One Two Three Jello
Doctoring up a box of Jello turned ordinary gelatin into this retro One Two Three Jello! This tasty treat from the 1970s is easy to recreate!
Jello Desserts are definitely throwback dishes, but with them come delicious memories of childhood. What’s your favorite throwback recipe???
Why You Should Make One Two Three Jello
One of my favorite childhood treats was Jello brand’s 1,2,3 Jello. My childhood was full of these jellied salads. Some I loved. Others, like lime gelatin with grated carrots, were just plain nasty.
Back in the day, Jello was touted as a source of protein and my youngest sister was given bottles of jello water to pacify her. She was the only sibling to have a mouthful of cavities. I wonder why? Back to recreating this retro Jello Recipe.
- My siblings and I loved how the mixture magically separated into layers when chilled. It’s a fun dessert for kids and grandkids!
- And it’s also easy enough for your kids to help make.
- Unfortunately, all the recreations of this jello contained Cool Whip, which doesn’t sit well with me. Substituting whipped cream worked perfectly! Though the jello has artificial coloring and flavors, the layers are made with a more wholesome, natural ingredient.
How to Make a Layered Jello Salad
My parents went all granola on me in the 1970s. Powdered milk to avoid hormones or pesticides, no salt to help my dad’s blood pressure, carob instead of chocolate. We were tortured. So when my mom brought home a box of this layered gelatin “salad” from the neighborhood Hy-Vee grocery store, my sisters and I were ever so grateful for the SUGAR!
Here’s the process to make this retro recipe at home.
- First, divide the dry jello mix into two bowls.
- Add hot, then cold water into the first bowl as directed in the recipe and divide this mixture into serving dishes and chill.
- When the bottom layer has jelled, whip the cream until it holds peaks (this will be the Cool Whip replacement that’s used in some other homemade versions).
- Mix the remaining gelatin with hot water, then slightly cold hot water.
- Whisk in the cream and divide this mixture between the dishes. The goal is to have this layer divide into two separate layers, each lighter in color than the one beneath.
So when I heard my friends were sharing Retro Recipes today, I thought of the era of molded salads, quiche that real men didn’t eat, and Hamburger Helper, and chose that magic gelatin dessert. Did you grow up eating gelatin salads? Are they ever on your holiday table? You know, those salads that taste like desserts? If you have a favorite, let me know.
More Recipes with Gelatin You’ll Love:
- Coca Cola Jello Salad with Cherries from The Food Charlatan
- Jello Easter Eggs from Spend with Pennies
- Layered Rainbow Salad
- Broken Glass Jello
- Vanilla Panna Cotta with Strawberry Gelée
- Easy Lemon Bundt Cake
- Plus, more of the Best Dessert Recipes
One Two Three Jello
A retro Jello dessert that was a childhood favorite!
Ingredients
- 6 ounce box of Jello (flavor of your choice, I used cherry)
- ¼ cup heavy cream, whipped
Instructions
- Divide the dry jello into two medium-sized bowls.
- Add one cup boiling water to the first bowl and stir till all sugar is dissolved. Add one cup of cold water and mix till combined.
- Pour the mixture into clear glasses (6-8 depending on size) filling to the halfway point.
- Chill till slightly jelled, about 30 minutes.
- When the bottom layer is slightly jelled, whip the cream and repeat the process with the second bowl of dry gelatin, decreasing the cold water to ¾ cup. Whisk in the whipped cream and pour the jello mixture on top of the first layer. Chill till set, about 4 hours.
Notes
Note: 4 hour chilling time.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Amount Per Serving: Calories: 125Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 134mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 0gSugar: 25gProtein: 2g
47 Comments on “One Two Three Jello”
Can you use sugar free jello? I’ve made it before, but don’t want to chance using sf i unless anyone knows if it works or not!
I haven’t tested this with sugar free jello, but I don’t know why it wouldn’t work. Let me know if you try it.
One of my favorite childhood deserts.
Closest I ever came to getting three layers.
Make the first bowl of jello like you said.
Half fill glasses.refrigerate.
Other bowl make same as first except add about 3-4 tablespoons of milk or half and half or cream. Use hand mixer and whip it a few minutes till frothy. Spoon over set jello in glasses. Put back in refrigerator. As it sets it will separate the middle from the top layer!
1-2-3 Jello! 😘😘😘😘. Very close to original box version. Can even add fruit on top or different flavors of jello for bottom and then middle and top.
Hi, Barbara,
I’m so glad you enjoyed this!! We must have grown up in the same era—this was always a huge treat!! Thanks for your tips!!!
I made this, but only got 2 layers? Maybe i did not whip it enough or too much? Also, how thick should the whipped cream have been?
Hi, Donna, I adapted this recipe from one using Cool Whip so I’d say whip the cream until it’s a similar texture to Cool Whip. I’ll add this detail to the recipe to help other readers. Good luck!
You made me giggle re your jello experiences as a child. 😀
Hmmm…. for some reason I associate jelly with being sick. Guess it was the food Mom gave us when we had a sore throat. Plus, I don’t really enjoy food that moves on its own. Freaks me out. LOL! But you jelly does look pretty! 🙂
I believe I know why you associate Jello with being sick. From the time of Dr’s putting people in Hospitals at the drop of a hat to todays giving birth in the AM, go home at 5PM Jello has always been the first thing you could eat after surgery, the only thing you can eat when your test is delayed 5 hours and the cup that went back to the kitchen never being touched.
The only difference today is it’s premade and you can get it sugar free. Green was my Mom’s favorite color except when it came to Jello. They still make that “Flavor”. I have never figured out what that flavor was supposed to be.
I remember green being lime, Rich. And it was awful. My mom would add carrots and celery. Blech. I was always partial to the red jellos 🙂
I remember my grandmother used to let us eat these jello cups (my parents did NOT), and I think there were layered pudding cups from the same company? I love this homemade version, what a great throwback!
The funny thing is that I don’t remember the 1-2-3 Jello mix. So strange because Jello desserts were so popular. It must have been just that my parents never bought it. Nice that you were able to re-create it without the cool whip.
Glad you substituted whipping cream – I’m not a cool whip person either. Such a fun recipe and great memories shared this week.
LOVE this post. Liz. Jello is not my greatest thrill either. Although with whipped cream I might change my mind =) Thank you! And thank you for bringing back memories of the lime jello salad made by Nona (my grandma.) And yes my sister who’d moved to the US in the 70s went all granola and carob…=)
WOW I had totally forgotten about 1 2 3 Jello! Oh and I feel ya on the whole carob thing *Blek* Oh and now that your mentioned it, I want to make a quiche LOL
I used to LOVE one two three jello! Why on earth did they stop making that stuff?? Your homemade version looks awesome.
I remember this dessert so well! Your photos are beautiful! Takes me back!!! (We thought mom was a gourmet!)
I remember making these! Perfect ending to a retro dinner…..
I absolutely love these! They look so pretty, and who doesn’t love Jello?
I went through high school having jello and milk for lunch thinking that was a complete meal!
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of 1-2-3 jello; how cool is that! My kids would love this recipe!
The jello use to separate into 3 layers on its own, that is so cool. Love that your version you made doesn’t use cool whip. I am not a fan of it and it is impossible to get here in the UK.
Love this throw-back recipe! And, I’m a huge jello fan, so this is perfect for me! 🙂 And that color – girl, gorgeous!!!
I suggest specifying that the whipped cream should be sweetened. Otherwise, you end up with a newly flavorless levels 1 and 2. Also, I suggest increasing the jello quantity that gets combined with the cream and decreasing the portion with just the water. Old 1-2-3 had an intensely sweet and quite dense lowest layer – not the “ordinary jello” density you get with this recipe.
I appreciated excluding the Cool Whip.
Liz, I do remember this dessert and by coincidence I was just thinking of it the other day. My mom made it on several occasions, but when I think of retro desserts popsicles come to mind. I love your clean version (real cream v. CoolWhip). Well done!
I do remember the 1-2-3 Jello! I loved the way that it magically separated into three layers. This is a fun Sunday Supper. 🙂
I tortured my kids too Liz. I don’t think they have fogetten or forgiven me to this day. Actually rather strange because they have some odd eating habits that may just mimic my torturing and pretty much for the same reasons. Go figure:)
This sure does sound like a fun share. Looking at some of those recipes up there had me cracking up. All I remember about food in the 60s was watching Julia Child on TV. I do believe she started the wave of international foods entering the kitchen. Lots of Chocolate Pudding Pie too, My-T-Fine!
Your Jell-O dessert looks so retro and yummy. Oh the memories! Thanks for sharing, Liz…
P.S. Don’t forget Meatball Day tomorrow!
We had Jell-o but not very often. My mother thought it had too much sugar – seriously. I remember squishing my bowl of Jell-o with a fork until it was mush. I have no idea why I did that but I did it every time we had it. I never thought of it until now.
Oh, the memories!!! I loved all those jell-o desserts my mom made. Thank you for the memories dear Lizzy. xo Catherine
And now I will be singing J E L L O for the rest of the night.
These look so refreshing and they are perfect for spring and parties!
I love how creative you got with recreating a childhood recipe! Now can you pass me one?
Your parfaits are beautifully done! I love the colors!
Now, this is a fun one! Such a great presentation of an old favorite!
This is such a pretty Jello dessert!
I love jello (actually just posted a jello recipe today, too) and even though I’ve never heard of one-two-three jello, this sounds like something I can easily devour!
I have never heard of that Jello product, but I have always liked the jiggly stuff, especially when I’m not feeling well. This is a great way to amp it up!
Layered Jello! I love that stuff! Jello just puts a smile on any kids face that is for sure!
Yes, jello salads were all the rage, but this one looks scrumptious
Magic gelatin for sure! I haven’t had a Jello dessert in ages. This looks SO pretty.
Love this Lizzy! I have to make to the twins ! Im sure I never made. I loved these jello desserts.!
big hugs dear!
Ooh, what a classic! Indeed a throwback food! Great post, Liz!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
Not only were these yummy but I loved the cottage cheese jello salad that was always on the potluck table at church! Your presentation is so pretty!
How did the original work, Liz? It sounds like Jello magic to have it separate on its own! As always, your little glasses of deliciousness are beautiful!
Love this! Retro is the bestest.
The Jello is so fun! I can’t imagine you (of all people) having to eat carob instead of chocolate! I’m glad you let that go:@)
Oh, you called it! Jello is exactly what comes to mind when I think of retro, and to be honest, I still miss the lime jello cubes we used to eat every Christmas growing up. I’m definitely making this for some throwback event 🙂 delish!