Patriotic Jello Jars
Adults like to play with their food, too!
Every summer, I make Rainbow Jello Jars for the kids. It is kind of our fun way to kick off the beginning of the season. I usually make a dozen (because that is what canning jars come in) and the kids ration those puppies out like they’re gold! A few are given to treasured friends (they divvy them out like gold doubloons) and the others get eaten over the course of a week or so, each relished with great flair as they get to actually eat a rainbow!
A year or two ago (time has entered warp speed for me so I have no idea which) I posted a pic of our rainbow jars on Facebook and got a LOT of comments from folks asking me how I did them so I thought I’d share a little tutorial with you on jars that would be fun to have for your July 4th celebrations, but first, here is the original pic that got so many comments:
I’ll tell you how to do these at the bottom of this post.
Whichever ones you do, it makes you look cool in the eyes of your kids and is fun to do together – or even by yourself!
For the patriotic Jello Jars you’ll need: six 8 ounce jars, blue jello, red jello, and instant white chocolate pudding.
If you have generic jello use that, name brand is not the important thing here.
You’re also going to need a little blue food coloring if you want your blue to be a true patriotic blue like mine is because the box just makes more of a sky blue.
To mix up your jello, get a cup of water really hot either by boiling it or heating it in the microwave.
I’m a rebel. I use the microwave. I’m sure there are studies that show using/standing next to/owning/or thinking about a microwave will cause genetic mutations and the like but I see this as an added bonus as it gets me one step closer to growing that third arm I’ve been needing for so long!
To the super hot water (a.k.a. boiling) stir in your jello until completely dissolved. If you want yours blue blue blue like mine, Add a few drops of blue food coloring because the stuff in the box turns out more sky blue than American blue.
Now, we want our gelatin to set rather quickly so we can move on with things. The speed set method on the box says to mix up ice and ice water until you have a cup, then add that.
The Christy speed set method says just to mix up your jello in a tempered 2 or 4 cup glass measuring cup, then add some ice cubes to the mixture until it reaches the two cup mark on your measuring cup. Stir that up until the ice cubes melt and you’re good.
Divide it evenly among your six jars. You’ll end up adding 1/3 of a cup into each jar if you want to be precise but I just prefer eyeballing it.
Precision is for mathematicians and economists…wait..I think we should just stick with mathematicians on that one these days.
Put your tops on the jars and place in the fridge until set, about half an hour.
Once that is set up a little, mix up your white chocolate pudding. I just use a quart jar to mix mine in.
Do you remember in the eighties when Bill Cosby was a spokesperson for Jello? He rocked that, love me some Bill Cosby. Anyway, they sold this special “Jello Pudding Shaker” that was basically a quart sized cup with a lid on it to shake your jello in. We got one and tried it, and went right back to our original pudding shaker, pictured above 
I love canning jars because:
- They’re reusable
- They’re dishwasher safe
- If you have new lids, you are able to can in them over and over again should the need ever arise.
- They can withstand hot temperatures but you can also freeze things in them.
- They are a great way to store grains such as rice or even dried beans for long term use.
- In a pinch (or if you just get the inclination) they can double as drinking glasses
- They make excellent additions to your emergency preparedness stash.
Oh yeah, back to the pudding.
Pour your pudding powder in the jar with the milk and shake that puppy like it’s a polaroid picture!
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, shake it really hard for a minute, then blow on it and watch to see if you looked good in it. Oh wait, I was talking about pudding…ok just shake it.
But don’t shake it too much because we want it mixed but still soft.
Now add a little layer to each of your jars, but don’t add quite as much as you did the blue because you’re gonna wanna eat some of it.
I’m serious, this white chocolate pudding is the bum diggity.
Now we need to return these to the fridge for another thirty minutes or so.
I always* save the boxes my canning jars come in because they make storing them so easy.
The original boxes are great to use when shuttling rainbow jello jars back and forth to the fridge. I just put the entire tray in there for half an hour.
*I say always loosely because I always save them but my husband sometimes throws them away. When he is throwing things away though, it usually means he’s cleaning so we let it slide. Life is sometimes about letting things go – especially if it means someone else is cleaning up a mess you most likely made. ~smiles and batts her lashes~
After thirty minutes, mix up your red layer just as you did the blue…
Carefully spoon the red onto the top of the pudding.
You can pour all other layers but the layer on top of your pudding needs to be spooned on to avoid disturbing the pudding.
We don’t want disturbed pudding. No telling what it would do! 
Yummy and pretty!
Now return this to the fridge for at least another thirty minutes, or until ready to serve.
Happy Fourth of July!
Now that you have these, set aside some time and make these puppies…
Instructions for both are below!
Ingredients
- 3 ounce box Berry Blue Jello
- 3 ounce box Cherry Jello
- 3.3 ounce box instant white chocolate pudding
- 6- 8 ounce canning jars with lids
- Blue Food Coloring
Instructions
- In a 2 or 4 cup glass measuring cup, combine one cup boiling water and blue gelatin powder while stirring constantly until dissolved. Add a few drops of blue food coloring until a patriotic blue is reached. Add enough ice to bring the water level up to two cups and stir until ice is completely dissolved. Divide gelatin evenly among the six jars (about 1/3 of a cup in each jar). Can use a canning funnel to make this less messy.
- Place jars in original divider box they were purchased in (if you still have it) and put in the refrigerator for about thirty minutes.
- Mix up white chocolate pudding according to box. Divide it evenly among jars by spooning it on top of blue layer. Cover jars again and return to the refrigerator for thirty minutes for pudding to set.
- Remove gelatin jars from fridge and remove lids. Mix up red gelatin just as you did the blue and carefully spoon on top of white chocolate pudding. All other layers can be poured but this one needs to be spooned on top to avoid disturbing the pudding. Once all red gelatin is used, place lids on jars again and return to the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Print This Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 different colors of 3 ounce packages gelatin
- 12- 8 ounce canning jars with lids
- Original canning jar box for ease in preparation
Instructions
- In a 2 or 4 cup glass measuring cup, combine one cup boiling water and first gelatin powder while stirring constantly until dissolved. Add enough ice to bring the water level up to two cups and stir until ice is completely dissolved. Divide gelatin evenly among the 12 jars. Can use a canning funnel to make this less messy.
- Place jars in original divider box they were purchased in (if you still have it) and put in the refrigerator for about thirty minutes. Repeat until all five colors are used and jars are full. Great summer fun for the kids!
Print This Recipe
Your life is a limited edition. Enjoy it now!
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Posted by Christy Jordan
on Jun 27 2012. Filed under Dessert, Southern Plate Kids.
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I absolutely love this idea….. Ahhh so beautiful…..;)
These are great. My daughter is a 4th of July baby. She will be 9 this year. Where does the time go?
I will definitely pin this one for later use.
Thank you so much Karen! My Bradybug was almost a July4th baby, he turns 13 on July sixth! Takes my breath away how fast he’s grown!
These are awesome and would make great desserts. Could fix some up for Thanksgiving and Christmas. And always use the white pudding. Yummy!
My daughter was born on July 3rd and will be 9 this year!
Loved this post! I cant tell you how much I loved (and some times thought) you little “side trips” in the post You crack me up! My kind of humor!
Thanks so much for sharing Christy!
Yum! I see these at least once this summer
Of all the cute patriotic desserts I’ve seen, this is my favorite! Lovely
I love it…what a cute and easy 4th of July idea!
Boiling water in a microwave?!? It can explode in your face when you try to move it if it gets too hot. That happened to a friend of mine who was heating water for tea in her microwave. The emergency room said they do see this from time to time.
Vikki – My adventures in jello making have not gone that bad, however, I must caution everyone to sprinkle the powder gently when mixing. I guess this helps to break the surface tension on the boiling hot water (? – one for those scientist folks to figure out
. Too many times I forget this trick and get a blistering hot volcano on my kitchen counter! I know this effect is true for the sugar-free jello, but I’ve not tried the regular type.
My kids will be thrilled to “help” me with these! They are so fun!
I DO have a fourth of July baby only he will be 38 this year! I love these and can picture them in other colors for holidays. Red, white and green would be great for Xmas and orange, yellow, and brown for Halloween. Green, yellow, and purple for easter. My color wheel is spinning.
Love this idea! We have a big July 4th festival in our town and we all love doing anything with red, white and blue. This will be a great treat for our family gathering! The Rainbow Jello Jars are awesome also.
Love the patriotic idea. Will get my grandchildren to make some for the 4th. I have one of those pudding shakers that I got free with pudding purchase a long time ago. I use it everytime I make pudding!
Keep the good recipes and ideas coming.
I realllllly get into my America and the patriotic part. Then, add liking to eat and perfecto…..this post on Southern Plate is rockin’! Thanks, Christy. Can’t wait to make these and impress the locals. ~waves to u~
I love the pudding shaker quart jar. I have never seen one like that and am wondering where you got it. The jello desserts are so pretty and festive. Thank you for sharing this fun, easy and tasty idea. I’m gonna try it.
Beautiful!! What is a “doubloon”, though?
You must not watch enough pirate movies! LOL! A doubloon is a Spanish coin from the 18th and 19th centuries!
Love this…How many jars do you need for this? For 1recipe using the small
Boxes of jello
Love this.. sorry I missed the part that said how many
I don’t even like jello and I’m going to try this, it looks awesome!
Hi I am new to the family this is beautiful and my kids and I will love this thank you for the idea…..
Thanks Christy! My bicentenial baby will be 36 in a few days and I know she would love to eat this dessert. I’d say the dessert would make 6 half-pint jars. Each jello is 2 cups and if you divide that by 6 jars, you get 1/23cup each, just as Christy said to use.
Christy, you rock!!!
Excuse the typing error. I meant 1/3 cup each jello.
Christy, I love your surprises! This is a fabulous idea, even for adults. Those who have to be careful with sugar intake, these can be made with sugarless jello’s and pudding, but heck, why not go for the real thing! They are gorgeous!
Awesome, Christy! My baby will be 13 on July 7. I can’t wait for us to make these together – he loves to help in the kitchen.
Oh what fun!!! I know you will enjoy making these together!! Please give him a BIG Birthday HUG from me!!
Love Southern Plate!
Thank you so much Marilyn!!
Such a cute dessert!! My Mom will love this, 84 yrs old and now bedridden due to a fall, is hard to find sweets that are not high in calories that she will enjoy. I happen to have a case of these jars.. maybe 3 or 4 boxes of jello.. will pick the rest up tomorrow!! YUMMMY! Thanks Christy!!
I hope she likes it Marianne!! Please give her a big hug from me and tell her that I hope she enjoys the jello!!
Very pretty! I love making holiday inspired treats and I’m going to have to add this to the list of ones to try!
LOVE this idea!!! Will be making these tomorrow!
Have fun!!! We sure enjoyed making ours!!
Not only do I love this idea but I’m loving the Longaberger basket in the pic! Our daughter, a senior at Auburn University majoring in public relations and marketing, noticed it first after we had just been discussing how wonderful they are! Love the Southern Plate logo on the gold trim of the basket! Since we’ve moved back to Huntsville after years and years in FL I’ve really been enjoying your site!! As a G.R.I.T.S. girl myself I love everything you do! God Bless You!!
Thank you so much Cindy!!! That is a special edition Southern Plate basket that is actually made in the USA from American harvested hardwoods in Ohio. They are very similar to the Longaberger baskets and are very high quality but not quite as expensive. So glad to have you back in Huntsville!!!
pretty but the ideas and stories are the best
Awww, thank you so much Sheila. You are too kind! ~HUGS~
So cute! My grands will love this. I mix sugar-free White Chocolate Jello pudding with sugar-free Cheesecake Jello pudding to make a yummy lo-cal treat for my husband and myself ! It makes a wonderful pie to take to family dinners. hugs, Shannon
Ohh, great idea Shannon!! Thanks for sharing!
Maybe some has already asked this, but didn’t notice. Can you process these in a canner and store for later? If so, how long should they keep for?
Hey Heather! I’m afraid you can’t can gelatin like this, especially considering there are layers and a pudding in the middle. However, it would keep for at least a week (most likely two) in your refrigerator. Just be sure and use fresh, fresh milk
Gratefully,
Christy
You are so smart………gotta try this
hello. i would’ve used your pin button, however, a pic of the completed patriotic jar was not amongst the options?
I just LOVE Southern Plate!!! I enjoy getting emails with new dishes. You always bring new twists to old classics. The Jello mason jars are to die for. My girls and I will be making these for sure for the 4 of July.
I also want to thank you for sharing your recipes as well as family recipes with all of us. They are some of the best I’ve ever made. They tend to make you feel at home.
My company is the advertising agency for Jell-O, and I’m writing to you to see if you might be able to grant us permission to link Southern Plate’s Patriotic Jell-O Jars blog post on Jell-O’s Facebook page.
We LOVE the idea, what with the holiday and the Olympics coming up, and we’d love to include a photo (or a thumbnail with the link to the blog entry on Southern Plate). We are happy to include whatever credits would be necessary.
I just spent an hour perusing all the other recipes (my Mama’s side is Southern) on the site, and now I am incredibly hungry. You’ve inspired me for a whirlwind weekend of comfort cooking! Thank you for sharing such wonderful food and helping to create such delicious memories for our family.
This is so darned cute! I pinned it so I wouldn’t forget it. I’m thinking this is going to be on the to do list for this weekend………. and maybe on vacation too!
Christy,
My sister-in-law always makes ribbon salad, which is very time consuming, I can’t wait to share THIS idea with her! Thank You!!
I LOVE this idea
I thank you for this jello recipe. I believe I will make this July 4th. I also plan to make the Yahoo ice cream recipe of your also.
I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July celebration Barbara!!
I’m making these for Oliver’s 1st birthday!
Aww, Happy Birthday Oliver and Happy 4th of July!!! Give him a big hug for me Liz!!
Which is the 4th, forgot to mention that. =)
[...] Patriotic Jello Jars by Southern Plate [...]
I am making these with the kids today!
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I am making these today to take to the inlaws for our cookout!
Totally missed the spoon in the red part! None the less we had a good time making these:)
Christie – my granddaughter and I made these for the 4th – they turned out so cute and yummy!! thanks – we will probably be making the rainbow ones too!!
I haven’t seen any mention of this, but might have missed it. I had a bit of trouble finding the white chocolate pudding but when I did I only saw 1 oz. boxes and the recipe calls for 3.3 oz. box. So I bought 3 boxes. But when I started to make these up tonight, I found that the 1 oz. box was the right amount. No problem since I now have enough of the hard-to-find white chocolate pudding for two more batches!! : )
They are in the fridge now to take to my grandkids and they are gonna love the patriotic theme in celebration of the Olympics!! : )
I am so going to try this for my child birthday part on the 24th of feb. but I think that I will do it the colors of valentines day thanks for the idea it was really helpful
Disturbed Pudding would be a cool name for a punk rock band