jelly dessert; jellied sweet
Refers to a traditional Japanese jelly-like sweet, often made from fruit juice, agar, or kudzu starch. Not a general term for Western-style jelly.
Archaic or literary term for fruit, especially when served as a dessert or refreshment. In modern Japanese, 果物 (くだもの) is the standard word.
In summer, my grandmother would make homemade jelly desserts for us.
In old documents, 水菓子 can refer to fruit in general.
Historically 水菓子 referred chiefly to fresh fruit, distinguished by its moisture from dried fruit and prepared confectionery. Its use for jelly-like desserts is a later extension.