Loco Kids: Something’s Fishy

I’ve seen a lot of kid treats in my day, but nothing has been cuter (to this point) than these Mini Jell-O Aquariums created by the Confessions of a Cookbook Queen’s Kristan.  Everyone in unison now… “AAAAAWWWWWWEEEEEE!”

Warning:  Kristan’s blog will be your daily sweet craving.

When I originally had the idea for these little aquariums, I thought I’d hit snack jackpot!! But a quick Google search informed me that Martha had a very similar idea. But hers was bigger and didn’t have candy aquarium rocks.

NO CANDY AQUARIUM ROCKS?!

And then I discovered why. Pouring liquid Jell-O over candy makes the candy squishy and gross. No good.

BUT THEN IT CAME TO ME IN A DREAM.  (not really, I was awake)

If I let the Jell-O set up in the jars (like a mold) and then loosened it and dropped it in another jar with candy in the bottom, it wouldn’t get soggy.

So I did. And it worked.  Easy!!

Mini Jell-O Aquariums

(click here for printable recipe)

Makes 2 mini Jell-O aquariums

INGREDIENTS

.25 oz box of Mixchief Add Soda! Jell-O

2 cups clear soda (Sprite, 7 Up)

Blue food coloring  (you could also use light blue soda and omit the coloring)

4 half-pint canning jars

½ cup of small jelly beans (I used Hawaiian Punch jelly beans that I found at Walmart)

4 Swedish Fish candies

Pour gelatin powder in medium bowl.  Boil ½ cup of soda, and pour boiling soda over gelatin. Stir for about 2 minutes, until completely dissolved.  Add remaining 1 ½ cups of soda, along with a drop or two of coloring and stir.  Divide gelatin evenly into 2 jars and place in the refrigerator for about 4 hours, until firm and fully set.

Place a handful of jelly beans in the bottom of the two remaining jars.  Right before serving, loosen the set Jell-O from jars by running a knife along the edges. Place jar upside down over the jar with the jelly beans and give it a tap…it will fall right out and into place!

Cut two slits in the Jell-O and insert your Swedish Fish.   Done!!

Tip: Try not to put these together until you’re ready to serve them.  Although the candy doesn’t get totally soggy and gross, the moisture from the Jell-O will compromise the quality of the jelly beans after a period of time.

Like what you see?  Show her some sugar…

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