This colorful Rainbow Jello is pretty enough to brighten anyone’s day! Great for parties and summer get togethers! Kids absolutely go CRAZY for this fun no bake treat!
Hot where you are? Try these refreshing treats: Watermelon Krispie Treats and Lemon Raspberry Trifle!
Rainbow Jello
For quite some time I’ve had a rainbow cake on my “to bake” list, but so far I haven’t found the time or right excuse to make it. But after the ridiculously weird and rainy weather recently, I just needed to make something fun and colorful. So I headed to the store, and bought six boxes of jello and some cool whip, and made rainbow jello!
This is a bit of an all day project, but in general is quite easy and produces an eye catching dessert!
Obviously, the same general concept could be use with other color combinations… red, white and blue, school colors, team colors, you name it! If you want to do red “white” and blue, since there is no white jello, use lemon jello mixed with cool whip as the “white” layer, as I did with these 4th of July treats.)
How to Make Rainbow Jello
Rainbow Jello does take a little bit of time to make but the hands on time is actually really very minimal. Each layer has to chill and set before moving on so you’ll want to pick a day where you can be in the kitchen on and off.
If you need to, you can split up the work over two days. It’s totally fine to have the jello set up over night and start in on the second half the following day.
- You’ll need one small box of jello for each color you want… so in this case, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. And one large tub of cool whip.
- Prepare purple (or whatever color you want on the bottom) jello as directed, using the “quick chill” method, meaning add some ice.
- Pour jello into glasses, (or a 9’x13′ baking dish sprayed lightly with cooking spray), reserving about 1/3 of the liquid jello.
- Put glasses, or dish in the refrigerator and chill for 15-30 minutes, or until slightly set. Mix about 1/3 cup of cool whip into the remaining purple jello.
- Pour the jello/cool whip mixture on top of the slightly set purple jello already in the glasses (or dish).
- Repeat process for each color.
Variations To Try
- I’ve seen recipes that use sour cream, or yogurt in place of the cool whip, so feel free to do that if it saves you a trip to the store =)
- Try different color combinations for different holidays or party themes.
- Serve in smaller dishes or make in a 9 by 13 baking dish – it’s really up to you!
To Finish It Off
Once set, top with some additional cool whip and sprinkles if desired. You can absolutely eave the rainbow jello as is, it’s beautiful no matter how it’s served.
Have a delicious and colorful day!
More tasty no bake treats!
- Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding
- Pina Colada Cheesecake Mousse
- No Bake Cherry Cheesecake Recipe
- Banana Split Cheesecake
- Strawberry Yogurt Fruit Dip
How to Make Rainbow Jello!
Taste the Rainbow Jello
Ingredients
- 3 ounces red jello cherry or strawberry
- 3 ounces orange jello
- 3 ounces yellow jello lemon
- 3 ounces green jello lime
- 3 ounces blue jello
- 3 ounces purple jello grape
- 16 ounces cool whip
Instructions
- Prepare purple (or whatever color you want on the bottom) jello as directed, using the “quick chill” method, meaning add some ice.
- Pour jello into glasses, (or a 9’x13′ baking dish sprayed lightly with cooking spray), reserving about 1/3 of the liquid jello.
- Put glasses, or dish in the refrigerator and chill for 15-30 minutes, or until slightly set.
- Mix about 1/3 cup of cool whip into the remaining purple jello. Pour the jello/cool whip mixture on top of the slightly set purple jello already in the glasses (or dish).
- Repeat process for each color.
- Once set, top with some additional cool whip and sprinkles if desired.
Nutrition
Originally published May 29, 2011.
How far in advance can these be made? Is the cool whip thawed or frozen?
Thank you SO MUCH for a great tutorial it worked perfectly for a party I was styling recently http://www.tonyastaab.com/2013/06/despicable-me-2-party.html
Where did you get these glasses or cups? They are beautiful!
Not sure how y’all got this to work…. Didn’t work for me at all!!! Looked like crap!
It does take quite a bit of time to make sure each layer is set before adding the next layer.
Not sure if you still check this post, but I wanted to try and make these for my daughters birthday party. Yours look beautiful! Is there a trick to getting all the layers even? Is there a trick to getting the cool whip l;ayer to spread evently or does it spead out a bit since its mixed with the liquid jello? And how much cool whip do you mix in for each layer?
Thanks!!
I do a similar thing with Jello EVERY year for Thanksgiving. Started it when my kids were young, and it’s become a tradition. I spray the inside of a bundt pan with cooking spray (or you can coat it with a thin layer of mayo) so the jello will come out easily when finished.
I do two layers for each color, the first of which is just a box of jello with 1 cup hot water. Chill in fridge for at least 30 min. After about 20 min., mix the second layer up, so it can cool slightly before pouring onto the previous layer. In the second layer, I mix in 2 Tbsp. of cream cheese with a whisk, Repeat with each color, just remember to do it in the order that you want from top to bottom(since you’re going to invert the pan when finished) So, 2 of each, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. I have to do this on Wed. before Thanksgiving, and leave it overnight in the fridge. Thanksgiving morning, I run a warm wet rag over the bottom of the pan, then invert it onto a pretty plate! What comes out is the most beautiful rainbow ring you’ve ever seen! And when you slice it, the kids will eat every bite!! The cream cheese really gives the Jello a great flavor, too!
Hi! I made these treats last week for my daughter’s preschool class. I LOVE how they turned out but they were definitely too much effort for me! Thanks for the idea though!
http://betweenthetoys.blogspot.com/2012/10/rainbow-jello-treats.html
Is the cool whip still frozen or thawed?
I am making these and for some reason when I prepare the cool whip layer I come up short?
I’m not sure what you mean? What size dish/dishes are you using? Do you not have enough cool whip layer to fill the glasses or cups you already put a layer of jello in? The cool whip/jello layer will be thinner than the plain jello layer.
I’m excited to make these for our party on Saturday. I’m using whole milk yogurt…how far ahead do you think I can make it? Is Wed or Thursday too soon for a Saturday morning party? Thanks!
I think it would be fine to make them a few days in advance. Just make sure you don’t have any strong odors in your fridge that may make their way into the jello.