As we were trying to make sense of pandemic life in April of 2020, I wrote to my Instagram friends: “There are a lot of uncertainties in the world, but it’s nice to know that when you put together Jell-O and whipped topping, magical things still happen.” A year later, we are still leaning in hard on comfort and exploring the world through food. We’ve had theme nights based on places we love to travel, favorite movies, hometowns, and pure childhood nostalgia. You might think it’s impossible to create a dinner based on the movie Twister, but you would be wrong! Light ‘N Fruity Pie falls into the hometown nostalgia realm. It was one of my husband’s childhood favorites, and I made it for our first pandemic Easter. It comes together in a snap, so it’s fun choice when you feel like something sweet, colorful, and delightfully retro.

Light ‘N Fruity Pie or Cool ‘N Easy Pie?

This simple concoction of your favorite fruit flavored gelatin and whipped topping goes by a couple of different names. In my husband’s family it was Light ‘N Fruity Pie, but you might also call it Cool ‘N Easy. My research shows that Cool ‘N Easy was marketed as a way to use Jell-O, Cool Whip, and Keebler ready-made graham cracker crusts, whereas Light ‘N Fruity was usually Jell-O, Cool Whip, and a homemade crust. It sometimes appeared on Cool Whip containers. Do you know more about it’s origins? If so, pop it in the comments.

Light ‘N Fruity: The Perfect Pie for Spring!

Jello-O and Whipped topping are magical together. I mean, people don’t eat a lot of these sorts of Jell-O pies anymore, but at one time they were considered quite special. Although I never had Light ‘N Fruity Pies as a child, it brings me back to the Ambrosia and Jell-O salads that were commonplace at church potlucks in the 80s. There is something quite lovely about the textures. There’s the melt-in-your-mouth creaminess of the filing, but also the buttery crunch of the crust. I think raspberry is a good choice for the filling, but my husband is also fond of lime. A pie like this needs a touch of tartness. Raspberry also creates the perfect pink hue for Springtime festivities.

Pie Crust: Homemade or Store Bought?

You can make your own homemade graham cracker crust for this one or try one of the store bought varieties. [Affiliate link] . At the beginning of the pandemic last year, it was kind of hit and miss what I could get with my grocery order, but I scored a pre-made crust well ahead of Easter and tucked it in my pantry. If you have graham crackers, sugar, and butter, however, it’s easy to make your own. I’ve included a vintage recipe in the Notes of the recipe card above.

Final Thoughts

It’s been a tough year across the globe, and I hope you and your family are faring well. Things are looking brighter, but it’s going to take all of us doing our part for ourselves, our families, and neighbors to truly move past this. I’ll be sharing more soon about the ways we have made the best of staying home this past year.

Looking for More Retro Desserts?

Looking for more retro desserts? Try my Chocolate Pudding Cake!

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