Red White and Blue Jello is a fun dessert to make for the 4th of July. This layered jello recipe is easy, festive, and delicious. You’ll love the patriotic colors in this finger food, aka Jello Jigglers or Knox Blocks.

*Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and in no way affiliated with Jell-O or the Kraft Heinz brand.

Red white and blue layered jello jigglers with whipped cream on top.

If you want an easy, no-bake dessert for the 4th of July, look no further! These red, white, and blue jello cubes are layered with perfect patriotic colors and will be loved by all.

Red, white, and blue finger jello on a plate.

Layered Jello

This 4th of July Jello is made with boxed gelatin mix and stacked with seven (7) layers of red, white, and blue colors. It may look complicated, but it’s quite easy to make.

The hardest part of this recipe is waiting. You must refrigerate each layer of jello for 20-30 minutes before adding the next layer. But that just makes this a great make-ahead dessert. And the end result is stunning!

Red, white and blue layered jello cubes in dish.

Ingredients for Red White and Blue Jello

For this recipe you will need:

  • 2 small (3 oz) boxes of Berry Blue Jello
  • 2 small (3 oz) boxes of Strawberry Jello
  • 4 (0.25 oz) envelopes Unflavored Gelatin (Knox Gelatine)
  • 1 (14 oz) can Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 6 cups Boiling Water, separated
Ingredients for red white and blue jello. 2 small boxes of Berry Blue Jello, two small boxes Strawberry Jello, 4 packets Knox Gelatine, 1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk, and boiling water.

How to Layer the Patriotic Jello

You will be layering the jello inside of a 13×9-inch pan with seven layers, as follows:

  1. Blue (bottom)
  2. White
  3. Red
  4. White
  5. Blue
  6. White
  7. Red (top)

For the Blue Jello

In a large bowl, whisk together one box of Berry Blue Jello with 1/2 a packet of unflavored gelatin (about 1 1/2 teaspoons or 1/2 Tablespoon).

Add 1 cup of boiling water and whisk until dissolved.

Pour into a 13×9-inch pan. Place pan in refrigerator.

Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes until set.

Blue Layer: Mix one box berry blue jello with half a packet of unflavored gelatin, and 1 cup boiling water.

For the White Jello

In a large, 4-cup, microwave-safe measuring cup, whisk together 2 packets of unflavored gelatin and 2 cups of boiling water until dissolved.

Add one can of sweetened condensed milk and whisk to combine. Allow mixture to cool to lukewarm temperature before pouring over the blue layer.

NOTE: This mixture will be divided into thirds, about 1 cup each.

PRO TIP: Using a microwave safe measuring cup helps to easily re-heat this mixture, as it may set slightly while waiting for the other layers to be added.

White Layer: Mix 2 packets of unflavored gelatin with 2 cups of boiling water and 1 can of sweetened condensed milk.

Adding the Second Layer

After the white jello is made, and the first (blue) layer is set, you will gently pour 1-cup of the white jello over the blue layer. Set the remaining white mixture aside.

PRO TIP: Pour the jello mixture over the back of a spoon so it spreads out as it pours and doesn’t drill a hole into the first layer.

Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes until set.

Layering the jello. Pouring white gelatin over the back of a spoon onto the blue jello.

For the Red Jello

In a large bowl, whisk together one box of Strawberry Jello with 1/2 a packet of unflavored gelatin (about 1 1/2 teaspoons or 1/2 Tablespoon).

Add 1 cup of boiling water and whisk until dissolved. Allow mixture to cool to lukewarm temperature while white layer sets.

Red Layer: Mix one box strawberry jello with half a packet of unflavored gelatin, and 1 cup boiling water.

Adding the Third Layer

After the red jello is made, and the second (white) layer is set, you will gently pour the red jello over the white layer.

PRO TIP: Pour slowly and close to the set jello, or pour the jello mixture over the back of a spoon so it spreads out as it pours and doesn’t drill a hole into the previous layer.

Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes until set.

Layering the jello. Pouring red jello over the back of a spoon onto the white gelatin.

Layering the Jello

Repeat layering the jello with a layer of white in-between each color.

The layers will go: blue, white, red, white, blue, white, red.

After about 3 1/2 hours, you will have red white and blue jello! So patriotic!

Patriotic jello with red, white, and blue colors in a 13x9 dish.

Cutting, Serving, and Storing

This 4th of July jello is great for potlucks and parties because you can cut it into small blocks to eat with your fingers.

One 13×9-inch pan will easily make 48 jello jigglers, if you cut it into rows of 6×8. Make sure to run your knife along the edges of the pan, then simply use a serving spatula to lift the squares out.

Keep the jello in a covered container in the fridge up to 7-10 days.

Patriotic jello with red, white, and blue layers.

Extra Tips for Success

  • Always pour the boiling water into the gelatin powder while whisking (not sprinkling the gelatin powder into the boiling water — especially the unflavored gelatin) to ensure the mixture dissolves completely, without lumps.
  • Prepare next layer of jello as soon as the previous layer goes into the fridge. This allows the jello to cool slightly before being poured over the previous layer. If you pour hot jello over the set jello, it will drill holes into (or possibly melt) the layer beneath it.
  • Keep the white jello mixture in a microwave safe dish. Since the white jello is only prepared once, but is needed for three layers, it may set up in the dish while it’s waiting to be used. You can stir it occasionally to keep it loose. Or re-heat it for 15-20 seconds in the microwave to make it liquid enough to pour again. (Most likely needs re-heated for that last white layer.)
  • Try to use a level shelf in your fridge. Clear out a nice space for the pan to sit. I realized pretty quickly that my fridge is not very level after the second layer was set, and I had to re-adjust how I placed my pan in the fridge for more even layers. Bend over and look at the layers through the clear glass pan to see if it’s looking even, and adjust where it sits in the fridge if needed.
  • For the boiling water: You can use a tea kettle for boiling water, or microwave the water for roughly 3-5 minutes.

More Red White and Blue Desserts for the 4th of July

Patriotic jello with red, white, and blue layers.

Red White and Blue Jello

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes
Yield: 48 squares

Red White and Blue Jello is a fun dessert to make for the 4th of July. This layered jello recipe is easy, festive, and delicious. You'll love the patriotic colors in this finger food, aka Jello Jigglers or Knox Blocks.

Ingredients

  • 2 small (3oz) boxes Berry Blue Jello
  • 2 small (3oz) boxes Strawberry Jello
  • 4 (0.25oz) envelopes unflavored gelatin (Knox)
  • 1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 6 cups boiling water, divided

Instructions

NOTE: Prepare the next layer of jello immediately after placing the previous layer in the fridge to set, so it has time to cool down slightly. (Lukewarm to touch.)

FOR THE BLUE JELLO:

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together one box of Berry Blue Jello with 1/2 a packet of unflavored gelatin (about 1 1/2 teaspoons or 1/2 Tablespoon). Add 1 cup of boiling water and whisk until dissolved.
  2. Pour into a clean and dry 13×9-inch clear glass pan. Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes or until gelatin is set.


FOR THE WHITE JELLO:
(NOTE: This mixture will be divided into thirds, about 1 cup each.)

  1. In a large, 4-cup, microwave-safe measuring cup, whisk together 2 packets of unflavored gelatin and 2 cups of boiling water until dissolved.
  2. Add one can of sweetened condensed milk and whisk to combine. Allow mixture to cool to lukewarm temperature, while previous layer sets.
  3. Gently pour 1-cup of the white jello over the blue layer. Set remaining white mixture aside. Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes or until gelatin is set.

    PRO TIP: Pour slowly and close to the set jello, or pour the mixture over the back of a spoon so it spreads out as it pours and doesn’t drill a hole into the previous layer.


FOR THE RED JELLO:

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together one box of Strawberry Jello with 1/2 a packet of unflavored gelatin (about 1 1/2 teaspoons or 1/2 Tablespoon).
  2. Add 1 cup of boiling water and whisk until dissolved. Allow mixture to cool to lukewarm temperature while white layer sets.
  3. Gently pour the red jello over the white layer. Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes or until gelatin is set.

REPEAT PROCESS LAYERING THE JELLO WITH A LAYER OF WHITE IN BETWEEN EACH COLOR:

  1. Blue (bottom)
  2. White
  3. Red
  4. White
  5. Blue
  6. White
  7. Red (top)

After all layers have been poured and chilled long enough in the fridge to set up, run a thin (non-serrated) knife around the edge of the pan and cut the red white and blue jello into 6x8 rows -- for 48 jello squares. Remove the patriotic jello with a serving spatula.

Keep layered jello covered in the refrigerator up to 7-10 days.

Notes

  • Always pour the boiling water into the gelatin powder while whisking (not sprinkling the gelatin powder into the boiling water -- especially the unflavored gelatin) to ensure the mixture dissolves completely, without lumps.
  • Prepare the next layer of jello immediately after placing the previous layer in the fridge to set, so it has time to cool down slightly. (Lukewarm to touch.)
  • May need to nuke the white jello mixture for 15-20 seconds in the microwave if it starts to set up in the measuring cup. (Most likely on the 3rd/last white layer.)
  • May use a tea kettle or heat water in the microwave for boiling water.
  • Be sure to chill jello on a level shelf in your fridge for even layers.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 48 Serving Size: 1 square
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 10Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 9mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 0g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix, and is an estimation only.