I don't make a lot of jello salads, other than the obligatory one our family has for every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and 4th of July. But I feel compelled to stock up on jello when it's on deep discount. It doesn't provide much in the way of nutrition, other than a bit of protein. However, it can be inexpensive form of sugar (when on sale), most everybody will eat it, and it is a good food for patients requiring a bland diet. (Ever wonder why it's on the menu when you're in the hospital. It's not just because it's cheap; it's also because of the protein.)
Jello's been around for over 100 years. Especially popular during the Depression and WWII, the General Foods Corporation issued numerous recipe books with thousands of ways to use Jell-O every day, some good, some not so great. But they all look great, and some recipes really pique the curiosity. Such was the case with a few cookie recipes. Would they be any good?
Jello Sugar Cookies
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup jello (raspberry gives the best color for red)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon lemon extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Food coloring, optional (to intensify the color; paste and gel food coloring give the most vibrant color)
Colored sugar sprinkles, optional, to match color of cookies
Cream butter, sugar, and jello together. Beat in eggs, and then mix in remaining ingredients to make a soft dough. Roll dough into 1” balls and roll in sugar crystals. Place on cookie sheet 2” apart and flatten slightly with a glass. Sprinkle with additional sugar crystals, if desired. Bake at 400°F for 6-8 minutes. Do not overbake.
Reviews: OK, we gotta be honest here. While these look fine, they just aren't super tasty. If you've run out of everything else and need to take something sweet to a picnic, these might do the job. Especially for kids who just take a bite and don't finish the rest anyway.
Jello Meringue Cookies
4 egg whites, room temperature (or use aquafaba)
¼ cup jello, any flavor
Pinch salt
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vinegar
Sprinkles, optional
In a small bowl, combine egg whites, jello, salt, and sugar. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds, or until sugar is dissolved. Then increase to medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Add vinegar and mix for 10 seconds more on low speed.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Spoon or pipe the batter onto the parchment and decorate with sprinkles, if desired. Bake at 350°F for 18 minutes, rotating cookie sheet halfway through baking.
Reviews: Well, these look okay, but the other Jello cookies look better. And taste better. (And that's not really saying much.)
Look, there are going to be a lot of crazy recipes appearing in print and online as people try to save some money or make use of boxes of jello that got lost deep in a drawer somewhere. Better to just actually make a pan of jello rather than some jello cookies.
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