Layered Jello Cups are so fun to make! Similar to the vintage Jello 123 Layered Dessert, this fun dessert recipe comes together with just three ingredients: hot water, gelatin, and whipped topping. It’s so fun and easy to make!
This Jello 123 layered dessert is great to serve for a special Valentine’s Day dessert. Serve it with Stable Whipped Cream and a fresh fruit garnish for an elegant end to your meal. This is top on our list Easy No Bake Dessert Recipes!
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Everything 70s is new again, including this easy Layered Jello recipe! By combining hot water, powdered gelatin, and whipped topping, you can quickly and easily create these cool ombre layered jello cups, similar to the product Jello 123 that was discontinued by Kraft long ago.
When we were paying off debt, I had to get creative in making fun food on a budget. These Layered Jello Cups are so fun and so tasty — without costing a fortune.
Pro tip: I used repurposed yogurt glasses for the ramekins!
Why Make This
It’s super versatile for whatever occasion and your favorite flavor Jello. Match the color of jello you use for a special event. Use whatever flavor gelatin you like to vary up the color: lime jello for green, pineapple or lemon for yellow, raspberry or strawberry for different red and pink hues, grape for purple, berry blue for blue, and orange, of course, for orange. Whatever color you choose, will separate into ombre colors like Jello 123.
It’s elegant without any effort. Serve these Jello 123 Cups in glass ramekins or even wine glasses for a beautiful presentation. While not a finger jello, they’re super delicious and a little bit special. It may even top your list of Romantic Dinner Ideas to Cook at Home.
It’s yummy. Who doesn’t like jello? This dessert is super delicious without being too sweet. If you loved Jello 123, you are going to love this layered Jello dessert recipe.
Ingredients
Here’s what we used to make Layered Jello Cups, or Jello 123:
raspberry gelatin – I love raspberry jello, but you can use whatever flavor or brand gelatin you prefer.
boiling water – To get the gelatin to dissolve, you’ll need very hot water. Cold water will not work.
frozen whipped topping – This can be Cool Whip brand or any other brand whipped topping. I used coconut because that’s what I found on clearance at the store.
extra whipped topping and fruit for garnish – Adding additional whipped topping or whipped cream as well as a corresponding fruit makes this dessert extra special. Scroll down for some options.
Variations
To make vegan Layered Jello Cups – use a plant-based gelatin like Simply Delish as well as a vegan whipped topping like So Delicious.
For fruit garnishes – We matched our fruit to the color and flavor of the gelatin. Not all flavors have a corresponding matching fruit. Consider these garnishes for your Layered Jello Cups:
- lime jello – green grapes or chopped kiwi
- pineapple or lemon jello – chopped pineapple
- raspberry or strawberry jello – fresh red berries
- grape jello – fresh purple grapes
- blue jello – blueberries
- orange – drained, canned mandarin orange segments
This is a great dessert to add to your table of Easter Dessert Recipes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s how to make Jello 123 Layered Dessert Cups:
In a glass mixing bowl, combine the gelatin and water. Stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
Spoon in ? of the container of frozen Cool Whip or whipped topping, stirring as it melts.
Pour the mixture into glasses. The mixture will separate and form distinct ombre layers. Chill for several hours in the fridge. Thaw the remainder of the topping in the fridge if desired for garnish.
When ready to serve, dollop more whipped topping or whipped cream on the top of the cups and add the fruit garnish.
If you’d like to make these as individual snack cups for packing in lunches, be sure to use unbreakable containers with lids. Omit the whipped topping as a garnish.
What to do with leftovers?
Leftover jello will be good in the fridge, covered for up to 4 days. It cannot be frozen, so try to consume it within this time frame.
FAQs
Yes, you can use a metal bowl to prepare gelatin mix, but I’ve found that mixing it in a large glass bowl allows me to see when all the granules of gelatin have been dissolved in the water.
While you can layer jello of different colors in a dessert, you will need to cool each layer to room temperature before you add it to the dessert. This can take several hours depending on how many colors you want to use. This Jello 123 recipe for ombre layered jello cups is much quicker and easier to make since the fats in the whipped topping separate in the jello and create layers. No need for cream cheese, sour cream, or sweetened condensed milk!
Jello 123 was a product from Kraft that once mixed, separated and solidified into three layers or different color intensities. The fats added to the gelatin mix would rise to the top and create the separations. We’ve recreated this with frozen whipped topping.
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Jello 123 Layered Dessert Cups
Equipment
- six 5-ounce ramekins
Ingredients
- 6 oz raspberry gelatin other flavors may be used
- 2 cups boiling water
- 12 oz frozen whipped topping do not thaw
- fresh raspberries for garnish
Instructions
- In a glass mixing bowl, combine the gelatin and water. Stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved.6 oz raspberry gelatin, 2 cups boiling water
- Spoon in ⅔ of the container of whipped topping, stirring as it melts.12 oz frozen whipped topping
- Pour the mixture into glasses. The mixture will separate and form distinct ombre layers. Chill for several hours in the fridge. Thaw the remainder of the topping in the fridge.
- When ready to serve, dollop more whipped topping on the top of the cups and add raspberries for garnish.fresh raspberries for garnish
Notes
- lime gelatin and fresh sliced kiwi
- orange gelatin and sliced oranges
- strawberry gelatin and fresh strawberries
- berry blue gelatin and fresh blueberries
- cherry gelatin and fresh cherries
R
Can I use whipped cream instead of whipped topping?
Jessica Fisher
I’ve only tested this with dairy-free whipped topping (both Cool Whip and the coconut kind). I don’t know if it will work with whipped cream.
Katt
Have always been happy to serve( and enjoy!?) this dessert, ever since it was a box mix( yes, the olden days!)…I’m kinda lazy, so I just pour mine into an 8″ square glass baking dish,spread the remaining topping on, dot with a few fruit pieces, and cut into squares to serve…nice light treat…(doesn’t seem to work well with sugar free gelatin though)…
Cheri
So 8 oz of cool whip mixed in the Jello?
Jessica Fisher
yes.
Joe
Help. I’ve made this a few times. I love the orange, tastes like a cremecicle. But I must be doing something wrong. It doesn’t separate like the pictures. It only separates into 2 sections. 90% top and 10% jello on bottom. Anyone have any ideas?
Jessica Fisher
Oooh. Creamsicle sounds amazing! Thanks for the tip. For these pictures, I used coconut whipped topping and Jello brand gelatin. My guess is that different types of whipped topping or gelatin might behave differently?
Dan
The second step says to spoon 2/3 of the container of whipped topping in – is the container 12oz or is 2/3rds of the container 12oz?
Jessica Fisher
The container is 12 oz. You’ll use 2/3 to mix into the Jello and can use the remainder for topping when serving.
Jessica
I was literally trying to pull together s few low sugar/cal dessert options for the husband when this popped up in my Instagram roll! My store only had small boxes of sugar free Jell-o so I halved the recipe using 1 small box sugar free Jell-o, 1 cup of boiling water and 6 oz of frozen light cool-whip. I split this into 3 small mason jars for pre-portioned snacks. I figured the calorie count about 115cals per dessert. Husband was impressed with the look and taste of his special treat!
Natalir
My mom used to make something similar using ice cream. I wonder if that would work here instead of frozen cool whip.
Jessica Fisher
I bet it would! Let me know how it goes.
Rachel
I love this! I thought you were going to have to make three parts and layer them in but this is great! I remember the “original” Jell-o 123 and my mom would put in parfait glasses. Love love love this!
Jessica Fisher
I am a very lazy cook. If there’s an easier way to do it without the hassle, I will find it! 🙂