9 Retro Jell-O Recipes Guaranteed To Impress Your Guests

From the Dirt Cup to the edible rainbow, Jell-O has always allowed home cooks to achieve the impossible. Gleaming, gelatinous structures require little more than boiling water and patience, and technicolor crowd pleasers can be assembled with just a few ingredients. Yes, Jell-O is a modern marvel, and it deserves to be treated as such.

What follows are nine different recipes that showcase the delicious versatility of Jell-O and gelatin in home cooking. Some recipes are ambitious, but most are simple and satisfying, and all of them have picturesque (or at least colorful) results.

Because this Jell-O dish contains savory salted pretzels, it can be considered a side as much as a dessert—so pile it onto your plate anytime. The greatest difficulty is simply allotting enough time for each layer to set, but the results—tart strawberries, creamy Cool Whip, and a crunchy, toffee-like base—are worth waiting for. Get the recipe for Betty Crocker's Strawberry Pretzel "Salad" here.

Watergate Salad, listed in many regional cookbooks as "Green Stuff," is a fluffy concoction of Pistachio Jell-O Pudding, mini marshmallows, whipped topping, and pineapple. Its popularity has endured across the decades even as its vibe has shifted from classy trend to kitschy side dish, and all it takes is one bite to see why it's still beloved. Get the recipe for Green Stuff here.

The thought of Jell-O shots might bring college parties to mind, but they can be a quite lovely addition to any gathering where you wish to make merry. Our holiday Jell-O shot guide includes an easy base recipe, plus lots of ideas for customization and garnish. We also have this wisdom to share: Chill the water and alcohol together before adding the mixture to the powdered gelatin. Read our definitive guide to creating holiday Jell-O shots here.

If you've never heard of blancmange, it's a lightly gelled mold of fruit and cream bolstered with almond—and this version uses raspberry Jell-O to amp up the fruity flavors. Combined with almond meal, the Jell-O helps to create a dense, velvety texture that is a pleasure to bite into. Get the recipe for Jell-O Blancmange here.

Three ingredients come together to create this citrusy treat—what more convincing do you need? Orange Sherbet Jell-O serves as an ideal palate cleanser, and if it's whipped properly, it will have almost a sparkling effect on the tongue as you eat. Get the recipe for Orange Sherbet Jell-O Mold here.

These holiday stunners can be made with or without the booze, so you can customize them to your party crowd. And although we suggest making the shot glasses themselves out of Jell-O using a silicone mold, some people find that too complicated—so you can just combine everything into one big Jell-O mold, too. They won't be "shots" that way, but they'll be delicious. Get the recipe for Cherry Cordial Jell-O Shots here.

If you haven't had the pleasure of drinking Coquito at the holidays, you should definitely try some—the Puerto Rican beverage has many of the same qualities as egg nog. These Coquito Jell-O Bites layer the flavors of lime and rum atop a base of coconut and warming spices, offering a single-serve taste of holiday cheer. Get the recipe for Coquito Bites here.

As you can see in the photo above, these pudding pops might look a little, uh, PG-13 if you use a cylindrical mold, but that shouldn't discourage you from trying to make a batch yourself with whatever molds you have on hand. It starts by filling the molds with custard, then adding the caramel, which slowly sinks down throughout the custard, creating ripples and ribbons of sweetness. Neither layer would be possible without gelatin, which creates a springy texture that's simply fun to eat. Get the recipe for Flan Pudding Pops here.

Yes, we know. "Crab Salad" is a phrase that might strike fear in your heart, especially when you see that three envelopes of powdered gelatin are involved. However, this tri-layered Jell-O mold has lots of surprises in store, from the kick of Calabrian chili paste to the rich avocado mousse that complements the crab and tomato flavors. In short, it tastes luxurious, and it's bound to be the most memorable dish you eat this year—the most retro Jell-O recipe imaginable. Get the recipe for Jell-O Crab Salad here.