Mosaic Jello (Milk Jello)

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Mosaic Jello (Milk Jello) is a colorful and refreshing dessert that is popular in Mexico and other Latin American countries. It is made by combining different flavors of jello cubes with a creamy jello mixture, creating a beautiful mosaic or stained glass effect. It is often served for parties, holidays, or as a snack.

A mosaic of colorful jelly cubes on a white plate.

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Jello History

Jello is a brand of gelatin dessert that was invented in 1897 by Pearle Bixby Wait, a carpenter and cough syrup manufacturer in LeRoy, New York. Jell-O was sold to Frank Woodward, who owned the Genesee Pure Food Company, in 1899 for $450. Woodward marketed Jell-O by distributing recipe books and samples, and by hiring salesmen to demonstrate the product.

Why This Mexican Jello Recipe is a Keeper

You can use all 4 packets of jello to make the beautiful mosaic. One flavor in each container and then remove gelatins from the refrigerator and cut the grenatina onto the plate and add to the milk jello. It turned out great.

  • Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry.
  • Family Friendly: Everyone loves it because it is so pretty and so good.
  • Adaptable: Can make it with sugar free jello and a little of the milk of your chosing. Cut into 1/2 inch cubes or different shapes. No need to follow the recipe exactly.

If you’re looking for more Jell-o recipes, try these Cherry Jello Salad with Fruit, Old Fashioned Lime Cottage Cheese Jello Salad and Cranberry Raspberry Jello Salad.

What is Milk Jello?

Mosaic-inspired gummy jello squares on a white surface.

Milk jello is a type of dessert that is made with milk, gelatin, and sugar. It is also known as gelatina de leche, and it is popular in Mexico and other Latin American countries. It has a creamy and smooth texture, and it can be flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, or other flavors. You can use any kinds of milk, whole milk or tres leches.

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Ingredient Notes

A can of milk, a can of jelly, and a spoon - the perfect ingredients for creating a delightful jello mosaic!
  • Jello Gelatin Mix: You can use any variety of jello flavors and colors that you enjoy. The flavored jello makes the stain glass panels for this classic mexican dessert.
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk: This gives the beautiful milk color and sweet flavor to the jello. Not evaporated milk to make the mosaic gelatin.

See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.

Variations and Substitutions for Mosaico Mexican Dessert

You can add fruit, nuts or whatever you like to this gelatina mosaico dessert.

  • Cream Cheese: Like your Grandma you can add cream cheese to this gelatin dessert.
  • Bundt Pan: You can make this mosaico in a bundt cake pan it is perfect for a colorful treat for birthday parties. Or use your favorite jello mold
  • Media Crema: The combination of 3 milks (evaporated, condensed & regular milk or media crema) in Mexican desserts is super popular in Mexican cocina.
  • Fun Shapes: Cut the different flavored Jello colors out with cookie cutters to have fun shapes.

How to Make Mexican Mosaic Jello

You can use any flavors, lime jello, blue raspberry jello, and cherry or any other kinds for your gelatin mixture.

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These are the basic steps for making gelatine. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions and nutritional information.

STEP 1: Prep for this Fun Recipe

First, put a pot of water on to boil. Lightly coat three 8-inch (20 cm) square pans and one 9×13 inch (23 × 33 cm) baking pan with cooking spray.

STEP 2: Make 4 Envelopes of Flavored Jellos Colors

In three separate bowls, mix each package of flavored gelatin pour 1 cup hot water. Pour each into its own greased square pan. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

STEP 3: Make the Milk Jello and let it Set

When it is almost time for the jello to be ready, in a small bowl add 1/4 cup cold water. Add gelatin to water and leave to bloom for 5 minutes (Gelatin will turn to sticky consistency). Pour the milk, with 1 ½ cups of water (hot, boiled) and bloomed gelatin and set aside to cool.

Dfferent fruit flavors cut into cubes.

STEP 4: Cut the Jello Dessert into Smaller Cubes

Remove jello from fridge and cut the flavored gelatin cubes into small pieces. Lightly spray a dish (at least 9 x13 in size) Add cubes of jello to dish and gently mix them up Add condensed milk mixture and place into fridge to set again (at least 2 hours) and let it rest.

STEP 5: Remove the Traditional Mexican Jello from Refrigerator and Cut

Once set, remove and cut into shapes and place on a serving platter.

Recipe FAQs for the Gelatina Mosaico

The time it takes for jello to set depends on several factors, such as the amount of jello, the size and shape of the container, the temperature of the fridge, and the desired consistency. On average, one portion of jello (2 cups) will take between 2-4 hours to set in the fridge.

There are several steps you can take to loosen the jello for this Mexican dessert. To loosen jello from a jello mold, you can follow these steps:

  • Spray the mold with cooking oil before pouring the jello mixture in. This will prevent it from sticking too much.
  • After the jello is set, run a knife around the edge of the mold to loosen it.
  • Dip the bottom of the mold in warm water for 10 to 15 seconds, until it reaches the rim but not over it so no water get into the jello. This will melt a thin layer of the jello and help it slide out.
  • Rinse the serving plate under cold water and place it over the mold. Then invert it and lift the mold off.  The cold water will help the jello to slide into position and firm up again.
  • Refrigerate the unmolded jello for 20 minutes before serving.

If kept in an airtight container or properly wrapped in the refrigerator it will last up to a week.

Colorful cubes arranged in a glass dish.

Expert Tips for Making This Mosaic Gelatin Recipe

This favorite Mexican dessert is easy to adjust to make it your favorite dessert.

  • Flavor: You can use so many different flavors in the unflavored gelatin. For example, cinnamon, vanilla extract or almond extract to name a few.
  • Add Fruit to the Mosaic Jello: Try Fresh fruit to add color and flavor. Blueberries or grapes are great.
  • Variation tip: Feel free to make with sugar free jello.
  • Individual Cups: Make individual servings in clear cups for a fun treat.
  • Different holidays: Make green and red for Christmas or orange and black for Halloween for fun seasonal desserts with different jello flavors.
A mosaic of colorful jelly cubes on a white plate.
4.97 from 30 votes

Mosaic Jello (Milk Jello)

Yield: 10 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
cool time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Mosaic Jello (Milk Jello) is a colorful and refreshing dessert that is popular in Mexico and other Latin American countries. It is made by combining different flavors of jello cubes with a creamy jello mixture, creating a beautiful mosaic or stained glass effect. It is often served for parties, holidays, or as a snack.
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Ingredients

  • 24 ounces Jello (red, green, blue, orange), 4 (6 ounce boxes)
  • 2 tablespoons Unflavored gelatin
  • 14 ounces Sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

  • Put a pot of water to boil.
  • Lightly spray four containers with pam
  • Dilute each pack of jello in separate containers with 1 cup of hot water each. Stirring for 5 minutes until jello is dissolved
  • Place containers in the refrigerator for the jello to set. (at least 3 hours)
  • When it is almost time for the jello to be ready, in a small bowl add 1/4 cup cold water. Add gelatin to water and leave to bloom for 5 minutes (Gelatin will turn to sticky consistency)
  • Boil a little more than 1 1/2 cups water
  • Combine condensed milk, with 1 1/2 cups boiled water and bloomed gelatin and set aside to cool
  • Remove jello from fridge and cut into small pieces
  • Lightly spray a dish (at least 9 *13 in size)
  • Add cubes of jello to dish and gently mix them up
  • Add condensed milk mixture and place into fridge to set again (at least 2 hours)
  • Once set, remove and cut into shapes and server

Estimated Nutritional Information

Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 83g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 370mg | Potassium: 152mg | Sugar: 80g | Vitamin A: 106IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 0.2mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American

This recipe is my personal adaption of an ethnic-inspired recipe. It is not intended to be an authentic recipe.  I’ve recreated this recipe because I enjoy the flavors and I want to encourage my readers to expand their tastes and try new flavor combinations. The recipe, ingredients, and processes may have been adapted to make the recipe accessible to the average American. I have provided links to authentic versions of the recipe in the post above. I encourage you to visit these pages and learn more about the traditional version(s) of this recipe.

4 thoughts on “Mosaic Jello (Milk Jello)”

  1. what size box jello??? also – please clarify unflavored gelatin measurements – you list 2 tbsps pkgs ??? my daughter really wants to make this for her brother’s birthday but need clarification

    Reply

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