Rainbow jello is an impressive dessert that’s fun to eat and loved by the whole family. Three simple ingredients are all you’ll need to create this fun and colorful dish. It’s sure to be a hit at your next party!
Grandma’s Rainbow Jello
This rainbow jello recipe was a dish my Grandma Joyce made for the holidays when I was growing up. As you can see from her recipe card below, it was made often. The grandchildren all loved it! My aunt made this at Grandma’s funeral, and it was loved by both kids and adults. She was such an amazing woman.
My grandma always had 6 layers in her jello with the green layer on top. I ended up only doing 5 layers and left out the additional cherry layer and thought it still turned out great!
If you wanted to do 6 layers you definitely could. You could also make it following the colors of the rainbow (listed in the recipe card). Go in whatever order makes you happy.
3 Simple Ingredients
This easy recipe only requires 3 simple ingredients: jello, water, and sour cream! Most of the recipes you’ll find online for rainbow jello use sweetened condensed milk as the middle layer, but I find that way too sweet. The sour cream that gets mixed in cuts the sweetness and creates the prettiest colors.
Layers
You can get as creative as you like when it comes to the colors of your rainbow layer jello. To create a traditional rainbow order, use the following flavors:
- Purple – Black cherry, black raspberry, or grape
- Blue – Blue raspberry
- Green – Lime
- Yellow – Lemon
- Orange – Orange
- Red – Strawberry or Cherry
How to Make Rainbow Jello
You need a lot of chilling time to make this dish, so make sure you start early. I like to prepare it the day before I’m planning to serve it.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Chill: Place a 9×13-inch glass baking dish in the refrigerator to chill. The glass dish lets you see all the beautiful layers.
- Prepare the first 2 layers: In a medium bowl, stir black cherry jello in 1 cup of boiling water for 1 minute until the powder is dissolved. Divide it in half between two bowls or measuring cups. You’ll have about ½ cup in each bowl. In the first bowl add 3 tablespoons of cold water and cover with plastic wrap. In the other bowl, add 1/3 cup sour cream and whisk until combined.
- Chill the first layer: Pour the jello with sour cream into the chilled 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 the second layer: Pour the second bowl of jello over the first layer. Carefully tilt the dish from side to side to spread the layer evenly. Return the dish to the fridge for another 30 minutes.
- Repeat: Do the same thing again with the remaining jello flavors, ending with the lime on top. Carefully carry each new layer to the fridge and rotate the pan each time to keep the layers straight. Chill in the refrigerator until firm.
- Serve: Slice into 20 slices and serve chilled. A dollop of whipped cream adds a little something extra!
Recipe Tips
This rainbow jello treat may look complicated, but it’s easy to make! The one thing you will need is time. Each layer has to be set before adding another layer on top of it, so you’ll have to account for lots of chilling time. Luckily, the fridge does all of the work!
- Make-ahead: Each layer needs time to set before adding on to the next layer, so be prepared to make this dish well in advance of the time you’re planning to serve it. I suggest making it the day before, so it has plenty of time to set before serving.
- For easy clean up: Use just 2 bowls and rinse between each flavor of jello to reduce the number of dishes.
- Tidy up the layers: If jello coats the sides of the dish higher than its layer while being transferred to the fridge, simply take a wet paper towel to wipe down the sides and keep the layers straight.
A Fun Party Treat!
What better way to celebrate your child’s special day than with all the rainbow treats?! Slice your pieces into small cubes as a fun treat for small hands or make layered jello in individual clear plastic cups for everyone to enjoy their own!
Variations
There are so many colors to choose from for this layered jello dessert, so feel free to mix and match the colors that make you happy! You can also choose the colors based on different holiday themes:
- Christmas – Alternate between green (lime) and red (strawberry)
- 4th of July – Alternate between blue raspberry (blue) and red (strawberry)
- Valentine’s day – Alternate between red (strawberry) and watermelon (pink)
- St Patrick’s day – The rainbow colors work well here, or you can alternate green (lime) and orange
- Halloween – Layers of orange (orange) and green (lime)
FAQs
Not at all! It is a simple process but it does take a bit of time to mix the jello mixture and then wait in the refrigerator.
Absolutely. This is one dessert you definitely want to keep chilling in the fridge. Keep it covered tightly with plastic wrap.
Jello typically lasts up to 7 days in the fridge.
You will want to wash, cut, and layer the fresh fruit in the dish. Pour the jello overtop of the fresh fruit. Refrigerate for about 2 hours until it is firm. Then add the next layer if continuing with the rainbow appearance.
5 star review
“Love jello and this is such a fun and colorful treat. All the flavors really work well together!”
-Gina
Love jello recipes? You will love this jello poke cake, raspberry jello pretzel salad and jello cookies!
More Colorful Treats
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Rainbow Layered Jello
Video
Ingredients
- 5 (3-ounce) boxes jello , black cherry, strawberry, orange, lemon, and lime
- 5 cups hot water , divided
- 15 Tablespoons ice cold water , divided
- 16 ounce container sour cream , divided
Instructions
- Place a 9×13-inch glass baking dish in the refrigerator to chill.
- In a medium bowl, stir black cherry jello in 1 cup hot water for 1 minute, or until dissolved. Divide in half (about 1/2 cup each) between two liquid measuring cups or bowls. In the first bowl, add 3 Tablespoons cold water and cover with plastic wrap. In the other bowl, add 1/3 cup sour cream and whisk until well combined.
- Pour the jello with the sour cream, into the chilled baking dish (tilting gently to spread evenly). Place in the fridge and chill 25 to 30 minutes.
- Remove dish from the fridge and pour the second bowl of jello, tilting gently to spread evenly, over the top. Carefully return to the refrigerator and chill 25 to 30 minutes.
- Repeat the process with the remaining jello in this order: strawberry, orange, lemon, and lime (on top). Carefully carry each new layer to the fridge, and rotate the pan each time, to keep the layers straight. Refrigerate until firm.
- Slice into 20 slices. Serve while chilled.
Notes
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- Black cherry, or black raspberry jello
- Blue raspberry jello
- Lime jello
- Lemon jello
- Orange jello
- Strawberry or cherry jello
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Desserts, Easter, Gluten-Free, Kid-Friendly, No-Bake, Nut-Free, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
Looks great! Is this firm enough to eat and hold when cut into cubes?
Yes! These work great to cut into cubes even shapes!
My family, especially my kids were so impressed with this rainbow jello! It was beautiful because of the colors and delicious too. Love it!
My kids were obsessed with this rainbow jello! They had just as much fun helping to make it as they did to eat it.
This is such a fun treat! I love that it can be made in so many different color combinations.
Used sugar free jello and Greek yogurt, increased the protein and decreased the carbs. Great alternative for diabetic diet
Jello takes me back to my childhood so it’s always a great dessert to jump back into making! I also really enjoyed all the holiday customizations you added into this post! It’s a hit all year round!
Love jello and this is such a fun and colorful treat. All the flavors really work well together!