Here is another one of my favorite recipes. I believe I got this from my mom and I have no idea where she got it from. It's about as close to a secret family recipe as we get; except I'm about to share that secret with you. This apricot gelatin salad is great for pot-lucks and big parties. Need to bring a dish to a graduation party? This would be a great choice. It can be made as a single batch or a double batch depending on the size of the gathering. There's a secret ingredient in here that always surprises people and I bet you can't guess what it is!
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I brought this to a rather large pot-luck, around 50 people, so the pictures show you the doubled recipe. The typed section is the single recipe, but it's super easy to double.
Step 1 is at the Stove
The first step is to take the apricot (or peach if you can't find apricot) gelatin, the sugar and the two cans of pineapple, undrained, and put them in a pan on the stove.
Heat these three ingredients up until the granules of the gelatin and sugar are dissolved. This really doesn't take very long, maybe a few minutes. Once done, take it off of the stove and set aside.
Get out that Mixer!
Next you'll need a mixer. In the mixing bowl, place the room-temperature cream cheese in the bowl and then put the secret ingredient on top. Be careful when you turn on the mixer that you go at low speed at first or you'll be covered in slop! Mix it all up till it's as smooth as possible.
In other words, I never get it completely smooth because I sometimes lack patience. If you have patience, you might get it smooth.
Now add the pineapple and sugar mixture to the cream cheese and secret ingredient mixture. Again, go slow or you'll end up with a mess all over your kitchen (ask me how I know!). Once it is all well mixed, pour it into a big bowl.
Now you're going to mix in the Cool Whip . This step takes awhile so get your muscles ready! Once the Cool Whip is thoroughly mixed in, you're done. All you need to do is let it set in the refrigerator for a few hours (at least 4) to set and then serve.
I guarantee you that this dish will be a hit. In my experience, most people like some sweet fluff with their dinner at a party!
Apricot Gelatin Salad
Single recipe - Double if you're serving a big crowd
1- 3 oz package of apricot gelatin (peach will work if you can't find apricot)
1/3 C sugar
1- 20 oz can crushed pineapple - not drained
1- 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened
2- 4 oz containers of Gerber Apricot with Mixed Fruit baby food (2nd Foods) Yep, you guessed it! This is the Secret Ingredient!
2- 8 oz Cool Whip
Heat gelatin, sugar and pineapple together in a sauce pan until gelatin and sugar dissolve. Set aside to cool
Cream the cream cheese and baby food together until smooth.
Mix the gelatin mixture into the cream cheese mixture and blend.
Put mixture in a bowl and fold in the Cool Whip. Make sure it is completely mixed in.
Place in the refrigerator until set.