This is a recipe for gelatin, or as my Great-Grandpa Baker would have called it, “Nervous pudding.”
While Jell-O is only a brand of gelatin, most people refer to gelatin salads or desserts as “Jell-O”…kind of like most tissues are called “Kleenex”. With more sugar, chemicals and coloring than we prefer to consume, I wanted to find an alternative to the lime Jell-O with pineapple that my mother used to make.
You don’t want to add fresh pineapple to gelatin as the pineapple enzymes will eat up the protein in the gelatin and prevent it from setting up. Using pineapple juice of the canned pineapple in place of some of the water, allowed me to reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe. I wasn’t looking for a super sweet treat, but rather a refreshing treat. You can adjust the amount of sugar you use to suit your taste.
We love the fresh lime, and the zest of the lime adds lots of flavor.
Pineapple Lime Gelatin Recipe:
- 1 20oz can crushed pineapple
- juice and zest of 2 large (or 3 small) limes
- 3 cups liquid (pineapple juice, lime juice and water)
- cup sugar
- 3 envelopes powdered gelatin
- green food coloring (optional…but maybe not so optional for St. Patty’s Day!)
Strain the juice from the pineapple, reserve and set aside. Zest the limes into the strained pineapple and set aside.
Juice the limes and combine with the reserved pineapple juice and measure. Then pour the juices into a bowl and add food coloring, if desired. Stir together, then sprinkle the powdered gelatin on top of the juices.
Measure enough water for a total measure of 3 cups of liquid.
Heat water to a boil and add sugar, stirring so it dissolves. Add water to the juices and gelatin mixture, stirring until the gelatin is dissolved.
Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour. After an hour, stir the pineapple and lime zest into the gelatin mixture, then pour into a 9X9 pan or a gelatin mold. Chill until firm, about 1-1 ½ hours. Serve with or without a dollop of whipped cream.
Think you need an excuse to make this delicious, refreshing dessert often? Here it is: Gelatin is all protein and helps your nails and hair stay strong. It’s really good for you! Plus, it’s yummy, so I hope you’ll give it a try.
