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Looking for an easy spring or Easter dessert? These Pastel Rainbow Gelatin Cups are simple, kid-friendly, and so beautiful! Serve them plain, or top them with whipped cream and sprinkles!
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Pastel Rainbow Jello Recipe
Rainbow gelatin is a great way to make a somewhat boring dessert exciting. (Sorry, gelatin, but it’s true!) Plain gelatin cups are a snooze. But rainbow gelatin cups? Rainbow gelatin cups are a party!
These pastel gelatin cups are inspired by the immensely popular Easter No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes. They’re always one of SugarHero’s top spring recipes, and many people love them and request similar recipes. We also get requests from people who don’t like cheesecake, but still want to get in on the springtime rainbow fun. So here we go—a pretty striped pastel treat, no cream cheese required!
Getting the Perfect Gelatin Texture
These Pastel Rainbow Gelatin Cups are as delicious as they are beautiful. They feature five—FIVE!!—creamy, fruity layers, all stacked together in single-serving cups and topped with lots of whipped cream and sprinkles.
It took a little fiddling to figure out how to strike the perfect balance between getting a pretty pastel color, not overwhelming the fruity flavor of the gelatin, and making sure that the texture was neither too soft nor too rubbery. (Because no one, in the history of the world, has ever asked for their dessert to be more rubbery, right?)
How to Make Pastel Rainbow Gelatin Cups
Contrary to their layered appearance, making these 5-colored gelatin cups is really easy! The only tricky part is budgeting enough time, because you will need to briefly chill the cups in between each color. But as far as assembly itself, it couldn’t be simpler. Here’s how it all goes down:
- Pour 5 different colors of flavored gelatin into 5 different bowls, and whisk hot water into each bowl.
- Let the bowls cool to room temperature, then whisk in yogurt and creamer (or milk)
- Add a few tablespoons of your first color to each glass, then refrigerate the glasses for 15 minutes, or freeze for 7-8
- Repeat with the remaining colors, chilling between each color
- After the final color, refrigerate for at least 4 hours, so the cups are completely set
- Top with whipped cream and cute sprinkles, and serve!
Tips and Questions About Pastel Rainbow Jell-o Cups
What Gelatin Should I Use for Pastel Rainbow Gelatin Cups?
The gelatin I used was typical fruit-flavored gelatin you can find in any grocery store. I tried several brands (both Jell-o and store brands) and they all worked well, so feel free to buy whatever’s available. I did experiment with sugar-free gelatin, which also works, but be aware that the weight of the gelatin package is different (due to the sugar substitute used) so the recipe is written with standard gelatin, to keep things as simple as possible.
I also used standard flavors, with one exception. The regular strawberry and raspberry flavors available all produced a bright pink color—not pastel enough for me—so I used a “natural” strawberry lemonade variety I found, made with natural food coloring. This color was much softer and gave me a nice subtle pink. If you can’t find something similar, your pink color might be brighter than mine. I found the natural flavor at my local Target, and it was made by Jell-o.
How Do I Make the Gelatin Actually Look Pastel?
Here’s the secret for turning bright gelatin pastel: dairy!! You need an opaque dairy product to make that soft pastel color.
My secret weapons for pastel-izing gelatin were vanilla yogurt, and International Delight Sweet Cream coffee creamer. These mellowed the strong fruit flavor of the gelatin, while also giving it a creamier texture and making it a beautiful soft, opaque color.
You can use another yogurt flavor if you’d like—plain works fine, or another fruit-friendly flavor, like coconut, would probably be very good. If you like your desserts a little tangy, try swapping in sour cream instead of yogurt!
The International Delight Sweet Cream coffee creamer I used was a really nice addition to the other flavors. It has a subtle taste that’s almost like melted vanilla ice cream, and it was perfect for complementing the various fruity flavors. I also tried it with French Vanilla and White Chocolate Raspberry, and both of those worked well too.
Can’t find International Delight creamer?
If you can’t find the recommended creamer, you can use an equal amount of milk in the recipe instead.
Can I Make These In Advance?
Yes! Gelatin is a GREAT make-ahead dessert. You can make them up to a week in advance. The biggest problem with gelatin desserts in general is that the top dries out and gets rubbery, so be sure that you individually wrap each cup well, to keep the tops from getting dry.
The other concern with these cups is the dairy used. Be sure that you use fresh yogurt (and milk, if you’re substituting milk) so that spoiling dairy is not a concern if you’re making them in advance. I recommend decorating them within a few hours of when you plan to serve them–the whipped cream decorations will not hold up to prolonged storage.
Can I Make A Rainbow Jell-O Cake Instead?
Would you rather make a large rainbow gelatin cake instead of individual gelatin cups? You can do that too! You have a couple choices—you can use a square or rectangular baking dish, or a bundt pan.
If you use a bundt pan, make sure you grease it well, and after the gelatin is completely set, the pan can be inverted and the gelatin popped out, just like a cake. Cut that baby into slices and enjoy!
If you use a 9×9 or 9×13 baking dish, you can cut the gelatin up into small squares and serve like little happy appetizers. The smaller pan will produce big tall pieces, while the pieces from the larger pan will be much thinner. This is a good choice if you want to stretch the serving size or if you’re making this for young children.
Ready to learn how to make this dessert? It’s so easy! I hope you’ll give them a try, and share a picture in the comments or in our Facebook group if you do!
MORE PASTEL RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE:
Pastel Rainbow Gelatin Cups
Ingredients
- 3.75 cups water, divided use
- 5 (3 oz) packages flavored gelatin, I used purple, blue, red, yellow, and green (see Note below)
- 1.25 cups International Delight Sweet Cream coffee creamer, divided use
- 2.5 cups vanilla yogurt, divided use
- Whipped cream, for topping
- Sprinkles or other decorations
Instructions
- If you are using individual glasses, set your 12 glasses on a baking sheet. If you are using a cake pan or bundt pan, spray it lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
- For each layer, you will use one 3-oz gelatin package, ¾ cup boiling water, ¼ cup International Delight Sweet Cream coffee creamer, and ½ cup vanilla yogurt.
- Pour each 3-oz package of gelatin into its own medium bowl. Add ¾ cup boiling water to each bowl, and whisk well, for about 30-60 seconds each, to make sure all of the gelatin granules are dissolved.
- The gelatin needs to be room temperature before you can add the dairy components. Most of the layers can sit at room temperature and cool, but you can speed up the process for the first layer and refrigerate it for 10-15 minutes, until it is no longer warm. It should not be starting to set, but it should feel neutral to the touch. If it has started to set around the edges, microwave it for just 10 seconds or so, then whisk well so that it is completely fluid.
- Add ¼ cup of International Delight Sweet Cream coffee creamer and ½ cup of vanilla yogurt to the bowl, and whisk well, until you have a smooth, creamy pastel mixture. Divide it evenly between your glasses, using about 2 TBSP per glass. (If you are using a large pan, pour the entire contents into the bottom of the pan.)
- Place the tray of glasses into the refrigerator to set, for about 15 minutes. (If you’re in a hurry, you can place it in the freezer for about 8 minutes, but don’t let it freeze completely!) Note that the timing might be slightly different if you are using a cake or bundt pan. When you touch the top of the gelatin with your finger, it should feel mostly set, but it’s okay if your finger leaves a slight mark in the top.
- Once the first layer is set, make sure that the gelatin for the second layer is room temperature, then whisk in the creamer and yogurt. Pour the second color on top of the first, and chill again for 15 minutes, until mostly set.
- Continue to repeat this process with the remaining 3 colors. The gelatin that you mixed up in the beginning should be fine sitting at room temperature, but if you find that it does start to set around the edges, microwave it briefly and whisk well to make sure it’s fluid before adding the dairy.
- After all 5 colors have been layered, refrigerate the cups for at least 4 hours before serving, to make sure they’re set all the way through.
- Top each cup with a swirl of whipped cream, and whatever sprinkles or other decorations you’d like! These Pastel Rainbow Gelatin Cups keep very well in the refrigerator, so you can prepare them several days in advance and wrap them in plastic wrap, so the tops don’t dry out, until you’re ready to decorate and serve them.
Video
Recipe Notes
MEASURING TIPS
Our recipes are developed using weight measurements, and we highly recommend using a kitchen scale for baking whenever possible. However, if you prefer to use cups, volume measurements are provided as well. PLEASE NOTE: the adage “8 oz = 1 cup” is NOT true when speaking about weight, so don’t be concerned if the measurements don’t fit this formula.
Click here to learn more about baking measurements and conversion.
This is the prettiest dessert! I love all of the colours together and I bet it tastes amazing too!
Thank you, Jem! I’m more than a little obsessed with pastel colors these days! All the pastel rainbows, please!
This looks so beautiful. Kids would love it.
Thanks, Roxana! I love that kids and adults can both enjoy these! 😀
Omg these are the cutest Easter desserts ever!
Yeah! I would love to make these for an April birthday!
Totally, these would be amazing for a birthday party! Thanks Noelle!
Thanks so much, Emily!
These are so adorable and would be the perfect treat to serve up on Easter! Looks like a fun treat the kiddos would enjoy helping with!
Yes, definitely! Put those kiddos to work, haha!
Now that has to be one of the cutest gelatin cups I’ve ever seen. Perfect for an Easter treat!
Thanks, Allison! I thought I didn’t like gelatin cups…turned out I just needed to try rainbow ones. 😉
Do you have the conversion for the sugar free version? I’m trying to make a low sugar dessert for a kids birthday party and these are so pretty.
Hey Vanessa, I haven’t made a sugar free version before. If you try out the recipe with your own adjustments made I would love to hear how it goes! These will be so fun for a birthday party! Thanks!
Oh gosh, these look so gorgeous. Perfect for Easter treat!
Thanks Edyta! We had them for Easter brunch and everyone loved them!
Hello! I honestly can’t get over how pretty and pastel these are! I need to make them, it would be fun for kids to help out with too!
Thanks Pamela! My son wanted to be on sprinkle and Easter egg duty when it came time to decorate these, haha.
WHOA! These are so fun and so crazy cute!! My kids would flip over these! <3
Thanks Christina! My son definitely ate more than his fair share. 😀
Just in time for Easter! Love this idea!
Yes, such a fun twist on the traditional Easter dessert ideas! Thanks Suzy!
These are the best! You are a master as pretty and I love your video. It really helps!
Thanks so much, Ginny! I’m thrilled to hear that they worked out for you. Thanks for the feedback!
Where did you find the C U T E gelatin cups? Brand?
Hi Debi! Unfortunately, I bought them ages ago, and they’re just plain glass, without any brand markings. I’m sorry! I really love them too, and since I keep breaking them, I wish I knew the brand so I could buy more!
Can you use Greek yogurt instead of the regular yogurt?
Hi Heaven! Greek yogurt works fine. It does add a slight tang, but as long as you don’t mind that, it’s a good choice. Some people even like using sour cream to up the sweet-tart factor!
Can I use Greek vanilla yogurt or would that be too tangy?
Hi Sammy! Greek yogurt works fine. It does add a slight tang, but as long as you don’t mind that, it’s a good choice. Some people even like using sour cream to up the sweet-tart factor!
Love the recipe, ty! Tasted amazing.
Thanks, Beverley! I’m glad that you enjoyed it!
Can you please tell me where you found ‘natural’ strawberry lemonade gelatin? Whole Foods? Trader Joe’s? I couldn’t find it at Sprouts or Safeway.
Thank you!
Hi Debi! I found it at my local Target, it was Jell-o brand.
Just made this… sooo worth it. I was worried it would be a lot of work but i was able to multitask very well between my timers. Super excited for the kids to see it!
Yay! So glad to hear that it worked out for you! I agree–it’s a lot of timers but not a lot of actual work. Hope the kids loved them!
How come you’re not on the food network???????
Oh, you’re the sweetest! Only my hands like to be on camera, haha. Thanks Amanda!
These are adorable! Wondering if you could use cool whip instead of yogurt?
Hi Melissa! I’ve tried it with sour cream and whipped cream, but I’ve never tried it with whipped topping. I’d love to hear how it goes if you give it a try!
This is beyond cute! I have made a pastel molded gelatin, but with six layers! I included orange flavor. I used evaporated milk. In terms of flavors, I love how the three citrus flavors a and the three ‘berry’ flavors combine. The first time I made this was for a Care Bears themed party! Lovely page.
Hey Angelica, I am so happy to hear that! That looks so good, thank you for sharing! I love what you did with it!
I would love to surprise my grandchildren with these rainbow gelatin desserts. Will using non dairy creamer and yogurt work in this recipe? My grandchildren are allergic to all dairy products. Thanks
Hey Suzn, I wish I could say for certain unfortunately I can’t say from experience. If you end up finding something that you can replace it with I would love to hear back!
How many ounces are the glasses for the pastel jello dessert?
Hey Lily, The cups I used are 1/2 cup glasses!
Bravo !!! . Too Excellert and Beautuful !!!.
Hey Thien, thank you so much!! I love hearing you like it so much!
A great gelatin cups, sounds good! Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Marie, I am so glad you like them! Thank you!
Hi Elizabeth, is there any way we can see the packaging of the pink natural strawberry lemonade you got from target? I have checked numerous target stores and they don’t have them, thank you!
Hi Ana, I am sorry you have had trouble finding it! The one I used was Jell-O Simply Good brand, raspberry lemonade flavor, you can see an example of the Simply Good packaging here: https://amzn.to/38iv9Xj If you can’t find that same exact thing it will work with regular Jell-o, the color will just be deeper. In the post it mentions a few tips and tricks to help you achieve a more pastel look with those deeper colors if that is something you wanted to play around with. I hope that helps, I am excited for you to make this! I would love to hear how it goes, I hope you like them as much as we do! Thanks!
I am so glad have had great success with the recipe. Thanks so much for the great recipe.
Hi Marie, I am so glad to hear it! Thank you so much!
Where did you get the cute glass cups for the Pastel rainbow cups?
Hi! I’m sorry to say I got them at a thrift store, so I don’t know the manufacturer.