26 Best Jell-O Recipes for the Retro Desserts of Your Dreams

Turn a simple boxed cake into something extraordinary with some raspberry Jell-O! It's a classic poke cake that turns super moist and almost pudding-like once it sets.

Get the Jell-O Cake recipe.

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No-bake cheesecakes are the perfect dessert when you just don't feel like turning on the oven. Here, Jell-O provides a burst of berry flavor and helps stabilize the filling so you don't need to bake it.

Get the No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake recipe.

If you're headed off to a party of any kind, make this retro mold and prepare for everyone to get super excited! They'll probably talk about their grandmas while they help themselves to a second helping.

Get the Jell-O Mold recipe.

Okay, "salad" might be a bit of a stretch with this fan favorite 😂. You have a salty, crunchy pretzel crust topped with a cream cheese filling layer and sweet strawberry Jell-O.

Get the Strawberry Pretzel Salad recipe.

Ree puts a festive spin on the classic finger jello recipe. Layers of red, green, and white Jell-O are poured into a pan and left to set. Once it’s ready, cut the pretty treat into bite-sized squares!

Get Ree’s Christmas Finger Jell-O recipe.

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Bring a salad to your next potluck. No, not that kind of green salad! This one has sweetness in every scoop, featuring lime Jell-O, cream cheese, pineapple, pears, and Cool Whip. Don't forget the cherries to top it off!

Get the Green Jell-O Salad at Yellow Bliss Road.

Love that vanilla and orange combo that is quintessentially creamsicle? Try these easy cookies. They use both boxed cake mix and orange Jell-O to speed up the prep process.

Get the Creamsicle Orange Cookies recipe at Mom on Timeout.

If you've never had divinity candy before, you're in for a treat―literally! It's the nougat and fudge family and when it's made with Jell-O, it takes on any flavor that fits your fancy.

Get the Jell-O Divinity Candy recipe at The Domestic Rebel.

You only need a few ingredients for this super pretty dessert! Raspberry Jell-O makes the base and it's topped with a creamy raspberry cream cheese whip. Garnish with raspberries and mint, and you'll have an instant hit!

Get the Creamy Raspberry Jell-O Parfaits recipe at Amanda's Cookin'.

This Jell-O is inspired by the Mexican candy Duvalín. It’s a gorgeous color with layers of strawberry, vanilla, and rich hazelnut chocolate.

Get the Duvalín Jell-O recipe at A Cozy Kitchen.

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As this recipe notes, "pudding" is a generous term—it’s more of a smooth mango Jell-O! Fresh mango is blended together with gelatin and set for a firm, jiggly, fresh dessert.

Get the Mango Pudding recipe at The Woks of Life.

Individual jars of little fresh jello cubes are a perfect food gift or party giveaway. Rather than using commercial Jell-O, this blogger combines fresh juice with gelatin powder. This makes the final product a softer, prettier color than store-bought Jell-O!

Get the Fresh Grapefruit Jell-O recipe at The View From Great Island.

Sticky, squishy, and oh-so-good. Here, marshmallow and Jell-O combine into one "rolled up" sweet concoction.

Get the Jell-O Roll Ups recipe at Amanda's Cookin'.

Have you ever seen a prettier pie? It combines cherry, lime, and lemon Jell-O to make a festive, fluffy Christmas treat.

Get the Layered Jell-O Pie recipe at Amanda's Cookin'.

Here’s a recipe that proves just how pretty this dessert can be. Again, the “pudding” is made with gelatin, making the recipe closer to a two-layered Jell-O. The first layer is a rich and creamy milk pudding and has a gorgeous cherry blossom Jell-O layer stacked on top.

Get the Milk Pudding with Cherry Blossom Jell-O recipe at Just One Cookbook.

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Orange Jell-O salad, or ambrosia, is a classic Southern dessert. This one is creamy, tangy, and sweet, featuring juicy mandarin oranges, fluffy marshmallows, and rich coconut flakes. It’s probably the easiest and most satisfying dessert you can make.

Get the Orange Jell-O Salad recipe at Little Sunny Kitchen.

Doesn’t this look like it came straight from your favorite diner? Strawberry pie is a delightful treat, but it’s even better when made with Jell-O! The Jello filling is cooling and light, making each bite a refreshing treat.

Get the Strawberry Jell-O Pie recipe at Dinner Then Dessert.

If you love strawberry pretzel salad, you’ll be equally crazy for this orange version. It’s a similar deal with a salty pretzel crust and cream cheese filling, but the top layer is sweet mandarin oranges.

Get the Orange Pretzel Salad recipe at Little Sunny Kitchen.

These shots will transport you to the beach—summer or not! The blue vodka shots make a perfect "ocean" to place a gummy floaty and umbrella. Get creative with your garnishes!

Get the Pool Party Jell-O Shots recipe at Little Sunny Kitchen.

This classic Jello resembles, as its name implies, broken stained glass. It's a super pretty dessert and can be customized to match any holiday. If it's Christmas, opt for green, red, and white. If you're making it for game day, choose your team's colors!

Get the Broken Glass Jell-O recipe at Amanda's Cookin'.

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