A festive and family-friendly way to toast the holidays, this gelled dessert relies on the sparkle of ginger ale. If you can't find fresh raspberries, use frozen. Or substitute cut-up strawberries or halved seedless grapes. Buy extra fruit so your helpers can snack while they cook.

Prep Time: 5 minutes, cook time: 2 to 3 minutes, servings: 8 

Ingredients

2    (12-ounce) cans ginger ale 

2    (1.2-ounce) envelopes powdered gelatin

2    (6-ounce) packages fresh raspberries

8    glasses

Directions

1. Let the kids pour 1/2 cup ginger ale into a small saucepan. Sprinkle gelatin into pan and let soften for 1 minute. Simmer and stir over low heat until gelatin is dissolved, about 2 minutes. As kids watch, pour mixture into a heatproof measuring cup. Help kids slowly pour in remaining ginger ale. Mix gently so you avoid froth.

2. Let the kids divide the raspberries among the glasses. Help them pour the gelatin into the glasses on top of the raspberries. Chill 2 hours, or until set. If you'd like, you can make this sweet treat a day before your party.

British chef and award-winning cookbook author Fran Warde makes her second appearance in the pages of Working Mother with her new book, Party!. As a working mother with two sons, Fran understands that party food has to be fast, delicious and easy.