Jell-O: "America's Most Famous Dessert" — the cult gelatins and puddings of the United States!

The story of Jell-O, America's most famous dessert

It all begins in 1897 in Le Roy, New York. Pearle Bixby Wait, a carpenter and cough syrup maker, had the idea of adding fruit flavors and coloring to powdered gelatin. It was his wife May who came up with the name: Jell-O. Not knowing how to sell his invention, Pearle sold the brand as early as 1899 for just $450 to the Genesee Pure Food Company. An investment that would prove brilliant: thanks to pioneering ad campaigns (Jell-O was one of the first products to hand out free recipe books), the brand became a phenomenon, proudly nicknamed "America's Most Famous Dessert."

Later bought by General Foods and today owned by Kraft Heinz, Jell-O expanded its range well beyond gelatin: instant puddings, mousses, no-bake cheesecakes, sugar-free versions... A dessert that spans generations.

Did you know Jell-O has its own museum — and that it's the official dessert of an American state?

Jell-O is so woven into American culture that the town of Le Roy is home to an actual museum, the Jell-O Gallery, dedicated to the brand's history and advertising. And in 2001, the state of Utah even declared Jell-O its "official state snack"! It's hard to get more American than a jiggly, colorful dessert that shaped the imagination of an entire country.

How does Jell-O work?

The principle is as simple as it is fun: you dissolve the Jell-O powder in boiling water, add cold water, then let it set in the refrigerator. A few hours later, you get a glossy, jiggly gelatin. For the puddings, it's even faster: you whisk the powder with cold milk, and the cream sets in a few minutes. Magical and fun to make, especially with the kids!

The Jell-O universe: gelatins, puddings and much more

Jell-O's great strength is its variety of flavors and formats. At MYAM, we regularly add to our selection — here's what you can find right now.

The Gelatins (Jell-O Gelatin) — the famous powders to set. On the classic fruit side: Strawberry, Strawberry-Banana, Cherry, Black Cherry, Orange, Lemon, Lime, Raspberry, Grape, Peach, Cranberry, Apricot. And more fun, exotic flavors: Berry Blue, Mango, Island Pineapple, Watermelon. Most also come in a Zero Sugar version: Strawberry, Lemon, Orange, Raspberry, Cherry, Lime, Black Cherry, Strawberry-Banana.

The Instant Pudding & Pie Filling — the dessert creams and pie fillings, ready in minutes. The classics: Chocolate, Vanilla, French Vanilla, Lemon, Butterscotch, Banana Cream, Coconut Cream, Cheesecake, White Chocolate, Chocolate Fudge, Pistachio. The indulgent one: Oreo Cookies 'n Cream. Here too with Fat Free and Zero Sugar versions for a lighter treat.

And for layered desserts, kits like the No Bake Oreo Dessert Kit, to make an indulgent dessert without turning on the oven.

A fan's tip: rainbow parfaits

Jell-O is super versatile. To wow your guests, make several gelatin flavors in different colors, let them set separately, then layer them up in glasses with pieces of fresh fruit and a little whipped cream. Eye-catching effect guaranteed! You can also swap the coffee in a tiramisu for Lemon or Orange Jell-O for a fruity, original twist. Let your creativity run wild.

Where to find Jell-O?

Jell-O powders are hard to find in regular stores. My American Market, your online American grocery store, hunts them down straight from the USA. Want to bake American-style? Take a look at the Betty Crocker mixes and other desserts in the shop too!