Broken Glass is a nostalgic gelatin-based dessert popular in mid-20th century American kitchens. Known for its bright, jewel-toned cubes set in a creamy gelatin mixture, it resembles shards of stained glass, hence the name. Often served at potlucks, holidays, and family gatherings, it's a festive and colorful treat that balances fruity flavors with a creamy finish. Its playful texture and vibrant appearance make it a favorite for both kids and adults.
Ingredients
- 3 oz lemon gelatin (1 package)
- 3 oz orange gelatin (1 package)
- 3 oz lime gelatin (1 package)
- 3 oz red gelatin (1 package, likely cherry or strawberry)
- 1 sheet unflavored gelatin
- 1 cup pineapple juice (heated)
- 16 oz whipped topping (like Cool Whip)
- Water (to prepare flavored gelatins)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare Flavored Gelatins
- Dissolve lemon, orange, lime, and red gelatin in separate pans as per package instructions.
- Chill until firm.
- Cut into small squares.
Step 2: Prepare Cream Base
- Dissolve unflavored gelatin in hot pineapple juice until fully dissolved.
- Cool slightly.
- Fold in whipped topping and mix well.
Step 3: Combine and Set
- Place colored gelatin cubes in a large 13×9-inch pan.
- Pour cream mixture over the cubes.
- Gently mix to distribute evenly.
- Chill until completely set.
Tips
- Use any color of Jell-O cubes you like to create a stained-glass look.
- Substitute whipped topping for whipped cream for a lighter texture.
- Add a teaspoon of vanilla to the lemon mixture for extra flavor.
- Use sugar-free gelatin and light whipped topping for a lower-calorie version.
- Chill the pan overnight for the cleanest slices.
- Add crushed pineapple (well drained) for a vintage variation.
- Use a clear glass dish to show off the “broken glass” colors.
- For holidays, choose matching Jell-O colors (red/green for Christmas, red/blue for July 4th).
- Cut the cubes large for chunky texture or small for a mosaic pattern.
- Serve with extra whipped cream on top for a classic presentation.
Transcription of the Original Recipe
Read or copy the transcription
Broken glass Set 1 lemon 1 orange 1 lime 1 red Jello until solid All in separate pans. When set cut into squares. 2- Meanwhile set small lemon Jello until syrupy. Beat this with mixer, then fold in one large Kool Whip [unclear], & mix well. 3 put your different color Jello in large pan 13 x 7 or pan equivalent. Then pour second mixture over and stir till the mixture mixes with Jello cubes. (mix gently so you dont break cubes) P.S. if cubes break dont worry just put them in pan it all mixes.
From Transcription to Instructions
Hi from us at Salvaged Recipes, a quick note before you make Broken Glass Jell-O. The original directions are delightfully terse about the creamy layer and assembly, so the instructions spell out dissolving the unflavored gelatin in hot pineapple juice, letting it cool slightly, then folding in the whipped topping so it stays light. We also unpacked the chilling and cubing step and tell you to pour the cream over the cubes and stir gently so they don’t break. We didn’t reinvent anything, we just made the steps easier to follow.
Nutrition
Calories: 165kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1.5gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 115mgPotassium: 45mgSugar: 27gVitamin A: 190IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 0.1mg
