Rainbow Ribbon Jello
This rainbow ribbon Jello is one of my grandma’s signature desserts – she always makes it for Easter and other spring and summer parties. She layers the colors of the rainbow, but you could certainly adapt it to whatever colors you’d like!
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:Â Easy Homemade French Fries
Rainbow Ribbon Jello
Ingredients
For the Jello Layers:
- 6 3-ounce boxes (85g) Jello, 1 each red, orange, yellow, green, blue & purple (or colors of your choice)
- 6 cups (1.5 l) boiling water
- 3 cups (750 ml) cold water
For the White Layers:
- 4 cups (976 ml) milk
- 1 cup (250 ml) boiling water
- 4 envelopes Knox gelatin
- 24 ounces (680.39 ml) vanilla yogurt
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Get 6 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
I lost my 7 layer Ribbon Jello Recipe and yours was the closest I could find to mine so I’m making it this weekend and I’ll let you know how it is  Thank you
Question: Â The 9×13 casserole, how high does it have to be? There are 9×13 Â 2 inch high & i believe 9×13 Â 3 inch high? Â Which one do i need to fit everything in!!!!!! ???? Thank you for sharing your recipe!Â
I made 2 pans of this and my grandkids had to cancel. Can I freeze this or how long will it keep in tupperware
How do I prevent the layers fromseperating from the white layer?I’ve made this 4 times and each time the jello layers slip off the white layer.  It’s actually cool to watch, but not good at the presentation. Â
The key is not too wait too long before you add the next layer. I only wait 20 to 25 minutes. If it’s set really hard then they won’t stick.
I had to make a few adjustments due to things I forgot to buy.
One question…24 ounces of yogurt.  That’s like 3 cups. Is that correct?
That’s correct!
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
This looks so cool! It would be fun to make with kids?
Grandma always made this. She used sour cream in the filling.  It’s what I’ve done now for 25+ years. It’s a beautiful and delicious dessert. Merry Christmas!Â
I have a similar recipe that my aunt always made at Christmas. The layers of red & green were just plain Jell-o, but there is a whitish layer in between the 2 colors that is made with lemon Jell-o, marshmallows, pineapple juice, water, cream cheese, salad dressing (miracle whip), whipped cream and crushed pineapple. I have always made it for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. This year I decided to layer it like you have here in thinner layers. It turned out perfectly. I can hardly wait for tomorrow to try it out. I think I will like it this way, because it always seemed to have the smaller layers of red & green left over and the middle part was gone. The white part is the best with all the flavor…..totally love this salad. BTW for Thanksgiving I use red and orange instead of red & green for Christmas.
How many grams of gelatin are there in one pack of Knox gelatin.  Without that info I can’t make this because it’s a different brand in my area :(
Hi Marcus, One envelope of Knox gelatin is 0.25 ounces, which equates to 7 grams. Hope that helps!
A good light dessert! Kids really love it! For the white layer I used can of condensed milk, four Knox gelatin and boiling water to make total of 4 cups mixture. Used aprox. 3/4 cup tween layers
Is there a way to make this without dairy? My sons allergic to milk and is having tonsils out so I was needing fun ideas with jello. Thanks!
Hi Kat, Ahhhh good question, and I am not at all sure. I know some Jello and pudding boxes say not to use soy milk, as it won’t set, I don’t know if that’s the case with Knox plain gelatin. You could try using almond milk… if you know of a non-dairy yogurt alternative, you can give that a try, too!
tried to make this. unable to do all 6 boxes of jello and layers-only could do 4. has anyone fit this recipe in a 9×13 pan because i could not……disappointed about incorrect info.!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Dorothy, I’m sorry to hear this didn’t work for you, but I’ve made this tons of times in a 9×13 (and my grandma has made it for almost her entire life in the same size pan). I’m wondering if yours might have shorter sides?
THANK YOU! I am using a 9*13 glass casserole and definitely cannot get all the layers in….I ended up pulling out a second 9*13 to do the last 3 colors and white.. swimming in jello for days we will be! I bet if I had dropped it to 1 cup white layer we could have maybe squeaked it all in one pan! Oh well
My mom made this for every family gathering, church function, and potluck. Always a favorite! After she passed away her recipe box disappeared and I felt saddened to not have her recipe for this. So glad to find it! But — she used sweetened condensed milk instead of yogurt and sugar for the white layer. I’m not certain of the proportions, though. I’ll give the yogurt a try — the tang may be a nice foil to the sweetness of the jello.
Love this rainbow jello! Thank you for sharing the recipe! Gonna try this to give the kids surprise when they get home today.
Hello
For the white layers, I used condensed milk, water and 4 packages Knox gelatine to make 4 cups.
Hi Charlotte. That’s the way my mom made the white layer. What are the proportions you use? One can of condensed milk for the unflavored gelatin mix? Or less? Thank you!
One can condensed milk
4 packets Knox gelatine
Add enough hot water to make total mixture of 4 cups
Use 3/4 cup mixture in between layers
How do you get jello out of pan without breaking? Do I spray the pan? If so, with what? Do I put Saran Wrap under it?
Hi Lisa, I didn’t spray my pan and had no issues with the jello coming out. I don’t think plastic wrap is necessary, but you can spray it if you’re worried about it sticking!
My mom “greased” her pan with a thin layer of mayonnaise. Cut the cubes, then used a cake spatula to pop then out.
This recipe looks amazing but I’m confused as to why you would use 6 boxes of jello but only 5 bowls. Am I missing something?
Hi Lori, Typo! I can’t believe you were the first to catch that! Obviously, you need six bowls :)
This brings back good memories of my Grandmother’s jello. My kids and I made it together and it was a lot of fun. It turned out great! The layers only took about 20 minutes to set. Maybe I have a cold fridge. Thanks for the recipe!
I like this version even better than the one I made this last week-end from my mom’s Joy of Jell-O cookbook! That one had only five layers and the “white” layer was a mixture of the previous layer’s Jell-O flavour plus yogurt. I like the bright white between colours! And it does take a long time – when I decided to make it, I thought it a cop-out from my usual cake making, but baking a cake might have been quicker. Will definitely try this version!!
I’m making it rite now. I used the box of Knox with the 4 little env in it. I sure hope that’s rite. My Mom used to make this dish every year n now its my turn. Plz help nr ASAP:/ I’m really unsure
I’m making this rite now n used the box of Knox in the small box cause 4 env were in it….I sure hope that’s rite? Plz plz let me know ASAP. Worried about the dish my Mom always makes n I don’t wanna screw it up…its SO good♡
I just came across this. WOW, I am printing the receipe and will make it for my grand-daugther’s birthday this coming summer. I will make it in a bundt cake mold. As Mona said, I will split the job into 2 evenings. And I will make a test run to make sure that the surprise is a happy one next summer.
When my kids were little, I used to make Jello with milk instead of water then add fruits at the bottom of their individuals bowls. They loved it.
My mom made this beautiful dessert for Easter every year. I’ve been married 33 years and have never taken the time, but today I am. I remember standing in the kitchen as she poured each layer carefully on the next one. She always used a large spoon, slowly adding each layer so it wouldn’t disturb the layer below. I am hoping this will begin a new tradition with my grandbabies! Grams jello dessert! Happy Cooking!
I make a layered one like this and use cream cheese mixed with half of each color.
Been looking for the layered jello with cream cheese recipe for awhile. That’s how mom made it. Can you help me out?
Is it possible to make this over two evenings instead of all in one day (due to work schedule) or will this interfere with the layers somehow?
Hi Gisela, You can’t prepare all of the colors and then wait until the next day, or they will firm up and set, which won’t make it possible to pour them, which you need to do.
You can make it over 2 evenings, just split up your preparations so you don’t leave anything sitting out overnight. That is, at the beginning of each evening session you’d prepare 3 colors of Jell-o and half the amount of white stuff. (As always, remember to let the liquids cool to approx room temp before pouring over existing refrigerated layers.)
Can this recipe be put into a springform pan, if so, what size?
Hi Baila, I don’t think that a round springform pan would be near deep enough for this type of dessert.
Whenever I pour the next layer on it just melts right through the layer under and all mixes together :(
Hi Jasmine, It sounds like you didn’t let the first layer firm up enough before pouring the next layer on.
What if I use gelatin and mix it with the cool whip? Do you know how much water I need to each packet of Knox gelatin? Will it work?
Thanks!
Sally
Hi Sally, I am not sure if mixing the gelatin into Cool Whip would work. I lean toward no, but I don’t know for sure, as I haven’t tried it.
Hi I was wondering if I could use whipped cream for
the white part and if I could make this in individual cups
Hi Sally, This might be too high for individual cups, but it would obviously depend on the size of the cups! I would not recommend whipped cream for the middle. I tend to think it will weep and not hold up to the layers.
One of my favorite jello recipes is really weird…I always called it “Jell-O” salad”. It’s lime jell-o, grated carrots, chopped green onions, chopped celery and halved red grapes. SO freakin good, but definitely weird :-)
I’m in the process of making this right now, only with just red and green jello (and the white layer of course) I’m so excited to see how it turns out! I know it will taste great no matter what <3
Love the idea of the layered jello…I tried to layer jello on jello and it didn’t stay…slid right apart. I don’t eat yogurt though so what can I use instead and would I have to change the other ingredients for that layer too? Preferably not a dairy product. The milk in that layer won’t be a problem but no yogurt, cream cheese, sour cream, etc. Thanks for the recipe!
Someone above mentioned using soy yogurt. I don’t know if that counts as yogurt in your book since it is dairy free.
Hi Lynn, I’m not aware of a non-dairy substitute, but I have seen some versions of this recipe with a white layer made of sweetened condensed milk. The rest of the ingredients do change, however, so you might try googling that.
I came across this recipe and thought it looked so pretty and cool. I am giving it a try today. I have a couple layers set but I had a question about the white layer. When I mixed all the ingredients for this layer together it didn’t have a consistent solid look up close. It kinda had a slight curdled look when looking at it close up. Is that normal. I bought the yogurt today and the milk I’m pretty sure is fresh. Has this happened to anyone else? I did mix the gelatine first. Then I dissolved the sugar into the mixture before I combined the warm milk and yogurt.
Hi Janey, I can’t remember if I examined the white mixture up close ;-) Because it has yogurt in it, it’s possible it could thicken up. I would just whisk it occasionally to keep it nice and smooth if needed.
This site has taken your recipe, most of your comments and your photo without attribution http://recipefilebox.com/124/rainbow-ribbon-jellow – it’s also stolen at least one of mine, thought you’d want to know.
I checked out the site and the photo looks nothing like the one on this site. The recipe is also different. Are you sure that the recipe on that site is the same one here?
How many days in advance could you make this?
Hi Jes, I would say 1 to 2 days in advance. After that, it starts to get a little watery.
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.
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!
My mom cut it into 1-inch cubes and arranged them on a pretty plate. We are then with our fingers – no mess at all! It stays together unless enterprising kids pull the layers apart. It also doesn’t melt. Had amazing staying power throughout an entire event.
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!
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.
If you dont have something nice to say, dont say anything at all is the general rule! To be honest, yes this recipe took a ton of time but it wasnt hard by any means. Im not sure what your budget is but I pauid $1.50 for a 32oz tub of vanilla lowfat yogurt! quite a bargain if you ask me-and i had 8oz left over to enjoy with some fruit/granola! I am a non baker and first timer making anything like this before and mine came out just fine. I made mine for st pattys day (rainbow/pot of gold theme) THANK YOU for sharing your familys recipe it was wonderful
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.
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!
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
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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. :D
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?
Hi Sarah, Usually a few days. Sounds like such a cute birthday party! Enjoy!
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!
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).
So adorable!!
Awesome recipe! Such an awesome looking dessert and so easy!
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?
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.
How do u get it to not stick to the pan?
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!
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!
Aww, I love this tradition!
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.
That sounds like a fabulous idea!!
I make this a couple times a year, too. Such a big hit! Your layers look perfect!
Is it a mom thing? haha My mom use to make rainbow Jello without the white layers in between. Loved it!!
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.
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 :)
This was my favorite thing that kids would bring for their birthday treat in elementary school! Love it!
This is such a lovely treat! Any kid would love it, I know my kid will, thank you!!!
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.
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.
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!
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 :)
I love old hand written recipes too. This looks like a fun way to brighten up a gloomy day.
Neat! I’ve always wondered how to do this!
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. :)
Oooh, so pretty! Kiddos will love it!
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 :-)
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!
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!
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.
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!
This is so pretty!
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!
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.
Gotta love a recipe that the kids will enjoy not only eating, but looking at and helping to create!
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?
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: https://www.browneyedbaker.com/2009/07/02/stained-glass-jello/
My Mom made a layered jello in the 60’s that had Graham cracker crust nd Ithink whipping cream between the layers . Ca nt find the recipe anywhere. I know w e called it Rainbow jello. It was delicious and messy to eat and my Mom a always said it waas sod messy to ma ke…but worth it. Anyone hear of this one?
My grandmother’s “in the fridge” summer jello was red jello with sliced bananas, and mini marshmallows on top. My favorite!
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!
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…
I love being able to make the recipes that my grandmother made! It’s so fun and brings back a lot of good memories!
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.
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.
Good luck to your grandson! I’m sure he’ll enjoy the special treat when he gets home! :)
What fun! I can just imagine how this colorful dessert will appeal to children of all ages, including adults with a sense of fun!
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!
I have seen the Bundt version and you’re right – it looks totally impressive, so pretty! I definitely need to try that.
Wow, this is so cool looking!!! I should make this for the family, they would love it!
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?!?)
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.
Penny, My grandma makes the whipped Jello too! In fact, she just made it for a graduation party a couple of weeks ago!
How do you make whipped Jello? I remember back in the ’60s there was a whipped gelatin product on the market (don’t remember the brand). You dissolved the powder with boiling water, added cold water (I think), whipped it with a mixer, then poured it into glasses. When the gelatin set, it was separated into 3 layers; bottom layer was clear gelatin, middle layer was softer and foamy, the top layer was like Cool Whip. The orange was wonderful!! I sure would like to find a way to make this again. Does anyone know how to make this?
wondering if you ever got the recipe you were asking about?
I think your talking about what i make all the time for my Grandchildren. Make your jello as directed add 1 tub of cool whip and wisk everything together then pour into your favorite glass bowls or i use deep fancy wine glasses pour jello mixture and place in fridge and wait till your jello is set. Next step…. EAT AND ENJOY!!!!
Could you please share the recipe for the whipped Jello? My Mom used to make one that got foamy also. Recipe got lost when she died.
Hi Ellen, I would love to! I’ll see if I can get the recipe :)
Hi Ellen, i just posted the recipe for the jello and cool whip above. Good luck and i hope you enjoy!!
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.
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!
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!
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.
Great! Thanks for your 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 :)
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.
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.
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……
I love the colors!!! So pretty and fun.
Wow, these colors are so vibrant. This would be perfect for a summer party!
I love Jello! This is so bright and pretty … looks delicious!!
This looks awesome! I’ve never been a fan of jello but this looks so pretty that I will have to try it :)
I’ haven’t seen something like this before – looks cool!
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.