Easy Christmas Jello - Red and Green Layered Jello Dessert Recipe! (2024)

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Jill Mills

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Christmas Jello is a holiday classic dessert for the whole family. It’s bright and festive with little effort to make which makes it a favorite of mine!

I love simple holiday treats and drinks that my family enjoys. We are huge fans of making Christmas Punch and Homemade Peppermint Patties together. Want a fun adults-only holiday jello? We have some great Christmas Cookie Jello Shots, too.

Easy Christmas Jello - Red and Green Layered Jello Dessert Recipe! (2)

Christmas Jello

My favorite memories around Christmas are making things with my kids. Gingerbread houses, cookies, treats for class… It’s fun to find things that they are able to help with. Part of why I love it so much is that we’re creating traditions that they may take into their own families one day. This jello has become something we make every year!

Easy Christmas Jello - Red and Green Layered Jello Dessert Recipe! (3)

Ingredients you will need:

  • Cherry Jello
  • Lime Jello
  • Knox gelatin
  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • Water

Chances are, you’ve probably got most of these ingredients already!

Easy Christmas Jello - Red and Green Layered Jello Dessert Recipe! (4)

How To Make Layered Jello

To make this we’re going to create three flavors of Jello, but layer them twice each. We have a cherry layer, a lime layer and a vanilla layer. That layer is simply unflavored gelatin and sweetened condensed milk.

Stir your Jello packets with boiling water like the box instructions in seperate bowls. Then, layer half of each of the colored Jello with white. You’ll have three total layers of the vanilla.

Easy Christmas Jello - Red and Green Layered Jello Dessert Recipe! (5)

Important Tips

The best way to get this to set up correctly and quickly is by doing two things.

  1. Once you’ve mixed up the Jello with hot water let it cool slightly. Don’t pour it while it’s still steamy hot.
  2. After each poured layer place the dish in the freezer. Five minutes for the color layers and ten for the white.
Easy Christmas Jello - Red and Green Layered Jello Dessert Recipe! (6)

When it’s all set, slice it into small square and add some whipped cream and sprinkles. Yum!

Easy Christmas Jello - Red and Green Layered Jello Dessert Recipe! (7)

5 from 9 votes

Christmas Jello

Christmas Jello is a classic holiday dessert for the whole family. It's bright, festive, and it takes little effort to make, which makes it a favorite of mine!

Servings: 24

Prep: 3 hours hrs

Total: 3 hours hrs

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces cherry jello (I used 2 3-oz boxes)
  • 6 ounces lime jello (I used 2 3-oz boxes)
  • 6 packages Knox unflavored gelatin
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk (I used a 14-oz can)
  • 6 cups boiling water
  • ¼ cup cold water

Instructions

  • Lightly spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and gently blot away excess oil.

  • Line up 5 small bowls.

  • In the first small bowl, combine 1 box cherry jello, one package unflavored gelatin and one cup boiling water. Stir until dissolved and set aside to cool.

  • In the second small bowl, combine 1 box cherry jello, one package unflavored gelatin and one cup boiling water. Stir until dissolved and set aside to cool.

  • In the third small bowl, combine 1 box lime jello, one package unflavored gelatin and one cup boiling water. Stir until dissolved and set aside to cool.

  • In the fourth small bowl, combine 1 box lime jello, one package unflavored gelatin and one cup boiling water. Stir until dissolved and set aside to cool.

  • In the fifth small bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk and one cup boiling water.

  • Mix 2 packages of unflavored gelatin into ¼ cup cold water, then pour into the sweetened condensed milk mixture.

  • Wait until the jello mixes have cooled off slightly before proceeding.

  • Pour one bowl of the lime jello into the baking dish. Place in the freezer for about 5 minutes, or until the gel is set.

  • Slowly pour a thin layer of the sweetened condensed milk mixture over the lime jello, and return to the freezer. (The sweetened condensed milk layers will take slightly longer than the plain jello.) Keep in the freezer until it is set.

  • Pour one bowl of red jello over the sweetened condensed milk layer and return to freezer. Continue this pattern, using white between each color until you end with a final layer of red.

  • When all the layers are set, you can gently separate the jello from the baking dish, and flip upside down to remove.

  • Cut into small squares and top with whipped cream and sprinkles if desired.

Last Step:

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Nutrition

Serving: 24g | Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 81mg | Potassium: 66mg | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 47IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg

Did You Make This?

Leave a below or tag @kitchenfunwithmy3sons on social media!

Easy Christmas Jello - Red and Green Layered Jello Dessert Recipe! (8)

Categories:

  • Christmas
  • Desserts
  • Holidays
  • No Bake
  • Recipes

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Easy Christmas Jello - Red and Green Layered Jello Dessert Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

How long does jello take to set before adding another layer? ›

Chill the first layer: Pour the jello with sour cream into the chilled 9×13 baking dish. Tilt your dish from side to side gently to make sure the mixture spreads evenly. Place the dish back into the fridge to chill for 30 minutes. Add second layer then repeat: Pour the second bowl of jello over the first layer.

How to make jello quick set? ›

If you'd like to make the jello set faster, use enough ice cubes to fill 1 cup (240 milliliters). Keep in mind that the jello will start to set up rapidly, so you will need to work quickly. If you are using a larger, 6-ounce (170 grams) packet of jello, use 2 cups (475 milliliters) of cold water.

How to make a 6 oz box of jello? ›

Simply add 2 cups boiling water to the gelatin mix, stir for 2 minutes until completely dissolved, stir in 2 cups cold water, then refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm. Each family size Jell-O gelatin dessert mix is individually packaged in a 6-ounce sealed pouch and makes 8, 1/2-cup servings.

How to make jello taste better? ›

It's important to use the right amount of water, as using too much or too little can affect the taste and texture of the Jell-O. Additionally, you can add fruit, whipped cream, or other ingredients to enhance the flavor.

Does jello set better covered or uncovered? ›

Made the usual way, Jello usually takes about 4 hours to set or thicken. Can you cover Jello before it sets? You can cover it with plastic wrap, but just know that it may take it longer to set up if it's covered, especially if the Jello is still warm.

Do I need to add cold water to jello? ›

In one mixing bowl, pour the packet of gelatin mix in. Carefully add 1 cup of boiling hot water inside. Stir until the powder is dissolved. Now slowly stir in 1 cup of cold water.

Can you put jelly in the freezer to set quicker? ›

Alternatively, you could place the prepared jello in a sink/basin/bowl filled with ice cubes to speed up the process. At some point you will need to put this in the fridge. You may certainly put the mixture in the freezer but make certain to check frequently to avoid freezing.

What is the ratio of water to gelatin in jello? ›

The Right Amount of Gelatin to Use

Soft Set: Use 1 teaspoon of unflavored powdered gelatin for 1 cup of liquid. Medium Set: Use 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin for 1 cup of liquid. Firm Set: Use 1 tablespoon of unflavored powdered gelatin for 1 cup of liquid.

How many cups of water for 6 oz Jell-O? ›

Add 2½ cups boiling water to 2 pkg. (6 oz. each) gelatin mixes; stir 3 min. until completely dissolved.

How much does one box of Jell-O make? ›

A small box of Jello[TM] makes two cups or 16-oz, or 473cc.

Is gelatin and Jell-O the same thing? ›

Jell-O is made from gelatin — which is derived from animal bones and skin. That means it isn't vegetarian or vegan.

What not to put in Jell-O? ›

Some fresh fruits prevent Jell-O and other types of gelatin from gelling. These are fruits that contain high levels of proteases. Proteases are enzymes that break chemical bonds in proteins, such as collagen in gelatin. Pineapple, kiwi, papaya, mango, and guava are examples of fruits that cause a problem.

Why do you put vinegar in Jell-O? ›

Entire cookbooks were devoted to lime Jell-O, according to Belluscio, often instructing cooks to add a tablespoon of vinegar to cut the sweetness when using flavored gelatins in savory vegetable salads.

Why can't you add pineapple to Jell-O? ›

Jell-O and other gelatins get their structure from links formed between chains of collagen, which is a protein. When you add pineapple to Jell-O, the enzymes break the links in the collagen as fast as they form, so the gelatin never sets up.

Can you reheat jello and add more gelatin? ›

Yes, you can reheat jello as long as it does not come to a boil. Jello easily reacts to heat, which is why it keeps its shape so well when you store it in the fridge.

How long does it take for jello to harden? ›

The answer to this question may vary depending on the size of jello portions as well as on the temperature in the fridge. Generally speaking, most jello sets in 2-4 hours. Unless you make an extra-large jello dessert, 4 hours will be enough for gelatin to harden.

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