Red White and Blue Finger Jello is a vibrant, fun, and patriotic treat perfect for summer celebrations like the 4th of July, Memorial Day, or Labor Day. With its colorful layers and firm texture, this jello dessert is easy to pick up, fun to eat, and visually stunning on any party table.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect for patriotic holidays and summer parties
- Easy to make with simple pantry ingredients
- Kid-friendly and great for crowds
- Firm enough to serve as finger food—no utensils needed
- Customizable with shapes, flavors, and colors
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- Red flavored gelatin (like cherry or strawberry)
- Blue flavored gelatin (like berry blue)
- Unflavored gelatin (Knox or similar)
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Boiling water
- Cold water
- Nonstick cooking spray (for greasing the pan)
Directions
- Lightly grease a 9×13-inch pan with nonstick spray.
- For the red layer: Dissolve red gelatin and one packet of unflavored gelatin in boiling water. Let cool to room temperature. Pour into the prepared pan and chill until set (15–30 minutes).
- For the white layer: Bloom two packets of unflavored gelatin in cold water. Mix boiling water with sweetened condensed milk, then add bloomed gelatin. Let cool and pour over the red layer. Chill until set.
- For the blue layer: Dissolve blue gelatin and one packet of unflavored gelatin in boiling water. Let cool, pour over the white layer, and chill until fully set—about 4 hours or overnight.
- To serve: Run a knife around the edges, invert onto a cutting board, and slice into squares or use cookie cutters for festive shapes.
Servings and timing
- Servings: Approximately 30 to 40 pieces, depending on cut size
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Chill time: 1 hour 15 minutes for layers, 4+ hours for full firmness
- Total time: About 5 hours (mostly inactive chilling time)
Variations
- Use cookie cutters to cut fun shapes like stars or hearts
- Alternate multiple red, white, and blue layers for extra stripes
- Try different colors for other holidays (red and green for Christmas, orange and black for Halloween)
- Use sugar-free gelatin for a lower-calorie version
Storage/Reheating
Store the jello covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Do not freeze, as freezing will affect the texture. Serve chilled—no reheating necessary.
FAQs
What can I use instead of sweetened condensed milk?
You can use evaporated milk mixed with a bit of sugar, but sweetened condensed milk gives the best creamy texture and taste.
Can I skip the unflavored gelatin?
No, unflavored gelatin is essential for making the layers firm enough to cut and handle as finger food.
Why did my layers mix together?
Each layer must be fully set and cooled to room temperature before adding the next to prevent bleeding or mixing.
Can I make this dessert in advance?
Yes, this is a great make-ahead dessert. Prepare it a day ahead and keep it covered in the fridge.
How can I get clean cuts or shapes?
Use a sharp knife or cookie cutter sprayed lightly with nonstick spray to make clean cuts.
Can I use other flavors or colors?
Absolutely. Swap flavors to match different themes or personal preferences.
Is this dessert gluten-free?
Yes, if all gelatin products used are labeled gluten-free.
How long does it take for the jello to set?
Each layer takes about 15–30 minutes to set, and the full dessert needs at least 4 hours to firm up completely.
Can I halve the recipe?
Yes, use an 8×8-inch pan and reduce all ingredients by half.
What type of pan works best?
A glass or metal 9×13-inch baking dish works best for even layering and easy cutting.
Conclusion
Red White and Blue Finger Jello is the perfect festive dessert that’s sure to impress at your next patriotic gathering. With its bold colors, creamy middle, and firm, finger-friendly layers, it’s as fun to eat as it is to make. Serve it chilled, cut it into fun shapes, and watch it disappear from the dessert table.
Print
Red White and Blue Finger Jello
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: —
- Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes (including chilling)
- Yield: 8–12 finger jello cups 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Refrigerated
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A fun, patriotic layered gelatin dessert in individual finger cups, featuring vibrant red, white, and blue jello layers—perfect for Fourth of July or any festive occasion.
Ingredients
- 1 box (3 oz) strawberry or cherry gelatin (red layer)
- 1 box (3 oz) lemon or vanilla gelatin (white layer)
- 1 box (3 oz) blue raspberry or berry-blue gelatin (blue layer)
- 3 cups boiling water, divided
- 3 cups cold water, divided
- 8–12 small clear plastic dessert cups or shot glasses
- Optional garnish: whipped cream and fresh berries
Instructions
- Label cups or glasses so you remember where each will go.
- Red layer: Dissolve red gelatin in 1 cup boiling water, then stir in 1 cup cold water. Pour 2–3 tbsp into each cup. Refrigerate until just set but still slightly tacky, about 20–30 minutes.
- White layer: Dissolve white gelatin in 1 cup boiling water, then stir in 1 cup cold water. Once red layer is tacky, pour the white mixture gently on top of the red in each cup. Refrigerate until set, about 20–30 minutes.
- Blue layer: Dissolve blue gelatin in 1 cup boiling water, then stir in 1 cup cold water. Once white layer is tacky, pour blue mixture on top of white. Chill until firmly set, at least 2 hours.
- Garnish each cup with a dollop of whipped cream and a fresh berry, if desired. Serve chilled.
Notes
- For firmer layers, reduce cold water by ¼ cup per layer and increase boiling water accordingly.
- To avoid mixing layers, allow each to become tacky before adding the next.
- You can use sugar-free gelatin to reduce calories.
- These can be made a day ahead and kept covered in the fridge.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 2 oz gelatin + garnishes)
- Calories: 90 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 20 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg