Step by step instructions for how to make Jello straight from the box. Easy recipe and ideas for any flavor. Top with Cool Whip and make it dessert!
You may think me a little silly to write up a recipe all about how to make instant Jello. My first thought was about the same when I decided to work on this Jello recipe; I mean, it's right there on the box.
But my hope is that those who haven't spent as much time in the kitchen will find a little bit of value in this recipe and all of the wonderful things you can do with a Jello mix. There truly is a technique to making even the simplest of things.
Also, I find the older I get, the harder it can be to read those tiny little Jello instructions on the box. So a great recipe like this can be a great way to really help those who struggle to see the Jello directions well.
While I chose to make this recipe with orange Jello (my favorite), you can use any flavor you want. Keep in mind, this is only for actual Jello gelatin, not for Jello pudding (another recipe for another day).
Reasons to Love Making Jello
- Jello is something I've enjoyed since I was a kid. There are so many fruity desserts you can make with a Jello mix, including Jello cake, Jello cookies, Jell-O shots, etc.. You can make cherry or strawberry Jello cake, orange Jello cake, lemon Jello cake and even raspberry Jello cake. Sometimes we even make actual gelatin for dessert, filling it with fresh fruit and fresh berries.
- If we caught the flu or some other bug that took away our appetites, she'd make up a bowl of Jello and stick it in the fridge for when we started to get a little hungry. I keep gelatin mixes handy in the cupboard for just such times with my own family.
- Traditional Jello can be a fun side dish or fun dessert; it's an especially lovely dessert when topped with a dollop of whipped cream.
- There are so many different flavors to choose from, making it a really fun treat for both kids and adults.
Jello Ingredients and Substitutions Notes
- Jello gelatin mix – This recipe uses the 3-ounce Jello mix. You can make whatever flavor you want, though I don't recommend unflavored gelatin if you're making this for a snack or dessert; just use regular Jello.
- Boiling water – Use an electric tea kettle to boil water on the fly; or a small saucepan will do. You'll need 1 cup boiling water.
- Cold water – You'll need just 1 cup of water. But make sure it's cold water and not just room temperature.
How to Make Jello from the Box
This is a time-sensitive recipe. So before you start, you need to make sure you have everything you'll need, because it goes fast, and your gelatin can start to set up if you're not prepared.
Here is your step-by-step guide…
- Pour the gelatin powder into a medium mixing bowl, no need for cooking spray.
- Add boiling water to the gelatin mix, and stir for 2 minutes until it's completely dissolved.
- Stir in the cold water.
- Refrigerate the gelatin mixture for at least 4 hours, or until the gelatin is firm and doesn't stick to your fingers when touched. In fact, when pressed with your finger or a butter knife, it should spring back into place when you let go.
Once your Jello has firmed up, it's ready to eat. If you're making it for dessert, you can scoop some into a dish and top it off with whipped cream or Dream Whip for a delicious dessert.
How to Make Jello Set Faster
Jello does have a “speed-set method,” and this cuts the set-up time significantly, especially if you don't want to wait a long time.
To make Jello set faster, you need to:
- Dissolve the gelatin mix in 3/4 cup boiling water.
- Add ice cubes to 1/2 cup cold water to make 1 1/4 cups.
- Stir the cold water into the gelatin until it's slightly thickened.
- Then just remove any unmelted ice cubes, and refrigerate the Jello mixture for 30 to 90 minutes, or until firm.
Can You Speed It Up By Putting It in the Freezer?
You can put Jello in the freezer for maybe 20 minutes or so, but you don't want it to freeze at all because freezing Jello will ruin it.
When frozen, Jello can lose its ability to gel and turn into a watery, goopy mess. Personally, I wouldn't go this route.
If you really want to cool it faster, you can place your mixing bowl into a larger ice water bath while stirring, being careful that the rim of your Jello bowl doesn't go beneath the water. Then as it begins to thicken, stick it in the fridge to finish setting up.
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ's
Made the usual way, Jello usually takes about 4 hours to set or thicken.
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.
Hmmm, that's a good question and one I've been trying to find the answer to for some while. The most definitive answer I've been able to get is that the ingredients in Jello are naturally gluten-free, but it is produced in a factory that may have traces of gluten, causing cross-contamination. I've also read that certain ingredients, like colorings or spices or flavorings, may be sourced from other suppliers and may indeed contain gluten. The only way to be sure, beyond all shadow of a doubt, that your Jello is gluten-free, is to make it yourself. I really want to try making this healthy homemade Jello recipe from One Lovely Life.
Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Ways to Customize or “Beef Up” Your Jello
There are many ways to make Jello so much more interesting and fun, especially if you're making it for kids or for a party.
You can make Jello with fruit. My mom likes to make Jello with strawberries in it, and it's a family-favorite every single holiday. She even adds sliced bananas sometimes.
You can also make perfect Jello Jigglers (finger Jello) or Jello cubes.
Jello shots are another very fun way to serve up Jello, especially to party guests.
Oh, and Jell-o molds are so much fun!
How to Mold Jello
Instead of just letting it set up in one big bowl, use fun and interesting molds.
Pour the Jello liquid into small shot glasses, smaller serving bowls or dessert cups, candy molds, a bundt cake pan, or a more decorative Jello mold immediately after mixing and before it thickens. Make a Jello brain, a holiday wreath, or Jello Christmas trees.
Keep in mind, if you're using a bigger mold, you'll likely need to use more than 1 box of Jello mix.
And to remove the Jello from the mold, you'll need to immerse (but not all the way) your Jello mold in warm water for a few seconds.
Great Jello Recipes Using Instant Jello
- Mandarin orange Jello salad is a delicious orange fluff side dish and dessert you can serve at your next potluck or holiday dinner on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter.
- Use strawberry gelatin mix to make the best ever strawberry marshmallow fluff!
- A patriotic variation of Jello cake is this festive red white and blue poke cake.
- If you have instant pudding on hand, my grandma's lemon cake recipe and this lemon pound cake are both to die for.
- A quick and easy, family favorite no bake that uses strawberry Jello, is this strawberry Jello Cool Whip pie.
If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. And subscribe to my email list too!
How to Make Jello
Equipment
- Electric Tea Kettle or Sauce Pan
Ingredients
- 1 – 3 ounce box Instant Jello mix
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup cold water
Instructions
- Pour the powdered gelatin into a medium mixing bowl.
- Add boiling water to the gelatin mix, and stir for 2 minutes until it's completely dissolved.
- Stir in the cold water.
- Refrigerate the gelatin mixture for at least 4 hours, or until the gelatin is firm and doesn't stick to your fingers.
- Once your Jello has firmed up, it's ready to eat. If you're making it for dessert, you can scoop some into a dish and top it off with whipped cream or Dream Whip.
Notes
- Dissolve the gelatin mix in 3/4 cup boiling water.
- Add ice cubes to 1/2 cup cold water to make 1 1/4 cups.
- Stir the cold water into the gelatin until it's slightly thickened.
- Then just remove any unmelted ice cubes, and refrigerate for 30 to 90 minutes, or until firm.
Nutrition
I didn’t know Jello was so easy yo make.
Please send me some more easy recipes
Thank you, I am 63 and never made jello but my wife asked me to make it and we are living in Mexico the translation came out as add cold boiling water so it was nice to have an English to help me understand.
Thank You! I’m so glad it helped.
my husband threw out the box! yikes. I was so happy to see you repeat it, as I wanted the fast-set method, but couldn’t remember the cold water/ice ratio. I was so happy to find this site.
robin
I’m so glad it helped, Robin! This is a perfect example of why this recipe can be so helpful in certain situations, despite it being made fun of all the time as a seemingly easy on-the-box recipe lol. Thanks for the feedback.
i only want to use 1/2 box of jello for my small cheesecake for only 2 people. To make the larger size , I used 1 box per 3/4 cup water in the recipe which was added to the cream cheese and whipped cream but now I want to make half the cheesecake recipe and don’t know how much water to add to only 1/2 the box ?
Nan, if I’m understanding this correctly, you are halving the box, which would require also halving the water. That’s right about 6 tablespoons of water. I hope this helps.
Pour half of the hot water in the mixing bowl then slowly add the gelatin stirring and adding remaining hot water. Mistake is pouring a pile of gelatin in bowl and then adding all the hot water. Dissolve all gelatin before adding cold water. If adding canned fruit, drain and save juice, measure and combine with cold water to the required at of water. After gelatin is dissolved add fruit. If moving gelatin to another container add fruit to second container. Scatter evenly. Or dump it with jello and dump in container. Just never use fresh or frozen pineapple or pineapple juice. Prevents jello from gelling or jelling!😊
Thanks for the tip, Susu!
Should you cover the jello bowl with plastic wrap when you put the bowl in the refrigerator?
Rich, I would recommend covering it with plastic wrap. Otherwise, it can sometimes form a skin on top from the cold refrigerator air.
Can I add a 1/4 teaspoon of almond flavore with the cold water( not adding more liquid) and still have it set up
I don’t see why not, Karen, but I’ve never tried it.
To the lady that had a problem with the jello setting harder at the bottom of the bowl. It’s because it was not completely blended. So what didn’t finish getting mixed together is laying in the bottom of the bowl and will set harder because there is still unresolved gelatin in the bottom.
I can not thank you enough. Your web site was just what I needed. I haven’t made jello in over 55 yrs. So there is no automatic memory recipe. The recipe Jello provides is on 1/2 of the side of the box that you open!!! Not the side that maybe I could have read with my readers or the inside of the box!!!! Again, thank you. Also, I’m glad you mentioned ‘quick-set’. That’s what I used to do, probably before you were born. I think it’s pretty with two or more layers of jello. Quick-set. Holly Jolly Holidays, Blessed Christmas Save Healthy and Safe and all the Best in 2021
Thank you so much, Marissa! I’m happy to help. Jello is quick and easy, which is my personal preference.
WHY DOES THE JELLO IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BOWL GET HARD?
Joan, I’ve never had this issue before. Is it maybe an old box of Jello? I’m not sure.
You’re not dissolving the gelatin all the way. You have to make sure to stir it until.all the sugar and gelatin crystals can’t be seen on a spoon, otherwise the heavier gelatin “goop” settles to the bottom and you get a hard layer.
Yes, ensuring that the gelatin is properly dissolved is key!