Better Homes & Gardens December 2023Cook-Cathedral Window Jelly

Cathedral Window JellyInspired by two much-loved Filipino desserts, cookbook author Abi Balingit creates one charmingly retro tropical gelatin mold for the holidays.
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abibalingit_115^{^C}hristmas time in the Philippines might be the longest-running holiday season in the world, as you’ll find decorated trees, twinkly lights, and carols ringing out as early as September. And the most common celebratory dessert on any Filipino spread is cathedral window jelly, a molded gelatin confection named for the colorful cubes of jellies (primarily red and green for the holidays) suspended in a creamy condensed milk base. But Abi Balingit and her Filipino American family preferred another traditional dessert, buko pandan, a green gelatin salad made with shredded young coconut (buko) and jellied cubes flavored and colored with pandan leaf extract. In her debut cookbook, Mayumu: Filipino American Desserts Remixed, Abi includes her fusion version of these two beloved desserts, presenting the flavors of buko pandan in festive jelly form.

ILLUSTRATIONS: CHARISSE CELESTIAL. PHOTOS & ILLUSTRATIONS FROM MAYUMU: FILIPINO AMERICAN DESSERTS REMIXED BY ABI BALINGIT.COPYRIGHT © 2023 BY ABIGAIL BALINGIT. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION OF HARVEST, AN IMPRINT OF HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS

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Anatomy of a Mash-UpAbi incorporates the flavors and most of the elements in classic buko pandan salad to make her version of cathedral window jelly. Look for these ingredients (some come in jars) at your local Asian market or online.
TRADITIONAL CATHEDRAL WINDOW JELLY Colorful fruit-flavor gelatin cubes (usually lime and strawberry for the Christmas colors, plus lemon or other flavors) stud a creamy base made with sweetened condensed milk and cream.
BUKO PANDAN SALAD If you’ve ever had an old-fashioned gelatin salad with whipped cream, this dish is a similar treat. The classic Filipino salad features jelly cubes (gulaman) flavored with pandan (tropical leaves), along with shredded young coconut (buko) and other chewy or jellied elements, all swimming in pandan-scented sweetened condensed milk.
ABI’S BUKO PANDAN CATHEDRAL WINDOW JELLY In place of the bright fruit-flavor gelatin cubes, Abi brings in pandan gulaman, along with kaong and nata de coco. To represent the buko without introducing another texture to the molded dessert, Abi makes her gelatin base with a blend of coconut milk and sweetened condensed milk. She serves it with a pandan and tapioca (sago) sauce. f0067-02CoverPhiladelphia Cream Cheese Ad 1Philadelphia Cream Cheese Ad 2ContentsHome Depot AdReynolds Wrap AdEditor's LetterOlay AdBlue Buffalo Treats Ad 1MastheadBlue Buffalo Treats Ad 2Cheerios Ad 1From the EditorsCheerios Ad 2Off the PageWalmart AdHoliday Gift GuideTorani AdHallmark AdBHG Real Estate AdSketchers AdPurina One AdShop-Festival of LightsDecorate-Let It SnowMinted+Brides AdCook-Winter GreenEgglands Best AdPurina AdOpzelura Ad 1Opzelura Ad 2Opzelura Ad 3Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls AdPillsbury Cinnamon Rolls Ad 2Organize-Putting Away the HolidaysGlad AdDayQuil NyQuil AdPedigree Ad 1Pedigree Ad 2Fasenra Ad 1Fasenra Ad 2Fasenra Ad 3Grow-Winter WondersCook-Cathedral Window JellyHome for the Holidays AdFleischmann's Yeast AdKaro AdDecorate-Around the Kwanzaa TableHeifer AdPurina Friskies AdPoise AdCook-Baked Up BigKerrygold AdGlucerna Ad 1Glucerna Ad 2Make-I Did ItRenewal Window AdFresh Files AdSyfovre Ad 1Syfovre Ad 2Syfovre Ad 3Syfovre Ad 4Cook-5 Ingredient Cozy BowlsJimmy Dean AdStouffer's AdArexvy Ad 1Arexvy Ad 2Holiday Entertaining Essentials Ad 1Holiday Entertaining Essentials Ad 2All the TrimmingsOut of the BoxAlmond AlchemyChristmas in Full ColorAll Spruced UpWorkbookCookbookGoya AdThe Perfect Plate AdJTV AdHershey's Kisses AdThrive - A Better SmoothieZzzQuil AdFresh Files Ad 2Ensure Ad 1Ensure Ad 2Thrive - In The KnowCelebrate Magazine AdStylemakerDove AdPost Office Ad