Patriotic Layered Jello in a red, white and blue theme is a great centerpiece to your festive picnic feasts and it’s remarkably easy to make. The light dessert is perfect for a hot summer day and looks amazing displayed on a platter.
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Why this Layer Jello Recipe is a Keeper
This Layered Jello is so retro it is cool again. It is a perfect complement to heavy foods and the light fruity texture is refreshing and fun. Who invented Jello? Find out the history of this jiggly dessert.
- Quick: While there is set up time, this really is quick and easy. It just takes a bit of time for jello to set after you pour jello into pan.
- Easy Ingredients: The recipe uses all economical ingredients, just a few small boxes of jello and quick.
- Family Friendly Bowl of Jello: It is a family friendly treat because it is so cute with it’s wiggle and jiggle and delicious.
- Adaptable: Can make it vegan or low sugar. Or switch it up for different holidays. Green jello such as lime jello and orange jello for Halloween. Green for Christmas, etc.
- Makes Great Finger Food: This finger jello is great for patriotic parties and picnics. Everyone love jello desserts on a hot day.
If you’re looking for more jello inspired recipes, try these Cherry Jello Salad, Strawberry Jello Salad and Old Fashioned Lime Cottage Cheese Jello Salad.
Is this Rainbow Layer Jello Vegan?
No. Jello’s main ingredient is gelatin, which is derived from collagen, a protein found in animal products. This makes it unsuitable for vegans. There are however, vegan alternatives to Jello available. These are often agar-agar based, and come in various flavors.
Ingredient Notes for Layered Jello Dessert
This recipe calls for several different jello flavors. The recipe calls for jello brand but you can use any brand.
- Red jello – Use raspberry jello, cherry jello, watermelon jello or black cherry jello or strawberry jello for this layer.
- Blue Jello – The popular flavors for this layer are berry blue jello or blue raspberry jello.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk – The sweetened condensed milk layer will be the white layer.
- Unflavored Gelatin: This will be the white jello layer.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Jello Variations and Substitutions for the Patriotic Dessert
You can do so many variations of jello flavors for this layered Jell-O. These jello cubes are fun, festive and delicious. Plus they come in as many colors of the rainbow so they are never boring.
- Sugar Free Jello: Make the jello with sugar free boxes of jello in place of the regular jello for this fun dessert.
- Sour Cream: Make Jello with sour cream in place of the sweetened condensed milk instead of using sour cream.
Layered Jello Pro Tip
Follow the amounts correctly, if it is too runny it will not set properly.
>Give the jello time to set, if not the colors may bleed together.
> Keep it cool until ready to serve. Place on an ice tray for outside serving.
How to Make Layered Jello
This Layered Jello Spectacular is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for your Fourth of July cookout or any summer gathering.
These are the basic steps to make rainbow jello. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Prepare
First, spray a 13×9 pan with non-stick cooking spray and then prepare a level space in your freezer.
2. Prepare the Jello Mixture
Second, lay out 7 bowls (4 large & 3 small) and next in each of the large bowls place 3oz of red or blue Jello and 1 package of unflavored gelatin. Pour 1 cup boiling water into each bowl and stir until the hot jello gelatin is completely dissolved.
3. Milk Mixture Layer
Then combine the remainder of the boiling water 1 ¼ cups with 2 packages of unflavored gelatin and then stir until completely dissolved, pour in the sweetened condensed milk mixture and mix well.
4. Divide and Pour the Jello
Next, divide the sweetened condensed mixture evenly between 3 small bowls and set aside. Then pour one of the bowls of blue Jello into the bottom of your prepared pan and place it in the freezer for 5 minutes. To give time to cool. Pour one of the bowls of the white gelatin mixture evenly over the blue and place it back in the freezer for 10 minutes. Allow the jello set.
5. Build the Remaining Jello Layers and Refrigerate after Layer Set
Continue alternating colored and white jello creating a striped pattern. Add the next layer, freezing next layer for 5 minutes after the colored layers and 10 minutes after the white layers. Finally, once all your layers are poured place the pan in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours to set completely.
Patriotic Jello Salad Recipe FAQs
Yes and no. Layered Jello can be frozen, however, it changes the consistency and it is not the same fun wiggly treat.
The salad looks great in mold form too. or if you want to display the whole dessert out of the 13X 9 pan, here are some tricks to get it unmolded.
This version of the dessert is for a nice 4th of July, Memorial day party. Therefore, I love to top with cool whip or whipped cream and festive sprinkles.
Expert Tips for Making This Layered Rainbow Jello with Whipped Cream Recipe
Remember give time for the colored layers to cool. You can add fruit to the layer of jello. This jello is perfect for summer.
- Add Fruit: Great in jello add your favorite seasonal fruit (Note: Fruits like pineapple can break jello down over time). Either in the jello or on top! Match the flavor of jello with the fruit you are using.
- Individual: Make individual ones in clear drinking cups. Super for parties. Serve this great recipe with a tub of cool whip. Cool whip would be good to add right before serving as it will melt in warm weather.
- Variation tip: Feel free to add vodka to this for an adult version.
- Nuts: Top with a few nuts to add a little crunch.
- Dietary consideration tip: Sugar free or vegan jello works great for this recipe.
More Favorite Jello Recipes
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Patriotic Layered Jello
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Ingredients
- 6 ounces Red Jello, 1 box
- 6 ounces Blue Jello, 1 box
- 14 ounces Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 6 ¼ Cups Boiling Water
- 1 ½ ounces Unflavored Gelatin, 6 envelopes
Instructions
- Spray a 13×9 in pan with non-stick cooking spray. Prepare a level space in your freezer
- Lay out 7 bowls (4 large & 3 small)
- In each of the large bowls place 3oz of red or blue Jello and 1 package of unflavored gelatin. Pour 1 cup of boiling water into each bowl and stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
- Combine the remainder of the boiling water 1 ¼ cups with 2 packages of unflavored gelatin and stir until completely dissolved, pour in the sweetened condensed milk and mix well.
- Divide the sweetened condensed mixture evenly between 3 small bowls and set aside.
- Pour one of the bowls of blue Jello into the bottom of your prepared pan and place it in the freezer for 5 minutes.
- Pour one of the bowls of the white gelatin mixture evenly over the blue and place it back in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Continue alternating colored and white jello creating a striped pattern. Freezing for 5 minutes after the colored layers and 10 minutes after the white layers.
- Once all your layers are poured place the pan in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours to set completely.
Christina’s Notes
- Add Fruit: Great in jello add your favorite seasonal fruit ( Note: Fruits like pineapple can break jello down over time). Either in the jello or on top!
- Individual: Make individual ones in clear drinking cups. Super for parties.
- Variation tip: Feel free to add vodka to this for an adult version.
- Nuts: Top with a few nuts to add a little crunch.
- Dietary consideration tip: Sugar free or vegan jello works great for this recipe.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
This turned out to be a fun and festive treat, perfect for adding a splash of color to any celebration. It was a hit at the party!