Rainbow Jello Cubes

Try rainbow layer jello for a party food that will appeal to guests of all ages. It’s sweet and fun for kids and nostalgic for adults. You don’t need huge amounts of skill to make it but patience is essential. You can’t rush the preparation, so clear your schedule and enjoy the process.

Although the layer of Jell-O looks intricate, gravity does the hard work. Each colored band will settle with geometric precisions long as your dish is on a level surface. Keep an eye on your temperatures, too. Mix the gelatin warm and cover each layer cold.

Ingredients for Rainbow Layer Jello

• Assorted flavored gelatin: You’ll need packages to match the colors you’re creating: cherry for red, berries for blue and so on. Don’t worry, the flavors won’t clash.
• Unflavored gelatin: This comes in envelopes and is used to thicken the flavored gelatin.
• Condensed milk: Use this to get the color for the white layers and the super sweet and creamy flavor.

Directions

Step 1: Create the base layer

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In a small bowl, combine the flavored gelatin and unflavored gelatin. Stir in the boiling water until the gelatin has dissolved. Pour the mixture into a clear glass dish, coated with cooking spray, and then refrigerate for about 20 minutes until the jello has set but is not yet firm. This should take 20 minutes.

Step 2: Make the white creamy layer

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In a bowl, combine condensed milk and boiling water. In another bowl, sprinkle the unflavored gelatin over cold water and allow to stand for one minute. Stir in the boiling water. Add this to the condensed milk mixture. Gently spoon the creamy gelatin mixture over the first flavored gelatin layer and make sure it covers the layer evenly to the edges. Refrigerate for about 25 minutes until the jello has set but is not yet firm.

Editor’s Tip: You can’t make the white creamy gelatin in one go, but you can stop each batch from setting by placing the bowl over another bowl of hot water.

Step 3: Repeat the steps for each layer

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Repeat the above two steps and alternate the flavored gelatin of different colors with creamy gelatin layers. Make sure you’re chilling each new layer until it’s set but not firm before spooning the next layer on top. Add the final flavored gelatin layer and refrigerate the entire dish for at least one hour before cutting into squares.

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Recipe Variations

• Customize the colors: Since you’ve got all the colors of the rainbow, you can follow these steps to make layered jello for a variety of occasions, from Valentine’s to Halloween, Pride Month to 4th of July.
• Make individual cups: You can build the colored layers in a tall glass or shot glass and then top with cream and sprinkles for an individual treat if the scramble for squares is too messy,
• Cut the sweetness: Believe it or not, sour cream is a perfectly good substitute for condensed milk if you want something closer to a gelatin salad. The overall process remains the same, however.

How to Store Rainbow Layer Jello

You can store your rainbow layer Jell-O for three to five days in the refrigerator but use aluminum foil to cover rather than plastic wrap so it does’t stick to the top layer.

Can you freeze rainbow layer jello?

Unfortunately, Jell-O is one of those popular foods that doesn’t respond well to time in the freezer. You’ll end up with a soupy mess once the Jell-O thaws because the bonds that hold the gelatin proteins together are destroyed.

Rainbow Layer Jello Tips

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How long does rainbow layer Jello take to set?

Budget for 20 to 30 minutes for each layer to set. An entire layer jello can take half a day to complete. Of course, you can go and do other things in the meantime. But don’t pour warm Jell-O onto a layer that hasn’t fully set or the colors will turn cloudy.

How do I get sharp squares?

The beauty of working with jello is that you can get sharp, clean edges that look professional. But don’t use a serrated knife. Use a smooth and thin blade, like a paring knife, to cut them. Then use a flexible spatula to extract the squares from the dish without them breaking apart.

What can you serve with rainbow layer Jello?

These colorful squares make great party finger food all by themselves but you can add them to ice cream, frozen yogurt or whipped cream if you want a symphony of textures and some extra creaminess.