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!
Anna in the kitchen 
would this work with the sugar free Rowntrees diet jelly doyu think? If so…amazingly yummy sugar free guilt free treats ahoy!
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.
Actually, ignore me! It’s condensed milk that is sweet, evaporated milk isn’t! I always get the two mixed up. Sorry!
Love the fact this post has been going for 12 years 🍮
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. 🙂
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!
Frothy jelly!! My favourite
how long do you have to whisk it for, I have done everything to the recipe but it has not thickened
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.
You do have to chill the evaporated milk or it doesn’t whip properly.
Do you mean to say that your meant to use condensed milk instead of evaporated?
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.
I’m confused – carnation milk is condensed milk. Is it Carnation or evaporated?
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.
Hi, have you tried making this with double cream instead of evaporated milk?
Nope, never tried it I’m afraid!
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.
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?
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.
My nana used to make this and we have looked for the recipe for years. Cant wait to make this for my little girl.
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.
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!
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.
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?
Put your carnation milk in the freezer until it’s really cold
Hi if you leave Carnation (Evaporated Milk) in the fridge over night it does whip up thick and double in quantity.
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
Yes! We would certainly have let the jelly cool, whilst whisking the Evaporated milk, then add the jelly to the milk and continue to whisk before putting in the fridge to set. i remember cycling to the nearest shop a couple of miles away to buy the milk – my sister had started making the jelly without checking whether we had any milk.
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 : )
I fell back exhausted after reading all that info about a very simple pud I first made years ago! Still delicious and like the tip about using lime jelly on biscuit base as a pretend Key Lime Pie!
As with everyone else, this was a childhood favourite. I called it “thuth” because of the sound it made when you put the spoon in. My mother always insisted on boiling the condensed milk before chilling it overnight in the fridge – which since she did it in an unopened can has always made me wonder how I survived my childhood. Any ideas why?
Not sure why she might have boiled it. If you were to boil the unopened can for long enough (3-4hours on a hob, overnight in a slow cooker) you get caramel. Might have added a more caramelised taste to it or might have just been one of those “because that’s what I was taught to do!” things!
my mum used to make it for me and my brothers and I hadn,t had it for ages and got a craving for it , I thought it amazing that it would be on any recipe list as I thought it was something mum concocted
Hope you enjoy it! It’s one of my top comfort puddings!
I have been looking for a recipe to make pastel coloured vodka jelly shots for my wedding. This seems like the easiest way, but do you have any idea how you would swap some of the water/evaporated milk for vodka? Sorry, I know you usually make this for your children but it’s worth an ask.
I’m afraid I’ve never made vodka jelly so I’m not sure how to alter the recipe. But I see no reason why if you were to find a vodka jelly recipe and, as you say, simply switch out the right quantity of water for vodka as recommended that it wouldn’t work out. Good luck!
I love vodka jellies! Worth trying to make a vodka milk jelly version – cream and alcohol work in Baileys!!
My mother makes it with a squeeze of lemon and chopped up marshmallows. Very exciting finding those. She calls it Montilimar. Can only find one other reference to the name.
Ooh, I like the idea of finding marshmallows! Never heard it called that before though!
My dad use to make it and I could never do it like he use to he has passed on now and he did make it for my children
It was light and fluffy I have tried to make it but the children say you will never make it like grandpa did please give me some tips
I am making this now – I remember my Grandma making it for me, many years ago. I am using the power of the internet to find the recipe as I was too young when she passed so was unable to ask her how to make it. I do remember there being mandarin segments in it and it was yummy – will let you know how I get on 🙂 x
Well I tried to do it without chilling the milk but it didn’t work – I stuck it in the freezer along with the jelly for about 15 mins – then tipped the jelly in with the milk and whisked it up. Once fluffy and full with air bubbles I gentle stirred in the mandarin segments. It is now in the fridge chilling – Can’t wait to taste it later 🙂 going to be yummy x
I Used to make a similar one for my children when they were little,my 42 year old son has just requested it for when he comes for dinner over the weekend,but I used to partly set lemon jelly in half water half orange juice and when partly set whip it and then layer it in a bowl with crushed chocolate ripple biscuits.
Not one to stick by best before dates; and the fact that these vintage recipes were make before BB dates, and I remember rusty tins in the store cupboard as a child; made milk jelly last night and ate it (yummy) using a 2010 evaporated milk and 2006 jelly!! I’m ok today 😱
I dilute the evaporated milkWith water to make a pint bring it to boil then stir it into the jelly cubes or powder both work wellReally good!!!
When I saw your post it reminded me of making it at school nearly 20 years ago, although we did it with a biscuit base. I loved it back then, so had to make it again with my daughter. As usual I was so excited to make it I rushed in and used condensed milk (light) instead of evaporated! It looks ok despite being very sweet – no complaints from my 5 year old mind!
I will update you on the results when (if!) it sets 😁
Hope it works out for you! I have a very sweet tooth so I see no issues here!
We had this for dessert at school in the early 1960’s and we called it ‘Foam Rubber’ because that’s what it looked like and it tasted delicious. Not had it for years but going to make some now
Haha! I can see how it would get the name!
We had this as a dessert at school in the early 1960’s and we called it ‘Foam Rubber’ because of its texture. Loved it, not had it for years but going to go and make some now.
Haha! I can see how it got the name! Hope it tastes as good as you remember!
My mum used to make this for me and my sisters when we were kids (1970s) in whatever jelly flavours were available – my favourite has always been lime. I also used to occasionally get it as a special birthday treat as an adult in my 20s, 30s & 40s. Although our Mum is sadly no longer with us, I still make myself a lime milk jelly from time time.
I love that this recipe has so many good memories associated with it!
I hate lime jelly but a few people have said it’s their favourite for this so I might have to give it a go!
In the early 70s a client was demonstrating mousse on a tv show, here in New Zealand, she was running through the recipe for me which was very involved, I told her about my mums recipe which is the same as yours, she tried it and used it on the program. Soon after she was making something else, and asked me if I could get in touch with mum in the UK and pass on her recipe lol
My mother called this “Frog Spit” and it was a great favourite irrespective of the name. We used all different flavoured jellies………One of the best was a red jelly (any flavour and a tin of guavas)….made the jelly up with part boiling water and part guava juice and beat in the guavas. Really delicious. Tinned Guavas obtainable at South African shops. kjb
Haha! I’ll have to remember “frog spit” come Halloween!
I gust saw this recipe today on tv programm in Malta . She put boiling water in the jelly ( not to much water ) and then she mixed the evaporated milk and put them in the fridge . And let them set .
With the cake beater she break the jelly and add 6 tbsp of the water of the chickpeas and she beat until came foamy .
She said in the 60 s they used the eggs but she substitute the eggs with 6 tbsp of the water of the chickpeas . She also use the water of the chickpeas instead of eggs to make cakes , for merengue etc
Pingback: Jelly Pudding | Gardening On Goyders
I have in the past made trifle with chocolate swiss roll, tin of cherries, cherry jelly with mousse made with cherry jelly & evaporated milk, & whipped cream & chocolate shavings – yum !!
Squeeze 1/2 a lemon into the milk before whisking to make it froth.Make sure the jelly has cooled and starting to set.I use raspberry jelly with sieved blackcurrants after being brought to the boil in a little water.I am sure the recipe was once on a can of carnation.Maybe 80’s.My grandaughter has requested this for after christmas roast.
Thanks for sharing, I want to try this for my daughter’s pink theme birthday party. But I have a question: Your recipe call for jelly powder but in step 1 you wrote “Cut the jelly into small chunks”. Am I suppose to follow the jello instruction on the box to make regular jello first? And then cut into chunks? Then Add boiling water and the rest of the steps? Thanks!
Hi Angela! In the U.K. our jelly usually comes in thick jelly blocks that you dilute with water not powder. Cutting it into chunks just helps it dissolve faster so if you’re using a powder just follow the packet instructions to make a liquid jelly (before it sets) then follow on from there.
Just made individual Jelly fluffs for a dinner party tomorrow. Made 2 extra (7 in all) so hubby and I will have tasters later. Remember Mum making these. Shall try them on my 4 year old twin grandchildren when we see them next.
My mother and aunts made this during the 40.s and 50.s apparently cherry jelly gives the best flavour. Whipped egg white was also used in the recipe. When my children were growing up in the 60.s and 70.s, I used a block of plain ice cream if I didn’t have evaporated milk..
Hello! My Mother made a trifle in the 30’s with whipped jelly, she called it “Shaky Mary”, until now I have never found the recipe, thank you so much!
My Mum used to make this when I was a child. I recently had a sudden urge to make it and bought jelly and evaporated milk. Then I wondered if I had got the ingredients right so had a quick look online and found this. Thank you. Can’t wait to make it. We called it Slop Scouse. We lived in Bristol, not Liverpool so not sure where that name came from
Fluffy Jelly is a great favourite with our families and has been for a very long time. In the 40’s growing up my Mum would often make this. As some have said wait until the jelly is just at setting point before whisking in the evaporated milk. Mum never used to cool the milk in the fridge beforehand but still achieved a very fluffy jelly. This has now, after 3 generations since Mum, been the subject of a competition at summer family bar b q’s to see who can come nearest to “Grandma’s fluffy jelly”. There have been some close but so far nobody has taken over her title of “best fluffy jelly”.
I’m 61, Scottish and grew up knowing this as jellycream. My mum always made it with with Carnation evaporated milk. Own brands weren’t available in those days or at least I don’t remember them so it was always Carnation milk. Definitely not condensed milk, that was for a Scottish classic, tablet!! My favourite jellycream was lime closely followed by raspberry then strawberry. As for peach, just don’t do it!!
I came here as a result of looking for a recipe for ‘Fluffy Jelly’, which my mum used to make. It must be 40 years or so since I last had some. I remember my mum’s Fluffy Jelly as having two layers; the top layer was light and airy and underneath it was more jelly like. I think that might have been because she didn’t have an electric whisk, and used one of those manual rotary contraptions. I’ve got some blackcurrant jelly, so will be making some later.