This post goes out to my friend, Andrew, who I have to thank for reuniting me this year with one of my blast-from-the-past childhood favorites — hello, red hot jello!!!
For those of you who’ve never heard of this fabulousness, the name perfectly describes it — a marriage between sweet red jello and cinnamon-y red hots. Growing up, it always seemed to be the dish that was too good to be true — partly because this sweetness somehow “passed” as a side during dinner (and could thus take up the veggie real estate on my plate), and partly because it was made with my favorite of favorite candies. Still love my red hots! :)
So, when I happened to see a massive display of red hots last week on clearance in the Valentine’s section (the cute heart-shaped ones!), I decided it was time to feel like a kid again. Thankfully, it did not disappoint. In fact, it was marvelous. :) I highly recommend it.
Red Hot Jello
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups of Red Hot Jello 1x
Description
You will love this brilliant Red Hot Jello recipe! A perfect marriage between jello and cinnamon-y red hots! Quick and easy to prepare!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup red hots (or cinnamon
- 1 cup water
- 1 small (3 oz.) package of strawberry or cherry jello
- 2 cups applesauce
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil. Add red hots and stir until melted. After melting red hots, stir in one box of strawberry jello and dissolve. When jello is dissolved, stir in the applesauce until well mixed. Remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Place in refrigerator until the jello has set (firmed up).
Ali’s Tip:
Feel free to do the true “jello salad” thing with this recipe as well! Add in some chopped fruit or nuts into the salad, and then serve (once it has firmed up) with a delightful dallop of whipped cream.
My mom always made this at the holidays and I did too but stopped when my young kids didn’t go for it any more. Just today my grown son asked if I would make it at Easter🥹. I can’t wait to put it on my Easter table again😊
I made this with Lime jello and unsweetened apple sauce, can’t wait to see how it tastes!
Thank you!
Mom passed away last year and mom always made this wonderful dish and of course there was a request for this for Thanksgiving.
I’ve looked through everything trying to find the recipe.
So here I am.
My childhood favorite as well.
Thank you!
I grew up eating this is for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is a family tradition. We call it Red Hot Salad. The only difference is we always used lemon flavored jello and add a package of unflavored Knox gelatin to firm it up more.
Am I right in assuming no cold water is added or do you follow all measurements.?
Adding chopped walnuts make this a Thanksgiving tradition going back 60 years in our family!
Can I use Hot tamales instead of red hots, they were out at my grocery store.
Can I substitute Hot Tamale candy for the red hots? Evidently red hots have been sold our for a month!
Yes they work the same. Takes a little longer to melt. Very good.
you list THREE boxes of jello, but only 1 is shown used. What’s Up with that
Only 1 box is listed in the ingredients.
A Christmas salad that is simple, elegant, and delicious! Topped with whipped topping and pecans, this salad was served at Christmas dinner! My mother always used 7-Up. However, yours cut the sugar which wasn’t even noticed by anyone!