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!
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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
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!
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.