Lime Fluff | aka: Old-Fashioned Sea Foam Salad

July 27, 2020
Originally created and served at W.F. Woolworth's lunch counters, Sea Foam Salad is a classic lime fluff treat. Serve this vintage dish as a dessert salad as it was originally intended, or as a sweet side as we tend to do at our house.  Either way, this old-fashioned Sea Foam Salad is one tasty Jello salad classic.
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Old-Fashioned Sea Foam Salad Image

The popularity of gelatin-based salads exploded back in the 1950's as various recipes for this vintage treat came onto the scene.  And after doing some reading about it, it seems this ever-popular lime Jello version was certainly a big driver in that trend.

Known as Sea Foam Salad, this creamy green lime fluff was first served at and popularized by the iconic F.W. Woolworth's lunch counters.  Do you remember them? -- Oh, I remember the Woolworth's lunch counter well.

Woolworth's was one of the original five-and-dime stores, truly bringing the business model and precursor concept for today's department stores into being.  There was a Woolworth's store on Main Street in the little Vermont town I grew up in, and I used to love to go in to browse around.

Known as Sea Foam Salad, this creamy green lime fluff was first served at and popularized by the iconic F.W. Woolworth's lunch counters.

But what I loved even more than browsing around through all their merchandise was grabbing a seat at the Woolworth's lunch counter to enjoy a treat. 

I remember well walking downtown with a friend to get those treats. -- But must admit, we never ordered the Sea Foam Salad, opting for banana splits and hot fudge sundaes instead.  While Sea Foam Salad is tasty, of course ice cream won out with us kids.

While we may not have indulged in the Sea Foam Salad during our visits to Woolworth's, lots of others sure did.  Apparently as Woolworth's stores expanded, so did the popularity of its classic lime gelatin-based salad.

Serving Spoon of Sea Foam Salad Lime Fluff Image

With its mixture of lime gelatin, cream cheese, and whipped cream, this sweet Sea Foam Salad was (and still is) considered a dessert salad.

The original Woolworth's version used canned pears and their juice as the salad's fruit base.  And often included cherries, as well.

With its mixture of lime gelatin, cream cheese, and whipped cream, this sweet Sea Foam Salad is considered a dessert salad.

This version is a pineapple variation, replacing the original canned pears with canned crushed pineapple and its juice.  Another addition is marshmallows, which aren't believed to have been included in the original.

We adore our Sea Foam Salad with marshmallows in it!  I must say, they're my favorite part.

Syrupy Green Jello to Make Sea Foam Salad Image

To make a bowl of Sea Foam Salad, start by combining lime Jello powder with some pineapple juice and a little water, heating the mixture until the powder is fully dissolved.  Then chill the Jello down until it gets syrupy and is just barely beginning to set.

While the Jello mixture sets up, beat a package of cream cheese with an electric mixer until its fluffy.

Whipped Cream Cheese to Make Sea Foam Salad Image

Beat the syrupy lime Jello mixture into the cream cheese.  The combination joins to create the salad's characteristic light green sea foamy color.

How to Make Lime Fluff Image

Stir in crushed pineapple and mini marshmallows.

How to Make Sea Foam Salad Image

Then fold in freshly-whipped cream.  You can use a container of Cool Whip if you'd like. -- We prefer using whipped cream.

Making a Bowl of Old-Fashioned Sea Foam Salad Image

Then refrigerate the salad for at least a couple of hours (or overnight) to allow the salad to set.

The Jello will set and the marshmallows will become soft and squishy, creating Sea Foam Salad's fluffy texture.

Bowl of Lime Fluff Image

Then you're ready to dig in and enjoy this vintage lime fluff treat.

Serve it up as a dessert salad as it was originally intended, or serve it as a sweet side dish as we tend to do at our house.  Either way, this old-fashioned Sea Foam Salad is one tasty classic treat.

Check out these other favorite fluff recipes:
Serving Bowl of Sea Foam Salad Image
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lime fluff recipe, fluff salad, sea foam salad, sea foam salad recipe, lime jello salad, old fashioned sea foam salad
Salads
American
Yield: about 8-10 servings
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Lime Fluff (Old-Fashioned Sea Foam Salad)

Lime Fluff (Old-Fashioned Sea Foam Salad)

Originally created and served at W.F. Woolworth's lunch counters, Sea Foam Salad is a classic lime fluff treat. Serve this vintage dish as a dessert salad as it was originally intended, or as a sweet side as we tend to do at our house. Either way, this old-fashioned Sea Foam Salad is one tasty Jello salad classic.
Prep time: 45 MCook time: 5 MTotal time: 50 M

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  1. Drain pineapple, keeping the juice.
  2. In a small saucepan, combine pineapple juice, water, and lime Jello powder.  Stir over low heat until Jello is dissolved.  Refrigerate until syrupy and just barely beginning to set, about 30 to 35 minutes.
  3. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until fluffy.  Stir in Jello mixture; beat until just combined.
  4. Stir in pineapple and marshmallows.
  5. Beat whipping cream with sugar until soft peaks form.  Fold into Jello-cream cheese mixture.
  6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or overnight), until set.
Created using The Recipes Generator

You might also like these other fruity salad recipes:







Old-Fashioned Sea Foam Salad (Lime Fluff) ~ Serve this vintage dish as a dessert salad, or as a sweet side. Either way, this old-fashioned Sea Foam Salad is one tasty Jello salad classic! Perfect for Thanksgiving or Easter dinner, or any everyday meal.  www.thekitchenismyplayground.com

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This post is linked with Weekend Potluck, Meal Plan Monday.

5 comments

  1. You might get a kick out of this. I think I'm a little older than you but this was the bane of my childhood growing up in the 60's. I hated it with a passion only a child can muster and it seemed to appear as if by magic at any function, home or church! The funny thing is when I had a potluck party a few years ago, a friend bought it and I LOVED it! There was leftover which ended up at my house and I think I ate a little for like three straight days!! I'm glad to see the recipe!

    Mollie

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just made this......I can tell by licking the bowl and rubber scraper that it's yummy, and my husband and son will probably wipe it out in no time.

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  3. I remember this salad very well. I have my grandmother's handwritten recipe. She worked the lunch counter at Woolworth's for years and had the original recipe. It was called Lime-Mallow salad and had cottage cheese instead of cream cheese. I am now 73 years old and still make it for my family. It is a favorite.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Would love and appreciate this recipe as I remember eating it as a child. I think Bishop's Cafeteria served one similar. 78 yr old

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  4. Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party. Hope to see you there tomorrow too! Stay safe!

    ReplyDelete

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