How to Make Jello from the Box, Step by Step

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 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 value in this recipe and all of the wonderful things you can do with Jello.

There truly is a technique to making even the simplest of things.

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).

Jello is something I’ve enjoyed since I was a kid. My mom would make cherry or strawberry Jello cake, and she’d even make actual gelatin for dessert, filling it with fresh fruit.

And 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.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?

If you’d rather skip all of my Jello tips, important info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:

• Jello gelatin mix – Whatever flavor you want.
• Boiling water
• Cold water

Keep in mind, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.

KITCHEN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED:

Spatula or Spoon

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.

1. Pour the powdered gelatin into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
2. Add boiling water to the gelatin mix, and stir for 2 minutes until it’s completely dissolved.
3. Stir in the cold water.
4. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until the gelatin is firm and doesn’t stick to your fingers when touched.

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.

HOW TO MAKE JELLO SET FASTER

Jello does have a “speed-set method,” and this cuts the set-up time significantly.

To make Jello set faster, you need to:

1. Dissolve the gelatin mix in 3/4 cup boiling water.
2. Add ice to 1/2 cup cold water to make 1 1/4 cups.
3. Stir the cold water into the gelatin until it’s slightly thickened.
4. Then just remove any unmelted ice, and refrigerate 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.

CAN YOU COVER JELLO BEFORE IT SETS?

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.

IS JELLO GLUTEN-FREE?

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 from One Lovely Life.

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 Jello Jigglers or Jello cubes.

Jello shots are another very fun way to serve up Jello, especially to party guests.

Oh, and Jello molds!

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 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.
• Strawberry Jello poke cake is probably one of my favorite instant Jello recipes. It’s the perfect easy dessert for a potluck too.
• Speaking of Jello cake, I love orange Jello cake with its refreshing, citrus-y, Cool Whip topping.
• 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.

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How to Make Jello from the Box, Step by Step

Equipment

• JELL-O Orange Gelatin Dessert Mix (3 oz Box)
• Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowl Set (3-Piece)
• Electric Tea Kettle 1.7L, Plemo 1500W Electric Glass and Steel Kettle, BPA-Free & Boil-Dry Protection Hot Water Kettle Heater With Auto Shut-Off, LED Indicator Light Fast Boiling Coffee Kettle
• Pyrex Measuring Cups, 3-Piece, Clear
• Aokinle Silicone Cake Pan, European Grade Fluted Round Cake Molds, Non-Stick Jello Molds for Baking, Flexible Tube Pan, Ring Mold Cake pan 10inches, Red
• Impirilux 5 oz Dessert Cups with Spoons | Pack of 50 Tall Square Plastic Dessert Cups + 50 Spoons (50)

Ingredients

• 1 – 3 ounce box Instant Jello mix
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup cold water

Instructions

• Pour the powdered gelatin into a medium-sized 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 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

1. Dissolve the gelatin mix in 3/4 cup boiling water.
2. Add ice to 1/2 cup cold water to make 1 1/4 cups.
3. Stir the cold water into the gelatin until it’s slightly thickened.
4. Then just remove any unmelted ice, and refrigerate for 30 to 90 minutes, or until firm.