On hot summer days, what are your favorite sweets to enjoy and cool down? One of my favorites is this see-through fruit jelly. The see-through jelly reminds me of ice cubes and it makes me feel cool instantly, as I imagine the chilled jelly with refreshing fruits in my mouth. This quick and easy dessert recipe has been in my mind to share for quite a while and now is a perfect time as I am still kitchen-less. Based on the latest estimate I might have a functional kitchen in 2 weeks… I just can’t wait.
Easy Fruit Jelly Recipe
So I want to emphasize it’s super easy to make this attractive dessert. All you need is a portable stove, a small saucepan, a cutting board, a knife, and a mold. If you are wondering how I created this recipe, it was created in my upstairs office which is now also a kitchen/dining room.
Ingredients and Equipment for Fruit Jelly
1. Kanten
This jelly is made with kanten powder. In case you’re not familiar, kanten (寒天) is a white and semi-translucent gelatinous substance, obtained from algae. Just like gelatin, it solidifies liquid. However, kanten is vegetarian and vegan-friendly, and it’s a great alternative to animal or chemical-based gelatin. If you want to know more about kanten, please read my Kanten Page.
2. Nagashikan – A Mold with Removable Inner Tray
For this recipe, I actually bought a traditional Japanese stainless steel mold with a removable inner tray called Nagashikan (流し缶). This removable inner tray makes it easy for you to un-mold the food, especially if the food easily sticks to the container. We use nagashikan to make Tamago Tofu (玉子豆腐) and traditional cold treats like Yokan (羊羹, azuki bean jelly). Another option is to cut all the fruits into small cubes and serve this dessert in individual glass cups. I usually make my fruit jelly that way and they look really pretty in a glass container. If you decide to serve this jelly in individual cups, reduce the amount of kanten powder to 2 grams. That way, the jelly is softer and jiggly. Today’s recipe requires us to cut around the fruits, so the jelly is designed to set firmer and it won’t jiggle as much. More explanation on this is in the next section.
Helpful Tips to Make Fruit Jelly
1. The texture of the jelly
If you prefer softer jelly textures that are not firm like my fruit jelly today, you can reduce the amount of kanten powder to 2 grams (half the package). If you do so, I highly recommend chopping fruits into smaller cubes, making the jelly in individual cups or a large baking pan, and serving with a spoon. Less kanten powder will result in jelly that would jiggle (プルプルって感じ) and it will go through your throat smoothly. If you prefer to make this “ice cube” style, keep the ratio as it is.
2. Choice of fruits
Besides the fruits I used for this recipe, you can use peaches, apples, and other types of berries. Also, canned mandarin oranges and peaches are great choices as well and the syrup adds additional sweetness. I recommend an assortment of colorful fruits that would look pretty suspended in jelly.
3. Amount of sugar
I use 4 Tbsp. (1/4 cup) of sugar for this recipe. To call this dish “dessert”, 4 Tbsp. of sugar is absolutely necessary and it’s on the healthier side. If you want to omit sugar or use less, the fruits you use have to be super sweet or canned fruits in syrup. So, 4 Tbsp. for healthier jelly, and 6-8 Tbsp. for “dessert” fruit jelly. Please adjust the sugar amount to your liking.
4. Kanten powder
There are 3 types of kanten (powder, stick, and thread) and you can use any one of them. I used kanten powder for this recipe. Kanten can be found in your local Japanese (or Asian) grocery stores, and you can also purchase it online at Mitsuwa or Marukai (for US residents). For conversion from 2 tsp (4 g) kanten powder, you will need:
Kanten stick = 1 stick (8 g)Kanten thread = 24 threads (8 g)
If you want to use agar or gelatin instead, you will need 4 tsp of agar or powder gelatin (8 g). Please remember the jelly made with gelatin will easily melt in the summertime while kanten will not melt at room temperature (read more here). If you have any questions about kanten, please read this post first. Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
