Crown Jewel Dessert

“Crown Jewel Dessert must be seen to be appreciated, so serve it at [the] buffet table. When exclamations of admiration have subsided, let guests help themselves to [the] topping.”

Hostess Guide from Jello Gelatin, 1967

Crown Jewel Dessert
1 package each (3 oz. each) Jell-O Orange, Cherry, and Lime Gelatins
4 cups boiling water
1 ½ cups cold water
1 package (3 oz.) Jell-O Lemon Gelatin
½ cup pineapple juice
2 cans coconut cream or full-fat coconut milk (preferably Savoy Coconut Cream, Aroy-D Coconut Milk, or Nature’s Charm Coconut)
¼ – ½ cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla (optional)

Dissolve orange, cherry, and lime gelatins separately, using 1 cup boiling water for each; add ½ cup cold water to each. Pour each flavor into 8-inch square pan; chill until firm. Dissolve lemon gelatin and sugar in 1 cup boiling water; add juice. Chill until slightly thickened. Prepare coconut whipped cream using Minimalist Baker’s method; blend into lemon gelatin. Cut firm gelatin into ½-inch cubes; fold into topping mixture. Spoon into pan. Chill until firm – 5 hours or overnight. Makes 16 servings.

Original Recipe
Hostess Guide from Jello Gelatin, 1967
1 package each (3 oz. each) Jell-O Orange, Cherry, and Lime Gelatins
4 cups boiling water
1 ½ cups cold water
1 package (3 oz.) Jell-O Lemon Gelatin
¼ cup sugar
½ cup pineapple juice
1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup margarine, melted
2 envelopes Dream Whip Whipped Topping Mix

Dissolve orange, cherry, and lime gelatins separately, using 1 cup boiling water for each; add ½ cup cold water to each. Pour each flavor into 8-inch square pan; chill until firm. Dissolve lemon gelatin and sugar in 1 cup boiling water; add juice. Chill until slightly thickened. Mix crumbs with butter; press over bottom and sides of a 9-inch spring-form pan. Prepare topping mixes as directed on package; blend into lemon gelatin. Cut firm gelatin into ½-inch cubes; fold into topping mixture. Spoon into pan. Chill until firm – 5 hours or overnight. Makes 16 servings.

Comments: What a disappointment! My updated version of this recipe was not a resounding success. It was too sweet and too fragile, and the flavors were overpowering. What went wrong? Well, several things.

A quick Google search, a very encouraging start to this process, revealed the popularity of this labor-intensive but beautiful dessert through a multitude of recipes, blog posts, and Instagram images. In comparison to other gelatin salad and desserts, the Crown Jewel could be considered on trend!

I had set my parameters for the modified recipe: I wanted to stay as true to the original as possible, especially because other, more modern versions are already available, including one the wonderful Molly Yeh from Girl Meets Farm.

My first major error was to use coconut cream, which is far too sweet, even without the addition of powdered sugar. I also regret using lemon Jell-O for this recipe. The additional sugar and the artificial flavor of the Jell-O with the coconut cream created an overpowering, unpleasant, saccharine flavor. As in previous recipes, I would suggest the used of Knox’s Lemon Jelly as a substitute for the lemon Jell-O, and, for this recipe, I would reduce the amount of sugar in the Jelly substantially. Alternatively, I would suggest using a dairy free heavy whipping cream, like the one sold by Silk, in place of the original heavy cream.

My other error was my decision to use a new mold. I was eager to try it, and my impatience was my downfall. The original recipe called for a spring-form pan that allows a delicate gelatin to retain its shape, while the use of my swirl mold necessitated the traditional but sometimes forceful unmolding with a warm towel. The resulting product was far too fragile to present at a table and to serve in attractive slices.

In addition, my use of the new mold also forced me to eliminate the graham cracker crust from the recipe, which would have added a nice texture and increased the stability of the dessert. I am curious to see if others have more success with this recipe, and I am hoping that my observations make it easier for someone else to be successful.

In short, don’t be like me, be like Molly!