I did some (unsuccessful) research to identify the author of the original recipe for Rainbow Ribbon Salad, which has been the holy grail of American gelatin desserts for as long as I can remember.
Not surprising, really – this layered concoction is the J-Lo of jiggly desserts - down to earth and completely approachable, yet strikingly lovely. It is also certainly as enthusiastically received as any celebrity/pop star/actress/TV personality!
Given its iconic status, the Rainbow Ribbon Salad was due for a little spin, JSTK style. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce to you the
Spiked Rainbow Ribbon Salad recipe. A star has been born.
I added vodka to each layer – blueberry flavored vodka, to be specific, which was wonderful! But any flavored vodka or rum would work well. I also added a little unflavored gelatin, to provide ballast while sitting on a buffet table. The result is a “cocktail” version of the classic, with all the sweet, creamy, layered rainbow goodness of the original.
Spiked Rainbow Ribbon Salad makes a beautiful addition to any party. While the preparation is super easy, with 12 layers, it’s a bit of a project due to the timing and setting of each layer. While preparing this dessert is not for the faint of heart, it is simply spectacular and worth the effort for any special event – I will be making this several times this spring and summer!
Hope you enjoy!
XO Michelle
Michelle Palm created the Jelly Shot Test Kitchen blog after discovering a lack of cocktail-style jelly shot recipes.