20 Best Jell

There's so much you can do with a box of Jell-O!

It's time to start thinking about dessert recipes, but your pantry is near empty aside from... Jell-O mix? Before you knock it as a kiddie treat, think again. These Jell-O recipes prove that there is so much more to the retro dish than meets the eye. Jell-O is one of the most versatile shortcut ingredients to keep around the house. You can soak it into cakes, mix it with fruits, or even serve it straight! Think gorgeous shards of colorful Jell-O floating like stained glass. Or even better, layers of bright, citrusy sweetness topped with whipped cream. Say hello to your new favorite dessert: Jell-O!

Here, you'll find classic recipes like Southern poke cake, Jell-O salad, and ambrosia. Opt for a festive Christmas treat like Ree Drummond's red, green, and white finger Jell-O when the holidays roll around. If you like something with a little more texture, strawberry or orange pretzel salad is the perfect combo of smooth-sweet and salty-crunch. Some options call for packaged mixes, and others mix it from scratch with fresh fruit juice and gelatin powder. Plus, there are a few cocktail recipes that show you how to make Jell-O shots, of course. The best part? Many of these are no-bake desserts!

Okay, "salad" might be a bit of a stretch with this fan favorite 😂. You have a salty, crunchy pretzel crust topped with a cream cheese filling layer and sweet strawberry Jell-O.

Get the Strawberry Pretzel Salad recipe.

SHOP CASSEROLE DISHES

Ree puts a festive spin on the classic finger jello recipe. Layers of red, green, and white Jell-O are poured into a pan and left to set. Once it’s ready, cut the pretty treat into bite-sized squares!

Get Ree’s Christmas Finger Jell-O recipe.

Cranberry is a classic holiday staple, so it’s only natural to serve this dessert during your own festive gathering. Use homemade or store-bought cranberry sauce and mix it with crushed pineapple, orange juice, and raspberry Jell-O. Once it’s cut, top each slice with whipped cream.

Get the Cranberry Jell-O Salad recipe at Dinner Then Dessert.

Individual jars of little fresh jello cubes are a perfect food gift or party giveaway. Rather than using commercial Jell-O, this blogger combines fresh juice with gelatin powder. This makes the final product a softer, prettier color than store-bought Jell-O!

Get the Fresh Grapefruit Jell-O recipe at The View From Great Island.

This Jell-O is inspired by the Mexican candy Duvalín. It’s a gorgeous color with layers of strawberry, vanilla, and rich hazelnut chocolate.

Get the Duvalín Jell-O recipe at A Cozy Kitchen.

SHOP JELL-O MOLDS

Sticky, squishy, and oh-so-good. Here, marshmallow and Jell-O combine into one "rolled up" sweet concoction.

Get the Jell-O Roll Ups recipe at Amanda's Cookin'.

Have you ever seen a prettier pie? It combines cherry, lime, and lemon Jell-O to make a festive, fluffy Christmas treat.

Get the Layered Jell-O Pie recipe at Amanda's Cookin'.

If you love strawberry pretzel salad, you’ll be equally crazy for this orange version. It’s a similar deal with a salty pretzel crust and cream cheese filling, but the top layer is sweet mandarin oranges.

Get the Orange Pretzel Salad recipe at Little Sunny Kitchen.

As this recipe notes, "pudding" is a generous term—it’s more of a smooth mango Jell-O! Fresh mango is blended together with gelatin and set for a firm, jiggly, fresh dessert.

Get the Mango Pudding recipe at The Woks of Life.

Here’s a recipe that proves just how pretty this dessert can be. Again, the “pudding” is made with gelatin, making the recipe closer to a two-layered Jell-O. The first layer is a rich and creamy milk pudding and has a gorgeous cherry blossom Jell-O layer stacked on top.

Get the Milk Pudding with Cherry Blossom Jell-O recipe at Just One Cookbook.

SHOP PARFAIT CUPS

Orange Jell-O salad, or ambrosia, is a classic Southern dessert. This one is creamy, tangy, and sweet, featuring juicy mandarin oranges, fluffy marshmallows, and rich coconut flakes. It’s probably the easiest and most satisfying dessert you can make.

Get the Orange Jell-O Salad recipe at Little Sunny Kitchen.

These shots will transport you to the beach—summer or not! The blue vodka shots make a perfect "ocean" to place a gummy floaty and umbrella. Get creative with your garnishes!

Get the Pool Party Jell-O Shots recipe at Little Sunny Kitchen.

Doesn’t this look like it came straight from your favorite diner? Strawberry pie is a delightful treat, but it’s even better when made with Jell-O! The Jello filling is cooling and light, making each bite a refreshing treat.

Get the Strawberry Jell-O Pie recipe at Dinner Then Dessert.

Jell-O molds are an old-school dessert, but this one is making the treat modern again by adding a surprising layer of chocolate Jell-O. Fill the mold with whipped cream and fresh berries for a show-stopping centerpiece.

Get the Strawberry Chocolate Jell-O Mold recipe at Pint Sized Baker.

This classic Jello resembles, as its name implies, broken stained glass. It's a super pretty dessert and can be customized to match any holiday. If it's Christmas, opt for green, red, and white. If you're making it for game day, choose your team's colors!

Get the Broken Glass Jell-O recipe at Amanda's Cookin'.

SHOP PIE SERVERS

If your drink of choice is a Mai Tai, you’ll adore this Jell-O version. Heck, you’ll still love it even if you’ve never had a Mai Thai! It’s full of refreshing tropical flavors, with spiced coconut rum balancing out sweet pineapple and orange juice.

Get the Mai Tai Jell-O Shots recipe at Sugar and Soul.

You only need a few ingredients for this super pretty dessert! Raspberry Jell-O makes the base and it's topped with a creamy raspberry cream cheese whip. Garnish with raspberries and mint, and you'll have an instant hit!

Get the Creamy Raspberry Jell-O Parfaits recipe at Amanda's Cookin'.

Slice into this cake and you'll find streaks of vibrant colors! It’s the perfect celebratory cake for a birthday or celebration and can be customized with endless variations.

Get the Rainbow Jell-O Poke Cake recipe at Sugar and Soul.

This treat is basically if cheesecake, strawberry rhubarb pie, and Jell-O had a baby. The cheesecake bars are the best of all three—creamy, crumbly, and tangy!

Get the Strawberry and Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars recipe at Kitchen Sanctuary.

Kick it old-school with poke cake! This recipe explodes with a bright citrus flavor and has a perfectly moist, melt-in-your-mouth crumb.

Get the Lemon Poke Cake recipe at Well Plated.

SHOP GELATIN

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