Aunt Arleen's Famous Jello Cheesecake

With all the craziness currently characterizing my life right now (and I’ll have plenty to share about that in the coming weeks!), I’ve definitely been looking for ways to slow down and spend more time doing the things that I really love again. And of course, baking & blogging top that list–so here I am, back and as happy as a kid who’s just eaten five servings of this amazing jello cheesecake!

I decided to break my blogging silence with this particular jello cheesecake recipe because it happens to be my favorite dessert in the world, period. Technically this recipe isn’t even mine to share: it belongs to my Aunt Arleen, who has been making this gelatin goodness for us since before I can remember. Every holiday or family special occasion without fail, a pan of this creamy, textured, mind-blowing layered dessert would appear in my grandparents’ fridge, which would be raided by fourteen pairs of grubby little hands the moment we’d licked our dinner plates clean.

It’s also the one thing that has stayed constant over the years, as beloved members of the family have passed away and others–significant others, spouses, great-grandchildren–have been welcomed into our family with their very first bite of this delectable tradition. For me, this fluffy, slightly tangy dessert represents comfort during a time of chaos and a tie that signals us back to the harbor when we’re lost. Of course, that’s a lot to pin on a simple jello cheesecake…but food isn’t considered a universal language for nothing!

Whether you’re searching for a perfect comfort dessert or ready to start your own family tradition, I definitely recommend making this jello cheesecake as soon as possible. Although I swear that there’s just something different about the way Aunt Arleen’s version always turns out (because nobody ever makes it as good as our auntie does), I promise you won’t be disappointed!