I saw this recipe for the first time last summer when one of the Sunday Supplements was running extracts from Sophie Dahl’s new book. I was quite taken with the idea of it (it’s pink and camp, what’s not to love?) and so I asked mum if she fancied it for dessert one night. Apparently she used to eat it all the time when she was a child, it was one of the great post war puddings!
Since then it has entered the repetoir in two forms. If we’re being lazy or in a rush then it’s just Carnation Milk Jellies (although any brand works just as well!) This takes all of 5 minutes to whip up and then you just shove it int he fridge and forget about it until dinner time. If you have a little more time on your hands, out comes the electric whisk and it is whipped up into a fluffy cloud of pink goodness, also known as Jelly Fluff! The flavour is the same but the textures are very different. Also the Jelly Fluff goes a lot further as you give it more volume.
Makes 4 (6-8 if going for Jelly Fluff) Dependent upon size of glasses/bowls.
2x135g packs of jelly (raspberry or strawberry)
250ml boiling water
1x410g tin of evaporated milk
- Cut the jelly into small chunks and put them in a large, microwaveable jug.
- Add the boiling water and whisk until the jelly is starting to dissolve.
- Microwave in 30 second bursts, whisking in between, until the jelly is completely dissolved.
- Add the evaporated milk and whisk until totally combined.
(- Transfer to a larger bowl and beat with an electric whisk until thick and fluffy.)
- Pour into your chosen serving dishes/glasses.
- Chill in the fridge (keeping them flat) for at least 2 hours, preferrably longer, until totally set.
- Decorate with whipped cream, sprinkles and whatever else you like. Camp is the order of the day here!
03/05/2010 at 11:28 pm |
would this work with the sugar free Rowntrees diet jelly doyu think? If so…amazingly yummy sugar free guilt free treats ahoy!
04/05/2010 at 7:50 pm |
It certainly would work with sugar free jelly, however there is still sugar in the evaporated milk… how much I’m unclear on but you can buy low fat stuff if that helps.
08/05/2010 at 1:58 pm |
Actually, ignore me! It’s condensed milk that is sweet, evaporated milk isn’t! I always get the two mixed up. Sorry!
31/12/2010 at 3:57 pm |
This is such a great sweet! My granny used to make it for me when i was little. We used to use lime flavoured jelly and it was absolutely gorgeous. Well worth a try.
31/12/2010 at 6:21 pm |
It’s a real nostalgia trip isn’t it! I’ve never tried it with lime but that’s because I only like red or pink sweets and jellies, always was a picky kid!
15/06/2011 at 4:24 pm |
how long do you have to whisk it for, I have done everything to the recipe but it has not thickened
15/06/2011 at 7:34 pm |
If you’re using an electric whisk then 2-5 minutes will be more then enough. If you’re whisking by hand then you’ll need to give it some elbow grease and a good 5 minutes to work it enough.
It doesn’t thicken up like, say, whipping cream, however, it should get noticably frothy and build in body from the watery consistency to more of a milkshake or smoothie consistency. You’re wanting to work a lot of air in to give it the volume you want. Even if you can’t get it to hold enough air, it still tastes great without the bubbles, it’s just a difference in texture.
Hope this helps.
11/08/2011 at 11:30 am |
Do you mean to say that your meant to use condensed milk instead of evaporated?
11/08/2011 at 6:21 pm |
Nope, I always use evaporated… you could try using condensed instead if you want to but I’m not sure how it would turn out as I’ve never done it.
31/08/2011 at 8:09 pm |
I’m confused – carnation milk is condensed milk. Is it Carnation or evaporated?
01/09/2011 at 6:02 pm |
Carnation is a brand, they produce Evaporated Milk, Sweetened Condensed Milk and Caramel. Carnation is a Nestle subsidiary. You can also buy evaporated and condensed milk from other manufacturers if you want to.
05/09/2011 at 1:52 pm |
Hi, have you tried making this with double cream instead of evaporated milk?
10/09/2011 at 8:58 pm |
Nope, never tried it I’m afraid!
01/01/2012 at 8:41 pm |
My old Aunty used to make this as a cake many many years ago and it was truly amazing! Except she always used lime jelly and then chilled it on a biscuit base and to top it off, decorated it with Cadburys flake sliced lengthways. Miss my old Aunty but her recipe is now a favorite with my 2 daughters.
09/03/2012 at 6:32 pm |
Hello as a child in England we would have a dessert that sounds very similar to this. Carnation milk and jelly with either a can of oranges or raspberries. We called it a ‘Flummery’ is this the same as your recipe?
10/03/2012 at 11:17 am |
I think that Flummery is technically a different dessert, made with oats, but I have to say I quite like the name! I’ve always just called this Carnation Milk Jelly, and my mum deos too.
09/05/2012 at 9:29 am |
My nana used to make this and we have looked for the recipe for years. Cant wait to make this for my little girl.
15/06/2012 at 6:46 pm |
Mmmm, nice of you guys to share this, but please Ladies is this something that really you couldn’t work out yourselve’s ??? Jelly & a can of evaporated millk, hardly pulitzer winning work or difficult to work out is it ? A dish that was made to create a cheap dessert pre & post war, when fresh milk wasn’t avail, not exactly haute cusine nor much that perhaps deserves such accoldaes online, hardly surprising parents et get charged with “over-praising” god kinda that’s what’s going on here I’d say.
16/06/2012 at 6:53 pm |
Ha Ha! You’re right, this isn’t haute cuisine! This blog is all about what I’m cooking at home. It’s simple, tasty food that makes you happy, nothing more than that!
18/06/2012 at 2:22 pm |
Since the recipe is post war smartie pants, how were we to remember how it was made. Yes I knew the recipe had jelly and evaporated milk. I just couldn’t remember the quantities. Not all of us are as brilliant as you seem to think you are in the kitchen.
15/07/2012 at 5:25 pm |
Hi, my mum also used to make this, but the carnation used to whip up to the consistency of shaving foam, then she wld whisk in the nearly setting jelly and put in the fridge. It was a great quick mousse idea, that I started making it soon after (this is about 15-20 years ago), I used to make a lovely mango mouse with strawberry jelly, (by whisking pureed mangos into the mixture aswell-this would make the mousse a bit more substantial) it was gorgeous. Anyway I had not made this for a long time so recently tried it and the carnation just does not whisk up like it used to- no where near, so I’m wondering if they’ve changed the ‘make up’ of it?
13/10/2012 at 4:21 am |
Hi if you leave Carnation (Evaporated Milk) in the fridge over night it does whip up thick and double in quantity.
19/11/2012 at 7:22 pm |
my mum inlaw makes this but she said you need to let the jelly half set before adding the milk and whisking – just a little tip
31/12/2012 at 9:32 am |
Hi all, lovely easy dessert that i enjoyed as a child.then I made it for my little girl.
It really is important to thoroughly chill the evaporated milk, and cool the jelly but don’t let it set before combining the two mixtures. very easy to make, and eat : )