Fruit Cocktail in Gelatin
Fruit Cocktail in Gelatin is a classic dessert made by suspending canned or fresh mixed fruit—typically peaches, pears, grapes, and cherries—within a sweetened, fruit-flavored gelatin mold. It is a staple of American home cooking, popularized in the mid-20th century for its ease, visual appeal, and ability to serve a crowd. The dish is often served chilled and can be presented as a simple bowl dessert or an elegant, molded centerpiece.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dessert is primarily a source of simple carbohydrates from both the fruit and the added sugar in the gelatin, with negligible fat and very little protein. A typical 1-cup serving provides a quick energy boost and may offer small amounts of vitamin C and potassium from the fruit, with a calorie range of approximately 150-200 calories depending on the sugar content of the gelatin and fruit syrup used.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 120 kcal |
| Protein | 1.5 g |
| Carbs | 28 g |
| Fat | 0.2 g |
| Fiber | 1.5 g |
| Sugar | 24 g |
| Sodium | 50 mg |
| Vitamin C | 15 mg |
| Potassium | 180 mg |
| Vitamin A | 45 mcg RAE |
| Calcium | 15 mg |
| Iron | 0.5 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.1 mg |
| Folate | 25 mcg |
| Magnesium | 15 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, this dish is a nostalgic emblem of mid-century American convenience cooking, representing the era's embrace of canned goods and time-saving kitchen shortcuts. Nutritionally, it's unique as a dessert that combines the perceived 'health halo' of fruit with a significant amount of added sugar, making it a treat that blurs the line between a fruit serving and a confection.
