My Great-Aunt’s 4-Ingredient Dessert Is Our Fourth of July Go-To

It's time for Jell-O to make a comeback.

One might argue that if the primary ingredient of a salad is sugar, it no longer counts as a salad. I beg to differ. Candy salads are evidence that a salad can really be whatever it wants to be, as long as it’s delicious. And, sometimes, in my family, what a salad wants to be is made of Jell-O. 

What Is Jell-O Salad?

If you are from the Midwest or the South, you likely also have a Jell-O salad recipe buried in a family cookbook somewhere, the one that's brought out for family potlucks and holidays. If not, you have likely heard stories about funky, retro Jell-O salads that can either be delicious or… a little concerning. While I’m not sure I’m quite ready for savory gelatin salads to make a comeback, I’ll stand by my family’s Jell-O dessert salad.

Aunt Jody’s Fourth of July Berry Sour Cream Salad

Our take on Jell-O salad can be attributed to an honorary family member: my mom’s “Aunt” Jody. Aunt Jody’s iconic presence in our family’s cookbooks rivals that of someone biologically related to us. One of her best contributions is her Jell-O casserole: It is easy, delicious, and the perfect cold treat for a hot summer day.

Made with one layer of blue gelatin and one layer of red gelatin, this recipe makes its appearance for—you guessed it—Independence Day. We have eaten this dish every Fourth of July for as long as I can remember.

With only four ingredients and no baking required, this Jell-O casserole is the last-minute festive dessert recipe you need for your holiday barbecue this weekend. While it looks impressive, it comes together in a blink of an eye. Once you pop it in the fridge, you barely need to think about it again until it is time to serve. 

How To Make Berry Sour Cream Salad

Truly, the hardest part of this recipe is waiting for the Jell-O to set.

It starts by dissolving one package of blue raspberry Jell-O according to package instructions, then mixing it with half of a large can of crushed pineapple and a whole thawed package of frozen berries. Once poured into a large casserole pan and left to set in the refrigerator, an entire 16-ounce carton of sour cream is spread on top. Then, the Jell-O and fruit process is repeated with strawberry Jell-O. After the final layer sets, you are ready to scoop and serve.

I understand if you are skeptical of the presence of sour cream in this recipe. When I first learned what the center of this Jell-O casserole contained as a kid, I was shocked. The sour cream in the center was so much sweeter and smoother than what I was used to, it didn't taste like sour cream. I was convinced some kind of magic was involved.

But, there is no magic at play here, just our trusty friend Jell-O, a couple of ingredients you probably already have in your fridge, and a little Fourth of July festivity. Try it once and you will be sure to make it again and again for years to come.

Read the original article on All Recipes.