This rainbow Layered Jello dessert is fun, colorful, and easier to make than it looks. Switch up the colors depending on the occasion or holiday so you can serve this jiggly treat all year long.
For more colorful Jello recipes you can also try this Strawberry Pretzel Salad or our Jello Divinity.
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Rainbow Layered Jello
Don’t let the perfectly thin layers fool you—this Rainbow Jello dessert is incredibly easy to make. Both kids and adults always love it whenever I serve at a birthday party, 4th of July or for St Patrick's Day or Valentine’s Day. Adapting this layered Jello is as simple as switching up the flavors.
The biggest trick is to have all of your ingredients and tools laid out and work on the next layer while the previous one is setting up in the fridge. All together this only ends up taking about 30 minutes of active prep time. The rest of the time is spent chilling in the fridge.
Key Ingredients
- Jello Packages - to make the colored Jello layers, you will need to choose 5 flavors of Jello. Depending on the occasion, you may want to make them a rainbow assortment, or colors to fit the particular holiday.
- Gelatin - to make the white layers, you will need to use regular unflavored gelatin packets that will be mixed with sweetened condensed milk for flavoring.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk - this is what helps flavor the white layers. It also gives them a creamy and smooth texture.
- Water - to help activate and set up the gelatin and Jello you will need both cold and boiling water. Be sure to read the instructions carefully to see when to use which!
How to Make Rainbow Jello
- Make the first colored layer. Combine a 3-ounce package of Jello and ½ Tablespoon of gelatin. Stir, then add 1 cup of boiling water and mix until dissolved. Pour into a lightly sprayed 9” x 13” baking dish and place flat in the refrigerator for about 15-30 minutes.
- Make the first white layer. Combine 1 cup cold water and 4 packets of gelatin. Stir until dissolved and then let it sit for 2-3 minutes. In a microwave-safe bowl, add two cans of sweetened condensed milk with the bloomed gelatin. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the top and stir until smooth. Pour 1 cup of this mixture over the set colored layer and return to the fridge for about 10 minutes.
- Continue to assemble the Jello layers. Continue alternating colored and white layers until you have 5 colored and 4 white.
- Cut into squares. Run a sharp knife around the edges of the Jello. Take a sheet tray that is slightly bigger than the glass baking dish and invert. Use a sharp knife to cut the edges off, then cut into small squares. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- 4th of July - alternate red, white, and blue layers. Berry blue works for blue and for red you can choose from any number of flavors like strawberry, cherry, raspberry, or even strawberry banana.
- Valentine’s Day - alternate layers of red, pink, and white. There are quite a few red flavors to choose from, and for pink you could use watermelon Jello.
- St Patrick's Day - go for a rainbow theme, using any red variation along with orange, lemon, lime, berry blue, and grape.
Frequently Asked Questions
The time it takes for Jello to set depends on how thick the layers are and how hot the mixture is when you put it into the fridge. With the colored layers in this recipe, it should take between 15-30 minutes for them to set up. They are fairly thin and you want to be sure that they aren’t too hot when you pour them over the other layers so they don’t melt!
The white layer isn’t hot at all, so it takes a little less time to set up—about 10 minutes or so.
Yes! This is a perfect recipe to make the day before an event. Just be sure to cover it in and store in the fridge. I recommend cutting them soon before you plan to serve.
I don’t recommend trying to freeze this unless you plan to eat it frozen because freezing gelatin changes the molecular structure and causes it to break down. Since there is so much gelatin in this dessert, it can make it get really wet and melty when it thaws.
Storing Instructions
- Refrigerator: store covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Layered Jello Recipe
Ingredients
Colored Jello Layers
- 5 3-oz packages Jell-o flavors and colors of your choice
- 2½ Tablespoons Unflavored Gelatin Powder ½ T for each colored layer
- 5 cups Boiling Water 1 cup for each colored layer
White Jello Layers
- 2 14-oz cans Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 4 0.25-oz packets Unflavored Gelatin Powder
- 1 cup Cold Water
- 1 cup Boiling Water
Instructions
- Spray a 9 by 13" glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
To Make the Colored Jello Layers
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine one of the 3-ounce packages of Jello and ½ Tablespoon of gelatin. Stir, then add 1 cup of boiling water and mix until dissolved and you can't see any undissolved granules.
- Pour the Jello into the prepared glass baking dish and set it in the fridge, making sure it is level. Chill until set up—about 15-30 minutes.
To Make the White Jello Layers
- While the first colored layer is setting, take a small mixing bowl and combine 1 cup cold water and 4 packets of gelatin. Stir until dissolved and then let it sit for 2-3 minutes.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the two cans of sweetened condensed milk and the bloomed gelatin. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the top and stir until combined and smooth.
- Pour one cup of this white layer over the colored layer and let it set up for about 10 minutes in the fridge. Prepare your next layer of colored jello while this one sets.
To Assemble the Layered Jello
- Continue alternating the colored Jello and 1 cup of the white Jello until you've reached your color pattern of choice with a total of 5 colored and 4 white layers.
To Cut the Layered Jello
- Run a sharp knife around the edges of the Jello. Take a sheet tray that is slightly bigger than the glass baking dish and turn the Jello upside down. Use a sharp knife to cut the edges off so that they will be uniform and straight, then cut into small cubes.
- Store in a covered container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Keep cool for best results. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More Fun and Colorful Dessert Recipes
- Red White and Blue Rice Krispie Treats
- Strawberry Blondie Bars
- Strawberry Pretzel Salad
- Fresh Fruit Cake
- Candy Kabobs
- Rainbow Fruit Kabobs
- Funfetti Bundt Cake
- More Dessert Recipes
- More No Bake Dessert Recipes
This fun and colorful rainbow Jello is an easy dessert that can be adapted for just about any occasion. It's made with thin layers of flavored Jello and couldn't be easier to make.
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