk. Here is the dessert I made and it came with rave reviews from my family, as well! It literally took minutes to prepare, and only minutes before it was devoured at the birthday party.

Jello Fruit Salad Dessert
1 large box of orange Jello gelatin
1 large box of instant banana pudding
(Make sure you get the largest packages of both!)
2 cans of fruit cocktail with cherries
2-3 bananas
1 large container of Cool Whip

Directions:
Drain the syrup from the fruit cocktail can. Prepare the orange Jello by using the quick set directions on the back of the box. If the box doesn't have quick set directions, you just substitute the amount of cold water for ice. When the Jello starts to thicken, remove the ice that has not yet melted, and mix in the fruit cocktail. Pour the Jello and fruit mixture into a 9x13 glass dish (you can use a metal dish, but the glass dish looks so much prettier) and refrigerate. Prepare the banana pudding by using the box directions and refrigerate. When the gelatin and fruit mixture is set, spread the banana pudding over the top of the Jello and fruit. Slice the bananas and place them evenly over the banana pudding. Lastly, spread the Cool Whip over the top of the sliced bananas and pudding. Chill and serve!

If you wanted, you could also assemble the entire dessert after the Jello is set and the pudding is thick at the location of the event if you desire. You have to take more containers with you, but if you have a long way to travel, it might be the best that way. I have never done it that way, but it is an option.

This recipe is absolutely delicious! It is a wonderful mixture of cool flavors in the Jello, fruit, pudding, and Cool Whip. This would be a great dish to take to a cook out or a family picnic or reunion. I can assure you, that there will be absolutely none left, as everyone from kids to adults love to eat this cool, refreshing dessert. I loved the way the layers looked in the glass dish. It looks like you took extra time to get it to be perfect, but it just sets up that way! It took a very short amount of time to make. All in all, I would have to say that the total prep time was about ten minutes, tops. The part that takes the longest is the refridgeration, which really doesn't take more than thirty minutes, so this is something you can whip up very last minute and make everyone think it took you much longer to create. Clean up is a whiz, too! I'm all for easy cooking and easy clean up and a wonderful, yummy recipe! The cost of making this dessert is nice and inexpensive, as well, and that is always nice. I give this dessert recipe 4 1/2 out of 5 Tiaras on the Amy Gayle Scale. Half of a tiara lost to the fact that it isn't a fancy dessert.