Rainbow Ribbon Jello
81 comments » 
My grandma on my dad’s side has a number of signature recipes that we can count on showing up at most family gatherings. At Christmas, it’s her famous Decker Cake. During the spring and summer you’ll see her broccoli salad, strawberry pretzel salad and ribbon Jello all at least once. I’m a total sucker for old-school Jello desserts. As a kid, both my mom and grandma would routinely have a bowl of Jello stashed in the fridge for a quick weeknight dessert with some whipped cream on top. It’s a comfort food, for sure, and I love all of the different types of fun desserts that can be made from it. My grandma’s ribbon Jello recipe has four layers of colors with white layers in between. Since I’m a stereotypical first-born that likes things just so, I needed my ribbon to be transformed into a rainbow. Such a picky girl I can be! I took my grandma’s recipe, added more colors, increased the white layer mixture, and voilà! I have a rainbow!
Aren’t old recipes just the best? I love the handwritten ones more than anything!
This is my mom’s written copy of my grandma’s recipe…
When I went to the store to buy my boxes of Jello, I was suddenly aware that I hadn’t shopped for Jello in quite some time. They have some pretty cool flavors now! When I was a kid, orange was, well… Orange. Yellow was always Lemon. This was life, right? Sort of like how the sky is blue. Now they have mango and “island pineapple”! My rainbow Jello got a little tropical kick, love these new flavors!
Doesn’t it look like I’m about to color Easter eggs?
This is the point where I am completely, totally, 100% honest with you. This recipe takes a long time. Halfway through I realized why my grandma’s recipe only contains four colors. You’ll need to devote the better part of a day to assembling this, but the result is absolutely awesome. The good news is also that once you mix everything together in the beginning, it takes less than 5 minutes to pour on each new layer; the time is just spent waiting for the layers to set up. As long as you don’t have anywhere to run off to, this is an incredibly simple recipe that you can work on while doing other things at home.
I love all of these bright colors and the accompanying bright flavors! This is such a fun dessert for any summer get-together and would be a blast for a child’s birthday party as well. I love the look of the rainbow, but you could use any combination of colors you’d like.
A few notes on the recipe:
- My grandma recommends putting the 9×13-inch pan in the freezer while you mix together your layers so that the first layer will set up quickly in the refrigerator and get you moving on to the next layer faster.
- You can absolutely choose to cut down on the number of colors/layers. If you do so, you just need to scale down the white filling the appropriate amount.
- The Jello colors should not gel sitting out at room temperature, however my very last color (red) started to set before I got it on the white layer. I popped it in the microwave for about 20 seconds to bring it back to a liquid state, let it cool for a few minutes, and then poured it on. It worked just fine!
One year ago: Easy Homemade French Fries
Rainbow Ribbon Jello
Yield: 12 to 16 servings
Prep Time: 9 hours
Total Time: 9 hours
Ingredients:
For the Jello Layers:
6 (3-ounce) boxes Jello, 1 each red, orange, yellow, green, blue & purple (or colors of your choice)
6 cups boiling water
3 cups cold waterFor the White Layers:
4 cups milk
1 cup boiling water
4 envelopes Knox gelatin
24 ounces vanilla yogurt
1 cup granulated sugar
4 teaspoons vanilla extractDirections:
1. Get 5 small bowls out to start. Mix 1 box of Jello with 1 cup boiling water and ½ cup cold water. Do this with all of the colors at the same time.
2. Heat the milk in a saucepan over low heat just until it reaches a lukewarm temperature. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix together 1 cup boiling water with the envelopes of Knox gelatin. Whisk together until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Add the warm milk, yogurt, sugar and vanilla extract and whisk until thoroughly combined and completely smooth with no lumps.
3. Pour the first color into a 9x13-inch pan and refrigerate until set (about 45 minutes, but can vary depending on the temperature of your fridge and how full it is). Once it's set, very gently pour 1½ cups of the yogurt mixture on top. Return to the refrigerator for 45 minutes, or until set. Repeat with the colors and yogurt mixture until the last color is used (you will have some yogurt mixture leftover). When finished, refrigerate for at least another hour. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve; refrigerate leftovers.
print
save
email
My mom used to always make rainbow jello, it’s one of my comfort foods too! It’s definitely a process. I love the use of yogurt in your white layer, I think my mom uses condensed milk.
Reply
I’ haven’t seen something like this before – looks cool!
Reply
This looks awesome! I’ve never been a fan of jello but this looks so pretty that I will have to try it
Reply
I love Jello! This is so bright and pretty … looks delicious!!
Reply
Wow, these colors are so vibrant. This would be perfect for a summer party!
Reply
I love the colors!!! So pretty and fun.
Reply
At 45 min chill per layer, it takes 11(45) = 495 min = 8 1/4 hrs. for this???
Pretty but definetly not worth the bother.
Reply
Phyllis on July 26th, 2012 at 8:12 am
Oh, my goodness, it is definitely worth the bother, and it really is not much bother at all: “The good news is also that once you mix everything together in the beginning, it takes less than 5 minutes to pour on each new layer; the time is just spent waiting for the layers to set up. As long as you don’t have anywhere to run off to, this is an incredibly simple recipe that you can work on while doing other things at home.” This dish is tasty and cheerful and and is one of those legacy recipes that families count on for special occasions.
Reply
DEBRA on March 30th, 2013 at 9:50 pm
i made this jello today in a bundt pan for easter, the only trouble i had for some reason was after the 3rd layer, the other jellos already made and the yogurt mixture got pretty thick……next time i will only make a few ahead……
Reply
This is goooorgeous! Takes a long time but as you say, very little of that is actually hands-on. I can imagine this being perfect for a kid’s party or something
Reply
This is SO COOL!!! My daughters would absolutely love it! I want to make it for them ASAP! One question though, if you don’t mind… To keep the white layer from setting up, would it have to be kept at room temperature? Since it’s such a long process, is it okay for the milk/yogurt to be out that long? I would have thought the milk would spoil! Thank you!
Reply
Michelle on July 26th, 2012 at 9:41 am
Hi Marie, If you refrigerate the white layer it will definitely set. My grandma has been making this for eons and has always just left everything out while assembling and never had a problem.
Reply
Marie on July 26th, 2012 at 10:04 am
Great! Thanks for your reply!
Reply
Sugar Free Jello?? Loved the picture of the recipe card!! My husband’s aunt used to make this but used different ingredients for the white layer.
Reply
Michelle on July 26th, 2012 at 9:43 am
Hi Leia, My grandma always uses sugar-free, low-fat, etc. but it’s not necessary, you can use whatever type of Jello, milk and yogurt you like, from skim/no-fat to full fat. It’ll all work!
Reply
I adore the colors! And I don’t think the time is that bad. I mean throw in some laundry in between layers,empty the dishwasher,whatever. Time management
and you have a cheerful dish! My Mom made a whipped jello back in the 70′s when I was a kid. It sat up kind of like foam. A friend’s Mom gave us hot jello to drink in the winter.I have not encountered either one of these since I was a kid,and they were good.
Reply
Michelle on July 26th, 2012 at 9:44 am
Penny, My grandma makes the whipped Jello too! In fact, she just made it for a graduation party a couple of weeks ago!
Reply
MY SIL always makes this at Christmas — I think she’d be shot if she didn’t. All the kids love it. Me? I know it’s pretty but I’m not a big Jello fan. (But I like mousse!?! Why’s that?!?)
Reply
Wow, this is so cool looking!!! I should make this for the family, they would love it!
Reply
We make Rainbow Jello here too! My MIL’s recipe used sour cream and some of the last color applied for the creamy layer – that way you have color in each layer – sort of like the bright color followed by a pastel version. I substitute vanilla soy yogurt in mine instead. Another fun variation that we’ve tried…make it in a Bundt pan. When you’re ready to unmold it, put the pan in hot water for about 20 seconds and flip it. It looks really impressive!
Reply
Michelle on July 26th, 2012 at 9:46 am
I have seen the Bundt version and you’re right – it looks totally impressive, so pretty! I definitely need to try that.
Reply
What fun! I can just imagine how this colorful dessert will appeal to children of all ages, including adults with a sense of fun!
Reply
My grandson is going to have some surgery this summer and this will be a special treat waiting for him when he comes home. I can understand how this could become a special tradition in any family.
Reply
Michelle on July 26th, 2012 at 9:47 am
Good luck to your grandson! I’m sure he’ll enjoy the special treat when he gets home!
Reply
This is so pretty and a great idea. Thanks for mentioning how long it takes. That way I can be prepared when I make it.
Reply
I love being able to make the recipes that my grandmother made! It’s so fun and brings back a lot of good memories!
Reply
My grandma was a huge Jell-O maker too. I think that’s why I like it so. The down side is I ruined a batch of Red, White and Blue Jello-O Shooters I was making for the 4th. Now who can’t make Jello-O come out right! Me apparently…
Reply
My grandmother’s “in the fridge” summer jello was red jello with sliced bananas, and mini marshmallows on top. My favorite!
Reply
Michelle on July 26th, 2012 at 9:48 am
Jello with fruit was always a big thing with my grandma, too! I love the idea of strawberry Jello mixed with sliced banana, sounds delicious!
Reply
My Grandma and Mom made a variation of this and now I do too. You do mix sour cream with the jello to add a pastel version of the main color. I sub plain yogurt for the sour cream.
My Grandma also a wonderful broken glass jello salad with a graham cracker crust. My Mom and I can’t find this in her recipe box and I’d love to make it again. It had a creamy white base with pieces of four or five jellos broken and stirred in. The entire thing set on a graham cracker crust in a 9×13 pan. Has anyone every had this?
Reply
Michelle on July 28th, 2012 at 11:18 pm
Hi Lisa, I actually have a recipe for the broken glass Jello – I did a red, white & blue version for the 4th of July a few years ago: http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2009/07/02/stained-glass-jello/
Reply
Gotta love a recipe that the kids will enjoy not only eating, but looking at and helping to create!
Reply
This is wonderful, look at that color, I guess my kids and I can have a good time trying to make it. They are on middle year vacations (school is from March – December) so we are looking for things to do together.
Reply
I never really thought I’d try a recipe that lists a 9 hour prep-time but this one definitely looks like it’s worth it. I haven’t had jello in years!
Reply
This is so pretty!
Reply
For years this has been my classic, “You better make this at Christmas” jello…the red and green are beautiful as well… And it works great for patriotic holiday gatherings too! Your grandma’s white layer is different from my recipe…I will try yours next time…thanks for sharing this timeless treat!
Reply
Your rainbow jell-o is beautiful, love all the colors. I think this might be the first version of rainbow jell-o I’ve seen made with yogurt, which makes this all the more interesting. I love old recipes, especially hand-written ones ♥. I love the stories behind heirloom recipes.
Reply
Looks amazing, I definitely have to try this. I have never tasted Jello
Luckily, we have an American store which sells Jello. Hope they have it in as many colors as you have!
Reply
I love Jello, particularly the sugar free kind. I also love a Jello Dream Pie. Jello, cool whip and a graham cracker crust. Super simple and a great light, tasty treat. Sometimes I just make the filling and don’t even bother with the crust!
Reply
This just makes me smile. My great grandma always had oodles of boxes of jello in her pantry and made so many jello desserts and salads.
Cooking the foods she made makes me miss her but feel close to her. One of my most cherished possessions my collection of her recipes.
She never made this particular style, but I am definitely going to buy a bunch of jello and make this in her honor. It is beautiful. I miss jello!
She cooked with cream cheese often, so i think I may try adding some cream cheese in the cream layers.
Thank you for posting this
Reply
Oooh, so pretty! Kiddos will love it!
Reply
Michelle, I’m completely blown away. what a BEAUTIFUL, bright, summery dessert. I love making my mother’s and grandmother’s recipes. It brings them back to life.
Reply
Neat! I’ve always wondered how to do this!
Reply
I love old hand written recipes too. This looks like a fun way to brighten up a gloomy day.
Reply
Hey I’m thinking favorite team colors, a little booze and in layers….The white
yogurt can be switched out with melted vanilla ice cream. Very interesting
thoughts thanks to this post
Reply
How fun is this!
My mom makes a whipped jello “salad” that has whipped cream, pineapple and cottage cheese in it. It makes an appearance at least once a summer. So yummy!
Reply
I make this but without the white layers – instead I mix a coloured jello mix with evaporated milk instead of water to make an opaque colour and assemble green, green opaque, yellow, yellow opaque or whatever order you want – but always a clear layer followed by an opaque one of the same colour.
Reply
Handwritten recipes are priceless. For a bridal shower gift my aunt requested family members write out their favorite recipes on 3×5 cards. She collected them and gave them to me a few weeks before our wedding. The one I treasure is the divinity recipe from my great-grandma that my grandma gave to me from her own collection. I plan to frame it and put it on my kitchen wall some day. My mother made a ribbon jello recipe at Christmas: green layer, red layer, and some sort of cream cheese pineapple mixture in between.
Reply
This is such a lovely treat! Any kid would love it, I know my kid will, thank you!!!
Reply
This was my favorite thing that kids would bring for their birthday treat in elementary school! Love it!
Reply
My only problem with this particular jello recipe is that, though very pretty to look at, all the flavors are muddled- ironically there is no brightness at all. I wonder if one could use knox gelatine with food coloring and a bottle of flavored extract to achieve the same pretty result with a clear flavor.
Reply
Michelle on July 28th, 2012 at 7:23 pm
Hi Suzanne, I actually really feel like the flavors are so bright and fun! No real muddling at all. I can taste the different flavors and with so many, it’s like a big tropical Jello party in my mouth
Reply
Is it a mom thing? haha My mom use to make rainbow Jello without the white layers in between. Loved it!!
Reply
I make this a couple times a year, too. Such a big hit! Your layers look perfect!
Reply
I was thinking – and pinned the blog with my idea, lol – This would make a fun treat for our church’s Olympic Opening ceremony party tomorrow, doing the layers in the colors of the rings. Then I saw the bundt pan idea and now I’m completely over the moon. I’ll let you know if I end up making it.
Reply
Kelly on July 27th, 2012 at 9:01 am
That sounds like a fabulous idea!!
Reply
I have no interesting Jell-o tidbits, but my mother has saved handwritten recipes from women in our family and gotten the new women (me, my cousins, etc) to write favorite recipes. When I got married, she gave me a box of handwritten recipes from the women in our family. She’s kept the orginals but made copies and laminated them. My cousins got them, too. Wonderful gift!
Reply
Michelle on July 28th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Aww, I love this tradition!
Reply
How do u get it to not stick to the pan?
Reply
Michelle on July 28th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Hmm, I don’t think I’ve ever had an issue with Jello sticking to a pan. I just use a knife and spatula to cut it and lift it out of the pan, no issues!
Reply
Just curious but… I don’t care for the appearance of the white layer. Will it have the same result if you layer the colored jello right on top of each other?
Reply
Michelle on July 28th, 2012 at 11:09 pm
Hi Andrea, It won’t have the same look or the same flavor, so the result won’t be the same, but you can certainly do it.
Reply
Awesome recipe! Such an awesome looking dessert and so easy!
Reply
So adorable!!
Reply
My mom used to make this every Labor Day and Christmas (with x-mas colors), but she would use sour cream instead of milk. Your recipe sounds much tastier, I’ll give it a try this Labor Day!
And you’re right, it doesn’t look as good or set the right way without the ‘white’ layer (we tried multiple times).
Reply
I made this yesterday and it turned out like your photo! It just makes you smile : ) An extra bonus was that the layers were setting in 20 minutes and it tasted *delicious*. Thank you for sharing!
Reply
Hi Michelle,
I am going to make this (hopefully) tomorrow for my son’s 2nd birthday party on Saturday.I’m so excited, this will go perfectly with our Sesame Street theme! Do you know how long it will last in the fridge before it starts to get watery?
Reply
Michelle on August 9th, 2012 at 5:53 pm
Hi Sarah, Usually a few days. Sounds like such a cute birthday party! Enjoy!
Reply
I just made this recipe and wished that I had started with the red as my pan apparently wasn’t deep enough to accomodate the 6 different colours plus the whites. So in the end I have a sorta rainbow from orange through purple…lol…I recommend starting with the red.
Reply
I made this today for my daughter’s tea party. The layers set pretty quickly after the initial layer, about 15-20 min. So that really made it less time consuming than I thought it would be. My pan was a little small too, as one other reviewer noted, I saw this coming though and was able to decrease the amount of liquid in the last few layers to fit all of the colors in my pan still. thanks for the recipe, it is really fun for kids.
Reply
My pastor’s wife growing up used to make this for every potluck or get together we had at our church. It was one of my favorite desserts to eat growing up. I am hoping to make this for my family sometime and for the church I now go to!
Reply
I was curious to know, I tried layering my jello and it ended up mixing right into the first layer. I let the first layer set for 45 min. I’m thinking this happened because the second layer was too hot? Dumb I know but I mixed the second jello packet right before pouring it into the mold. So basically for this not to happen mix all packets at once and it should be cool enough to not mix together when ready to layer the next color? Thank you for posting this recipe, it’s gorgeous!
Reply
Michelle on October 3rd, 2012 at 11:25 am
Hi Denise, I’m sorry you had a problem. Yes, you should be mixing all of the colors together at once, in the beginning, as stated in step #1 above. This ensures that the colors are at room temperature when you begin layering.
Reply
I was wondering if you could make a cream cheese and cool whip and powdered sugar and make it thin for the white part. I honestly hate the taste of yogurt and I have tried everything to mask it but i never can.. What do you think
Reply
Michelle on November 20th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Hi Lea, I think that type of filling may be too heavy between thin Jello layers. You honestly can’t even taste yogurt in the filling, it’s sweet and creamy.
Reply
I have seen people make this for parties and always thought it was super complicated but it was really easy. My family loved it.Thank you for sharing. Also, my Sis said you can use a version with condensed milk??? Is this true and have you ever tried it? Btw… I have also made your Buffalo Chicken Dip and now I am required to bring it to every family function. Lol.
Reply
Michelle on January 5th, 2013 at 9:41 pm
Hi Tish, I have seen some versions with sweetened condensed milk as part of the filling, but I have never tried that version. So glad the Buffalo Chicken Dip is a hit with your family!
Reply
sorry, didn’t like your recipe at all. for first-timers or non-bakers, you need to specify which jello packet – the larger box (which is 2c hot water:2c cold water) or the small box (which is 1c:1c). some stores carry certain flavors only in the large box and some flavors in the small box. after making the rainbow jello, it turns out the recipe calls for the small box of jello, so only buy small boxes (and use 1c hot water, NO cold water at all, and maybe 1tsp of gelatin as well for a more manageable consistency), or half the larger box portion. also, you use vanilla yogurt for your white layers… way too expensive!! and so unnecessary. for 1st-timers like me, better to use the recipes that call for 1- 14oz can of condensed milk mixed with 1c hot water, 2 packs of gelatin, and another 1c of hot water… easy and cheap! no need to waste 4c of milk, no need to use 1c of sugar. time for your recipe took almost an entire day… my new-and-improved recipe (small jello boxes and condensed milk) took only 3 hours to make the entire ribbon jello with 7 layers of colors!
Reply
Michelle on January 15th, 2013 at 5:52 pm
I’m sorry you didn’t care for the recipe; I do, however, specify the size of the Jell-O packet in the recipe above (the 3-ounce size). The yogurt is the way my family has made this recipe for decades, and we like it, however all recipes are certainly open to adaptation and change, so if you feel that a white layer with sweetened condensed milk is more your speed, go for it. I don’t necessarily see ingredients that are used in a recipe as wasted, however, as you indicate the milk is.
Reply
I would live to make this for my sons 1st birthday. How well does it stay together? If I cut it into pieces will they stay together our slide apart? I am trying to figure out how to serve it that will be kid finger friendly.
Reply
Michelle on February 14th, 2013 at 11:11 am
Hi Niki, The layers stay together, but they are rather high. I usually use a fork to eat this. If you’re serving it to kids and want them to be able to eat it with their fingers, I would probably use a larger pan so that the end product is not so high. Enjoy!
Reply