Celebrate with the most patriotic of sweet treats: Red, white, and blue layered Jell-o; perfect for the 4th of July or any summer celebration.

If you’re looking for a fun dessert or snack to bring to a summer picnic, 4th of July celebration – or any summertime gathering – you’ve come to the right place!

If you’re not already familiar, let me introduce you to the concept of layered finger Jell-O.

What Is Layered Finger Jell-O?

Finger Jell-o is firmer than regular Jell-O because additional gelatin is added to make it set. This makes it convenient to eat with your hands, hence the name finger Jell-O.

With this layered finger Jell-O, thin layers of red, white, and blue gelatin are layered in a pan. Each layer must set before the next layer is poured on top.

The end result? Pretty layers of colored Jell-O – in whatever hue you desire; but for this version, we’re going with red, white, and blue:

• Bottom layer: Clear blue
• Next layer: Creamy blue
• Middle layer: White
• Next layer: Clear red
• Top layer: Creamy red

What You’ll Need

The ingredient list for this red, white, and blue layered Jell-O is short, easy to find, and affordable. You’ll need:

• 2 packages of Red Jell-O: Look for any red flavor, like cherry, strawberry or raspberry. Generic gelatin will also work. Look for 3-ounce packages or divide a 6-ounce package in two.
• 2 packages of blue Jell-O: Look for blue-hued gelatin. Jell-O makes a blue raspberry flavor. Generic gelatin will also work. Look for 3-ounce packages or divide a 6-ounce package in two.
• Gelatin powder: Additional gelatin is added to the boxes of Jell-O to ensure the gelatin is firm and pick-upable. Look for Knox Gelatine in the grocery store – or consider purchasing a large container if you like making different flavors of gelatin. I use Great Lakes Gelatin, which comes in a 16-ounce container.
• Evaporated milk: To make the creamy blue and creamy red layers, you’ll combine the colored Jell-O powder with water and evaporated milk.
• Sweetened condensed milk: The middle layer of this dessert consists of sweetened condensed milk, water, and gelatin powder. There are no white Jell-O flavors that I’m aware of – so we’re making our own.

Let The Gelatin Set Before Adding Another Layer

The key to make layered Jell-O with clean, uniform layers is to make sure the previous layer is fully set (firm) before pouring on the next layer.

The best way to check this is to simply look at the pan to see if the gelatin is firm. You can also gently press the gelatin with your finger to see if it is firm.

Layers should be set in about 30 minutes. But please check to make sure before adding your next layer!

Another Option: Make In Individual Dessert Cups

You can make this layered gelatin in individual dessert cups instead of a glass casserole dish (or cake pan).

To make, simply follow the recipe instructions, below, but instead of pouring the liquid Jell-O into a pan, spoon a tablespoon or so of the liquid into individual dessert cups.

Proceed with chilling the gelatin for 30 minutes to set before pouring on the next layer.

If you’re looking for another red, white, and blue treat for a patriot holiday, check out this red, white, and blue candied popcorn recipe.

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