Layered Jello Pie Recipe (2024)

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Published: · Modified: by Stefanie · This post may contain affiliate links.

Three layer jello pie is a light, fluffy, and festive no bake dessert that is so much fun to make! All you need is a few ingredients to make your dessert table Christmas ready!

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This layered Jello pie recipe is fun, festive, and a simple no bake dessert that is perfect for the holidays! The red, green, and white layers of jello are stacked on a buttery homemade graham cracker crust and topped with a dollop of whipped cream on each slice! It’s light, refreshing, and a must-have for your next gathering.

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Layered desserts are one of my favorites to make! Not only do they look amazing, but it’s an easy way to take the dessert presentation to the next level while incorporating different flavors, like my Neopolitan Cake or Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle. While you can change up the colors in Jello pie, I really like this combo for Christmas.

Speaking of the holiday season, if you are looking for other easy pie recipes, be sure to try mini pumpkin pies, the best chocolate cream pie, or caramel pecan pie cheesecake! All of these will have your guests going crazy, and they can be made a day in advance to cut down on the stress! We also add a few truffles to the dessert table, which are the perfect size after a big feast!

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Why You’ll Love No Bake Jello Pie

  • No oven is required, so you have more room to make other goodies!
  • It’s light, pretty, and full of holiday spirit.
  • Very simple to make and can be made ahead of time.
  • Such an easy dessert that is versatile when it comes to changing the jello flavor and colors.

What Ingredients do I Need for Layered Jello Pie?

  • graham cracker crumbs
  • salted butter
  • granulated sugar
  • lime jello mix
  • lemon jello mix
  • cherry jello mix
  • boiling water
  • cold water
  • Cool Whip
  • Red and green gel food coloring
  • Whipped cream and/or sprinkles, for garnish
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Before You Start: Be sure the springform pan you are using is deep. We suggest a 9-inch springform pan that is 3 ⅜” high or use a 10-inch springform pan with at least 3-inch high walls.If you must use a standard springform pan, I recommend using only a portion of the jello mixture for each layer OR simply reducing the pie to just two layers.

How to Make the Best Layered Jello Pie Recipe

MAKE THE CRUST: Line the pan with a piece of parchment paper. Prepare the graham cracker pie crust by stirring together the crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Press firmly into the bottom of the pan so it comes up about 1-1.5 inches on the sides of the pan. Freeze while prepping the gelatin mixture.

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LIME LAYER: Combine a cup of boiling water in a large mixing bowl and whisk until dissolved. Then stir in a cup of cold water and chill for 30-45 minutes. Once the mixture has cooled, but not set, whisk in a container of Cool Whip. Add a few drops of food coloring and stir. Transfer the cool whip mixture to the springform pan and refrigerate.

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LEMON LAYER: Repeat the same steps for this layer as you did for the green, except do not add food coloring! Pour on top of the lime layer and chill once more.

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CHERRY LAYER: Follow the same instructions to make the red layer, then pour it on top of the lemon.

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CHILL: Place the finished jello pie in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours so it completely sets.

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DECORATE: Pipe the top with whipped cream and garnish with festive sprinkles. Loosen from the pan, running a knife around the edges if needed. Cut and serve!

  • Letting the pie set slightly between each layer is the key to even layers.
  • The different layers can be mixed at the same time – they will not thicken/set if they sit on the counter.
  • When refrigerating, each layer needs to chill for at least 30 minutes to safely add the next layer.
  • The colors will be pastel. If you want more vibrant colors, tint before chilling as the colors do not change the longer they sit.
  • To make the homemade whipped topping, whip 1 cup of heavy cream until soft peaks form (using an electric mixer). Add 2-3 tablespoons of powdered sugar and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.
  • We like to pipe pretty swirls onto the jello pie with a piping bag and piping tip #1M.
  • Use a food processor or high-speed blender to make the crust.

Fun Fact

Jello is the official snack of Utah! This state consumes more per capita that anywhere else!

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Substitutions and Variations

  • If desired, top with fresh fruit such as fresh blueberries or a maraschino cherry. Wait until just before serving before adding the fruit.
  • Feel free to experiment with different flavors of jello to make a totally different layered pie.
  • We have not tested this recipe using sugar-free jello, but it should still be fine.
  • You can use this same method to make a strawberry jello pie using a store-bought crust.
  • For a chocolate crust, crush Oreos or use chocolate graham crackers.
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How long does Jello pie last?

Keep leftover jello pie in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 4 days.

Can you freeze layered Jello pie?

We do not recommend freezing. The gelatin will weep.

More Delicious No Bake Desserts

Layered Jello Pie Recipe (25)

5 from 50 votes

Created by: Stefanie

Layered Jello Pie Recipe


Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 hours hours

Total Time 5 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

10

Three layer jello pie is a light, fluffy, and festive no bake dessert that is so much fun to make! All you need is a few ingredients to make your dessert table Christmas ready!

10

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
  • ½ cup salted butter melted
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 3-ounce box lime jello mix
  • 1 3-ounce box lemon jello mix
  • 1 3-ounce box cherry jello mix
  • 3 cups boiling water divided
  • 3 cups cold water divided
  • 3 – 8 oz. containers Cool Whip
  • Red and green gel food coloring
  • Whipped cream and/or sprinkles for garnish

Instructions

  • Prepare a deep dish springform pan (see note) by lining the bottom with a sheet of parchment paper and affixing the

  • Stir together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar until fully combined. Press graham cracker crumbs into the prepared springform pan, coming up the sides about 1-1 ½ inches. Place pan in the freezer to chill the crust while preparing the jello.

  • In a medium mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of boiling water with the packet of lime jello. Stir until the jello is fully dissolved. Once the jello is dissolved, stir in 1 cup of cold water. Place the jello mixture in the refrigerator for 30-45 minutes.

  • Once the jello has cooled and thickened – but not set – whisk in one container of Cool Whip. The jello should be just slightly thickened so that it combines smoothly with the Cool Whip. If it seems too thick, you can microwave it in 10 second increments to loosen it up a bit.

  • Add a drop or two of green gel food coloring to the jello mixture until desired color is achieved. Transfer mixture to the crust in the springform pan. Place the pan into the refrigerator.

  • Mix up the lemon jello mix following the same steps as you did with the green. Once it has thickened and you mix it with Cool Whip (do not tint this one, the yellow will be very light once mixed with Cool Whip and will give you the desired white layer), pour it on top of the green layer that has been setting in the fridge.

  • Repeat for the final “red” layer of jello.

  • Allow the jello pie to chill in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours to set completely. Decorate with whipped cream and Christmas sprinkles, if desired. Gently loosen from the springform pan (running a knife around the edge if needed), cut into pieces, and serve.

Notes

Storage: Jello pie should be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Notes:

You will need a very deep springform pan to make this recipe – use a 9-inch springform pan that is 3 ⅜” high or use a 10-inch springform pan with at least 3-inch high walls.

Do not freeze this pie – the gelatin weeps if the pie is frozen.

To get nice even layers, pie needs to set some between each layer. You can mix up all of the jello colors at the same time if you like, they will not thicken/set if they sit on the countertop. But the pie does need at least 30 minutes or so in the fridge before you can safely add the next layer onto the layer beneath. The easiest way to do this is to mix the Cool Whip with the first thickened jello, pour it into the crust and then chill/thicken the next layer of jello in the fridge while that first layer is beginning to set in the crust.

The layered jello pie is very light and fluffy in flavor. It cuts into super smooth slices and there’s something a little magical about it. The colors will be light and pastel, though, so if you wish for more color saturation, add gel food coloring to achieve desired color. I did not find that the color deepened at all after setting; tint to the color you want your finished jello pie to be.

To make a nice whipped cream for decorating, whip 1 cup of heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add 2-3 tablespoons of powdered sugar and continue whipping until stiff peaks form. We like to pipe pretty swirls onto the jello pie with a piping bag and piping tip #1M.

Nutrition

Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 71mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 497IU | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg

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Layered Jello Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to thicken up jello? ›

SANITIZE surfaces & equipment.
  1. 1 Add chilled, pre-set gelatin to. food processor.
  2. 2 Add SimplyThick gel and process. until thoroughly mixed.
  3. 3 Spoon 4 oz. of finished product. into serving dish. Place in. refrigerator until ready to serve.
  4. 4 Add a dollop of whipped cream. for garnish and serve.

What happened to Jello 1 2 3? ›

Jell-O 1-2-3 was a Jell-O gelatin product introduced in 1969 and discontinued in 1996. The product was one 4.3 ounce (121 g) powdered mix that, when properly prepared, separated and solidified into three distinct layers: a creamy top, a mousse-like middle, and regular Jell-O bottom.

How far ahead can you make jello? ›

You could make it up to 3 days in advance if needed; simply store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator. If you're using whipped cream as a topping, add it right before serving. Don't skip the cooking spray!

What happens if you add too much gelatin to jello? ›

Getting the gelatin-to-liquid ratio right is crucial for a successful gelatin dessert. Too much gelatin can result in a rubbery texture, while too little gelatin can lead to a dessert that won't hold its shape. It's important to follow the specified measurements in the recipe and avoid any guesswork.

Should you cover jello when its setting? ›

Should Jello be covered? Every site I found on the internet said to cover it only after it's cooled down. Plastic wrap will do fine. Once it has gelled properly, you can put the lid back on to prevent it from picking up other smells or flavors from the fridge.

What happens if you don't add cold water to Jell-O? ›

The reason gelatin needs cold water has to do with its gel-forming properties. When gelatin is mixed with hot water, the proteins can clump together, forming lumps that are difficult to dissolve. This is because the heat causes the proteins to denature, or change shape, which can prevent them from forming a smooth gel.

What does cornstarch do to Jell-O? ›

When liquid is thickened with Corn Starch, the texture becomes firmer when cooled. If you have never used Corn Starch for jelly desserts, try it once. You will love it. Save this recipe and keep it for later.

Why is my Jell-O pudding not setting? ›

If it hasn't set, leave the pudding in the fridge a while longer. Once your pudding has set, remove it from the fridge and stir it. Mix in any additional ingredients (banana slices, strawberries, etc.). Spoon the pudding into individual serving dishes.

What ruins Jell-O? ›

If you like making gelatin for dessert, the box often recommends not adding certain kinds of fruit, including pineapple, kiwi, mango, ginger root, papaya, figs or guava. People have a hard time getting the gelatin to solidify when they add these fruits.

Why is Jell-O no longer popular? ›

Jell-O shifted to single-serve cups and more convenient options as competition for snacks and desserts grew. Kraft in the early 2000's shifted the focus of Jell-O's advertising away from kids and toward adults. It pitched sugar-free Jell-O, for example, as a treat for Atkins dieters.

What is the secret ingredient in Jell-O? ›

Gelatin is made from animal collagen — a protein that makes up connective tissues, such as skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones. The hides and bones of certain animals — often cows and pigs — are boiled, dried, treated with a strong acid or base, and finally filtered until the collagen is extracted.

Does putting jello in the freezer work? ›

Freezing prepared Jell-O gives it a totally new texture that makes it even more fun to eat. The clear, jiggly gel transforms into a cloudy neon color that's almost entirely opaque. The texture is still soft and chewy, but it's lighter and more airy, even when completely frozen.

How to make jello taste better? ›

It's important to use the right amount of water, as using too much or too little can affect the taste and texture of the Jell-O. Additionally, you can add fruit, whipped cream, or other ingredients to enhance the flavor.

Will jello set in a metal pan? ›

Plastic, metal, ceramic, stoneware, porcelain, glass and silicone are all suitable materials for molding Jello.

How long until jello is partially set? ›

The time it takes for Jell-O to partially set can vary, but generally, it starts to thicken within 1-2 hours in the refrigerator. However, it might not be fully firm until around 4 hours or more, depending on the recipe and the temperature of your refrigerator.

Can you remelt jello after it sets? ›

Once gelatin has set it can be melted again and used multiple times. Gelatin has a fairly low melting point and will become liquid if left in a warm environment. Small amounts of gelatin can be melted in a container placed in warm tap water. Larger amounts can be re-heated over a pot of boiling water.

How long does it take to stiffen jello? ›

The answer to this question may vary depending on the size of jello portions as well as on the temperature in the fridge. Generally speaking, most jello sets in 2-4 hours. Unless you make an extra-large jello dessert, 4 hours will be enough for gelatin to harden.

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