Frog in a pond | Food for children’s parties

Make this easy Frog in a Pond jelly dessert and watch how quickly these little frogs can hop into hungry mouths and disappear.

Also called frog In the pond and frog At a Pond, this dessert is perfect for adding a magical retro touch to your next party.

What is a frog in a pond?

Frog in a Pond is an Australian retro dessert.

I remember these desserts that combine chocolate frogs and jam making a regular appearance at kids’ birthday parties in the 1980’s.

You could describe it as a jelly cup with an Australian twist.

The recipe for Frog in a Pond is truly timeless and can still be found on the back of Jelly Crystal boxes today.

It’s a dessert that kids (even big kids 😉) will enjoy.

Ingredients for Frog in a Pond Jelly Cups

There are three must-haves for this dessert:

• clear plastic cups (you want to be able to see those frog legs frolicking around in the pond)
• green jelly (to create the “pond”) – some people use blue jelly but I think this is more like “frog in the pool”
• Chocolate Frogs (yes, the frogs go in the pond!)

Find chocolate frogs to put in the pond

In Australia you can buy Freddo Frogs in most supermarkets, servos, corner shops and more.

While Freddos is now a Cadbury brand, they were originally introduced in the 1930s by MacRobertson’s chocolate factory in Fitzroy, Melbourne.

Freddos was reportedly originally going to be a mouse-shaped chocolate, but a young employee, Harry Melbourne, convinced decision-makers that a chocolate frog was a better idea.

Fortunately, because I don’t think a mouse would work that well in a pond!

Freddo has changed A LOT over the years, from a real looking animal frog wrapped in foil to a cartoon frog wrapped in plastic.

While many miss the Freddo of yesteryear, the “new and improved” frog is still popular. More than 90 million are sold in Australia each year.

Chocolate Frogs are also made by other specialty chocolate brands and can be found in department stores and specialty chocolate and candy stores.

How to make a frog in a pond

Prepare the jelly according to the directions on the jelly packet.

In Australia, airplane jelly is made by adding 1 cup of boiling water to the jelly crystals in a heatproof pitcher, stirring, then adding 200ml of cold water before stirring again.

To make your “ponds,” pour an equal amount of the uncured jelly mixture into 4 clear plastic cups.

Place the mugs in the fridge for at least 6 hours, ideally overnight.

Once set, cut a small slit in the top of the jelly to hold the frog in place.

Place a frog in each cup and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Serve with a spoon and watch the smiles appear and the frogs disappear.

As simple as that!

Frog in a Pond FAQ

Q. Can I make up for it in advance?

The jelly can be made up to 5 days in advance, but add the chocolate frogs the day you plan to serve them.

Q. What is the best way to store Frog in a Pond?

Store in the fridge. As mentioned above, you can make the pond up to 5 days ahead and refrigerate, then add the chocolate frogs before serving.

Q. Shouldn’t the frogs be in the pond, like under the water?

Some people place the frogs in the uncured jelly and let them sink into the pond while the jelly sets.

This approach has two disadvantages.

First, it’s hard to see Freddo’s cute little face.

Second, the chocolate will get a bit mushy after a few hours, which means you can’t make it ahead of time.

But if you want your frogs to be lurking beneath the surface, do it! Just think of the muddy factor.

Q. Do you have any other kids party recipes?

I will definitely do it!

Check out my recipes for Honey Joys, Chocolate Crackles, and Fairy Bread for starters.