What’s bright, jiggly, and has a fascinating backstory? 

Before Jell-O made its wobbly debut, gelatin-based dishes were the height of sophistication and a true luxury." Making gelatin in the 18th and 19th centuries was an incredibly tedious process—boiling animal bones and extracting collagen, straining, and clarifying it—all for the fancy aspics and jellied desserts served at the grand tables of aristocrats. These dishes were a way for the wealthy to flaunt their status (and their patience in the kitchen!).

Things started to change in 1845 when inventor Peter Cooper patented powdered gelatin, cutting down the lengthy process, but it wasn’t until 1897 that gelatin became a household name. That’s when Pearle Wait, a cough syrup maker with a side hustle, decided to add fruit flavors to the mix, creating the famous Jell-O. His wife, May, came up with the catchy name, and while it wasn’t an immediate hit, a businessman named Orator Frank Woodward bought the recipe for $450 and worked his marketing magic. 

Jell-O wiggled its way into American culture, especially in Utah, where it became wildly popular with the Mormon community. Large families and church gatherings made Jell-O a practical, affordable, and creative dessert option. The fascination with Jell-O even gained humorous attention when Utah was declared the "Jell-O Belt" capital in 2001, and the state legislature made Jell-O Utah's official state snack.