Jell-O Cookbook, George Washington Cover, 1926

Jell-O cookbook featuring George Washington cover and America's most famous dessert, 1926.

"For over twenty years, Jell-O has been esteemed for deliciousness, sparkling beauty, economy and ease or preparation. But not until recent have its healthful qualities been understood."

While we often think of Jell-O as being a post-World War II, mid-century convenience food invention, its history dates back to the mid-1800s.  In 1895, 50 years after the original patent was granted for a "portable gelatin dessert powder," Pearl B. Wait, a cough-syrup manufacturer in Le-Roy, New York, purchased the rights and began experimenting with the addition of fruit syrups (strawberry, raspberry, orange, and lemon) to gelatin. His wife, May, renamed the dessert “Jell-O” and although they were responsible for its invention, they lacked the knowledge and funds to market it successfully.  The business was sold to Wait's neighbor, Orator Francis Woodward, who was ultimately responsible for the product's success as we know it today.

This charming little cookbooklet, measuring approximately 6 1/8" x 4 1/4" with 18 pages, was published in 1926 to promote "the health value of Jell-O, America's most famous dessert." Crease and wear around edges and spine.  Vibrant colors, especially since the booklet is almost 100 years old.

Delightful color illustrations compliment timeless and trendy-once-again recipes such as Cottage Cheese Salad and Mocha Charlotte while menu suggestions for afternoon tea and an "inexpensive club luncheon" evoke the 1920s.

Check out these recipes today and read about why "Jell-O should be served frequently - to children as well as adults."