The Timeless Recipe That Was a Favorite Dessert of Martin Luther King Jr.

If you know anything about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., you’ll know that he’s one of the most prolific individuals around. Though we’ve found several ways to honor his memory throughout the years, there always seems to be something new to learn about the legend. Among his childhood pleasures, one dessert stood out as a culinary masterpiece: Quilly. Quilly, made with love and a touch of mother magic, was more than just a dessert; it was a comfortable hug for Martin Luther King Jr. with every velvety bite.

Quilly, a light dessert from Dr. King’s mother’s recipe box, is made with ingredients you would not believe would go together. While I was hesitant to give it a go, I gathered everything I needed to see whether this would be the delicious reset I needed to kick off the week.

This recipe requires simple gelatin, water, sugar, heavy whipping cream, almonds, stale macaroons, marshmallows, vanilla essence, and fruit salad.

Soak the gelatin in cold water for five minutes before dissolving in boiling water and mixing in the sugar. After the mixture has cooled, whisk in the heavy whipping cream, chopped almonds, stale crumbled macaroons, marshmallows, a can of fruit salad, and a splash of vanilla or rum flavor. Then, pour into a quart mold (I used a bundt pan because that’s all I had), which should be washed in cold water. Chill until firm, then serve with sugar wafers if desired.

Set aside some time for the Quilly to set. If you want to eat anything right away, this is not the recipe for you. Even after two hours in the fridge, it was still not ready and required to be refrigerated for extended periods of time. If you’re cooking this meal for a party, keep in mind how long it will take to set.