7-Up Salad is a layered dessert with a fruit-filled lime jello base and a creamy whipped topping. It’s a vintage no-bake jello dessert recipe that’s perfect for holidays.
7-Up Jello Salad
Jell-O salads were a thing back when I was growing up in the 60’s and 70’s. My mom didn’t make 7-up salad (likely because we didn’t keep sodas in the house) but she did make a lime jello salad that was very similar. It was always one of her favorites and she still makes it regularly to this day.
This past Christmas, my adult children found out about 7-Up Salad from their dad’s side of the family and were curious about the recipe. Since this particular one wasn’t in Granny’s recipe box, I turned to my church cookbooks. They did not disappoint! I found this 7-Up Salad recipe and knew we had to give it a try!
I have to admit, I was sure I wouldn’t like it….but I was wrong!
This is a beautifully layered dessert with a fruit-filled lime jello layer on the bottom and a creamy whipped layer on top. And yes, while it is called a “salad,” this is a sweet dish that is more of a dessert. Yet, in the magical way of those vintage Jell-o salads, you can serve it as a side dish along with the meal or as a dessert afterwards!
If you search the internet, you will notice that there are several versions of 7-Up Salad. Some have cream cheese or mayonnaise mixed in with the Jello. Some, like this recipe, have a cooked topping. While there is convenience in mixing everything together, I think the layered version looks quite impressive on the holiday party table. It’s worth the effort!
Here’s the full breakdown:
The gelatin layer has pineapple, bananas, pecans, and marshmallows mixed into lime jello for a sweet and tart treat. The topping is Dream Whip mixed with a cooked egg and flour mixture. In my opinion, it is the topping that really brings this whole dish together and makes it uniquely delicious. It’s SO much more than whipped cream!
Once it’s all assembled, it is a bright green color with a light creamy topping. So, it’s beautiful to serve and it’s delicious.
This recipe takes a bit of time because there are two layers that both have to cool. But you can make it a day or two ahead and it holds up great in the refrigerator.
I think this is such a fun retro recipe and I can’t wait to share it with my eager kids! Perhaps we’ll even add it to our Thanksgiving menu this year!
— Sara
Ingredients
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Gelatin Mixture
- 1 large box of lime Jell-O (6 ounces)
- 2 cups of boiling water
- 2 cups of cold 7 Up soda
- 3-4 bananas sliced
- 1 can of crushed pineapple, drained (save the juice for the topping)
- 2 cups of miniature marshmallows
- ½ cup chopped pecans
Topping
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup pineapple juice (from the can of crushed pineapple)
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 package of Dream Whip
- ½ cup of milk (for the Dream Whip)
Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Medium Saucepan
- Electric Mixer
- 9×13″ casserole dish or baking pan
Instructions
There are two layers to this dessert, and the first layer will need a couple hours to set up before you can add the topping. It’s not a complicated recipe, but you’ll want to plan ahead.
To Make The Lime Jello Layer:
- Whisk together the lime gelatin powder and boiling water until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Add two cups of cold 7-Up soda. Allow this mixture to cool to room temperature.
- Drain the juice from the canned pineapple. Reserve one cup of the juice to make the topping.
- Add the bananas, pineapple, marshmallows, and pecans to the lime jello mixture and stir to distribute evenly.
- Spread the jello mixture in a casserole dish and place in the fridge to set (about 2-3 hours).
To Make The Topping
- In a medium mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg. Add the flour and mix well. Mix in the pineapple juice, sugar, and butter. Transfer this mixture to a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring until thick. Remove from stove and allow to cool.
- Prepare the Dream Whip according to box directions.
- When the egg mixture is cool, add the Dream Whip and mix until well combined.
- Pour or scoop the Dream Whip topping on top of the lime Jell-O layer. Use a spatula to spread the topping evenly.
Prep Tips
- Optional garnish ideas for this dessert include lime zest (pictured) or maraschino cherries.
- Refrigerate dessert until ready to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Substitute Whipped Cream For Dream Whip?
Dream Whip is a powdered mix that creates a fluffy and creamy dessert topping when mixed with milk and vanilla. The texture is somewhere between whipped cream and pudding. Dream Whip hit grocery store shelves in the 1950s, part of a rush to produce new “convenience foods” for busy families.
Because it is made with hydrogenated oils, Dream Whip is more stable and able to maintain its creamy consistency for several days in the fridge. On the other hand, fresh whipped cream will usually start to “fall” and become more liquid-y after a few hours, so it does not work as well for this layered dessert.
If you’re looking for a Dream Whip substitute, a whipped topping such as Cool Whip would be the closest choice. However, Dream Whip is usually still readily available in stores, so I would recommend sticking with it if possible.
Can You Make 7-Up Salad In Advance?
One of the reasons this recipe is so perfect for holidays and special occasions is that you can make it up to a day or two in advance. The entire 7-up salad dessert can be prepared and kept covered in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. For the best flavor and texture, I recommend enjoying within 3-4 days.
7-Up Jello Salad Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)
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7-Up Jello Salad Recipe
Equipment
- 1 9X14 baking dish
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 medium saucepan
Ingredients
Jell-O Mixture
- 1 large box Lime Jello-O 6oz box
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 cups cold 7-Up soda or lemon-lime soda
- 4 small bananas sliced
- 1 can crushed pineapple drained, reserve juice
- 2 cups miniature marshmallows
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Topping
- 1 egg
- 2 TB flour
- 1 cup pineapple juice from the canned pineapple
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 TB butter
- 1 package Dream Whip
- 1/2 cup milk to prepare Dream Whip
Instructions
Jell-O Mixture
- Mix the Jell-O and boiling water. Stir until the gelatin is dissolved.
- Add two cups of cold 7-Up and allow jello mixture to cool.
- Drain the juice from the pineapple. Save the juice for the topping.
- Add the bananas, pineapple, marshmallows, and pecans to the lime jello mixture and stir to distribute.
- Spread the lime jello mixture in the bottom of your baking dish and place in fridge to chill until set.
Topping
- Beat the egg. Add the flour and mix well. Add the pineapple juice, sugar, and butter. Mix well.
- Add the egg and flour mixture to a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring until thick. Remove from stove and allow to cool.
- Prepare the Dream Whip mixture according to directions on box.
- When the egg/flour mixture is cool, add the Dream Whip and mix until combined.
- Scoop the Dream Whip mixture on top of the set jello layer and spread gently.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
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