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Five-ingredient, fun, and festive rainbow jello is such a crowd-pleaser! Layer up colored jello to make a gorgeously hued rainbow dessert, or use any colors you like for any occasion from holidays like St. Patrick’s Day to birthday parties.
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Stovetop, No-Bake
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free
- Skill Level: Moderate
Can You Believe How Gorgeous This Rainbow Jello Is?
From backyard barbecues to birthday celebrations, rainbow jello is a fantastic option to add to the dessert table alongside other pretty desserts like funfetti cupcakes or Fruit Pebbles Treats. I love the pop of bright color the contrasting layers of jello brings (it’s also a nice complement to gluten free red velvet cake or equally vibrant gluten free red velvet cupcakes), and these cute little squares instantly elevate any gathering into something special. Plus, who doesn’t love sweet, jiggly jello? Here are some highlights:
- So easy! The hardest part about making rainbow jello is waiting for each layer to set completely! Otherwise, it’s a breeze to make. Follow my tips outlined lower down in this post to make sure the colors don’t bleed into each other and you’ll be well on your way to rainbow perfection.
- Beautiful. All those bright colors means that this dessert is going to stand out!
- Not your ordinary jello. Because there’s a bit more gelatin than in regular jello recipes, the layers of rainbow jello are firm and hold together without disintegrating (one of the things I don’t like about plain jello).
- Use the method with any colors. This recipe is super adaptable, so mix up the colors and think beyond the rainbow to Saint Patrick’s Day and beyond.
What You’ll Need
Just a few ingredients go into this recipe and I’ve outlined them below, with a few notes. Make sure to scroll to the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts.
- Jello: I used 6 different flavors and colors (for rainbow colors, I used cherry, orange, lemon, lime, berry blue, and grape), but you can use any flavors and colors you like.
- Condensed Milk: Make sure to use sweetened condensed milk.
- Gelatin: I have only tested this with Knox, but you should be able to use any unflavored gelatin! If you use a different gelatin, keep in mind that one packet is equal to 3 teaspoons (or 7 grams) of gelatin.
- Water
How to Make Rainbow Jello
Because the recipe has extra gelatin in it to help keep the cubes stable, you’ll notice that the jello are much firmer than regular jello. The white layer is sweet but doesn’t taste like much, allowing the flavors of the jello that you choose to shine through. Here’s a look at you’ll make this fun dessert, with the full instruction details in the recipe card.
- Prep. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch glass baking dish.
- Start with one color of jello. For the first colored layer, combine flavored jello and half of a packet of unflavored gelatin and stir in 1 cup of hot water.
- Cool. Set aside the mix to cool.
- Make the white layer. Add ¼ cup of cool water to a bowl.
- Add gelatin. Sprinkle a packet of gelatin over the water.
- Absorb. Let the gelatin absorb the water without stirring it.
- Add hot water. Now mix in ¾ cup of hot water and dissolve the gelatin.
- Add milk. Stir in ½ can of sweetened condensed milk and set aside.
- Add jello to pan. Pour the first layer of cooled jello into the prepared pan, then refrigerate it to set.
- Make more jello. Prep the next layer of colored jello.
- Pour on white layer. Gently pour in ¾ cup of your white mixture on top of the set jello, then chill it.
- Assemble the rest of the jello. Repeat the layers, making more jello and white layer if needed.
- Finish with red. You should finish with red as your last layer. After the jello is fully set and chilled, cut it into cubes and serve!
Tips for Success
- Set each layer. This is important! Each layer needs to fully set before you pour on the next layer. If you don’t wait long enough the colors will bleed together (this won’t affect the taste but it will affect the overall appearance).
- Cool the hot jello. It’s also important to cool the hot jello to room temperature before pouring it on top of the set layer. If the jello is too hot it will melt the layer beneath it.
- How do I get perfect cubes? Make sure you are cutting with a non-serrated blade and that your lines are smooth. Don’t saw, just drag your sharp blade through. You can even use a ruler to make even and straight lines!
- What do I do if my white layer sets before I can use it? No worries—just place the bowl in the microwave and heat up the mixture in 15 second intervals, stirring each time until the mixture is smooth and liquid again. Make sure you let it cool down to room temp before pouring on top of a jello layer, that way the colors don’t start to bleed.
- Cut into any size! Feel free to cut smaller cubes if you are making these for a party and want to have a small bite dessert. Alternatively, you can cut them a little larger if you wish.
- Play around with the colors. This is such an easy recipe to adapt to whatever holiday or occasion is in season! I’ve outlined some ideas below, or just make it with whatever colors you love best.
How to Store It
To store rainbow jello, cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Variation Ideas
These are perfect for all kinds of occasions and holidays, such as:
- Saint Patrick’s Day – Alternate layers of green and white.
- Valentine’s Day – Alternate red, pink, and white.
- Christmas – Use red, green, and white layers.
- Independence Day – A perfect BBQ dessert! Alternate layers of red, white, and blue.
- Easter – Use pink, blue, yellow, green, and white layers.
- Baby shower – You could do layers of pink and white, blue and white, or pink, blue, and white.
- Birthday party – Pick your kid’s favorite colors or just make rainbow jello!
More Colorful Recipes To Try
Rainbow Jello
Layer up colored jello to make gorgeously hued rainbow jello. Just 5 ingredients needed!
Servings: 20 servings
Ingredients
- 6 (3-ounce) packages flavored Jello (for rainbow colors, I used cherry, orange, lemon, lime, berry blue, and grape)
- 1 ½ (14-ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk
- 6 packets unflavored gelatin (I use Knox brand)
- 9 cups water
Instructions
- Lightly grease a 9×13-inch glass baking dish with something neutral tasting like butter, avocado oil, or cooking spray and set aside.
- For your first layer, add your flavored jello and half of a packet of unflavored gelatin (about 1 ½ teaspoons) to a small bowl or container and stir in 1 cup of hot water. Stir until the jello and gelatin dissolve fully, being careful not to stir too hard and create a lot of bubbles. Set aside to cool to room temperature while you make the white layer.
- Add ¼ cup of cool water to a medium bowl then sprinkle a full packet of gelatin (about 3 teaspoons) on top and allow the gelatin to absorb the water for 1 minute. Do not stir.
- Once done, mix in ¾ cup of hot water and stir to allow the gelatin to dissolve fully before adding in ½ can of sweetened condensed milk. Set aside. This will be 2 of your white layers. You’ll have to make more as you get further along in the layering process, but only making 2 batches at a time helps prevent it from setting before you can use it.
- Now that your first layer of flavored jello is cooled, gently pour it in your prepared glass pan. You may have to tilt the pan a bit to make sure the jello covers the whole surface. Then carefully place it on a flat shelf in your fridge to set for 20 minutes.
- While that sets, you can prepare your next flavored jello by following the same steps and method as for your first layer, that way it’s cooled down to room temp by the time you’re ready for it.
- Once your first layer has set, gently pour in ¾ cup of your white mixture on top, using a silicone spatula or spoon to pour over to help minimize bubbles. I would recommend leaving your baking dish in the fridge and pouring your layer from there. Let chill for 20 minutes.
- Repeat your layers, making a new batch of the white layer anytime you need it (you will have to make it 2 more times) and make sure you give it enough time to cool so it doesn’t cause the other jello layers to bleed into it. Let each layer cool in the fridge for 20 minutes before adding another, alternating between a flavored jello and your white layer. You should finish with red as your last layer.
- Cut into cubes and serve!
Nutrition Facts
Rainbow Jello
Amount Per Serving
Calories 2
% Daily Value*
Fat 0.01g0%
Saturated Fat 0.004g0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.001g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.002g
Cholesterol 0.03mg0%
Sodium 7mg0%
Potassium 0.3mg0%
Carbohydrates 0.3g0%
Sugar 0.3g0%
Protein 0.3g1%
Vitamin A 0.2IU0%
Vitamin C 0.002mg0%
Calcium 4mg0%
Iron 0.004mg0%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimers: Please discuss your individual dietary needs (i.e. gluten free) with a physician. Even when not specified, be sure to verify all ingredients are gluten free, if needed, by reading labels on all packaging and/or confirming with the manufacturer this varies by brand and can change at any time. Nutrition information shown is an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.
Did you make this?
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