• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Holiday Sweets n Treats
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
    • Instagram
  • ×

    Home » Dessert

    Rainbow Jello Cake

    Jun 23, 2022 by Emma · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The layers of this Rainbow Jello Cake will add a colorful pop and jiggle to any table! To get all the colors of the rainbow, you use almost every jello flavor and as a result, the cake tastes like fruit punch! Not only do the white layers of condensed milk contrast against the jello layers, but they add sweetness and a little creaminess to the dessert.

    While this recipe does have a long timeframe, the majority of it is spent waiting for each layer to set. Don't let the lengthy preparation deter you, the techniques involved and process are so easy to do!

    A slice of rainbow jello cake sits on a white plate topped with cool whip and rainbow sprinkles

    I made this cake in celebration of Pride Month, and it would also be great to serve for birthday parties or St. Patricks day!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • A Few Helpful Tips
    • What Kind of Pan to Use
    • Rainbow Jello Jigglers
    • Storage
    • Rainbow Jello Cake

    Ingredients

    Ingredients to make a rainbow jello cake
    • Jello Colors: to get a layer with each color of the rainbow, you'll need six different flavors of jello. I'd recommend using grape for purple, berry blue for blue, lime for green, lemon for yellow, orange, and strawberry or cherry for red (I use strawberry!)
    • Unflavored gelatin: the gelatin will help make the layers of jello and sweetened condensed milk more firm.
    • Sweetened condensed milk: layers of sweetened condensed milk separate the layers of jello to define each layer as well as add a little creaminess and sweetness.
    • Boiling water

    Please see the full list of ingredients and measurements at the bottom of the post. 

    Instructions

    This recipe is as easy as wash, rinse, and repeat! You alternate between making layers of jello and layers of condensed milk, letting each one set in the refrigerator.

    Starting from the bottom, the order of the layers should go: purple (grape flavor), white (condensed milk layer), blue (blue berry), white, green (lime), white, yellow (lemon), white, orange, white, red (strawberry).

    To begin, lightly spray your cake pan with cooking spray.

    Then, to make the first layer, mix together the grape jello packet with gelatin and boiling water. Make sure to always mix until everything is dissolved and is a smooth, cohesive liquid. The first layer is the bottom layer, so make sure you start with purple, not red!

    Mix together the grape jello with gelation and boiling hot water. Pour into a lightly greased 9 x 13 pan and chill in the refrigerator.

    Condensed milk, boiling water, and gelatin mixed together in a glass measuring cup

    While the jello is setting, make half of the condensed milk mixture.

    Layer of condensed milk in a glass baking dish

    After the grape layer has set, pour ¾ cup of the condensed milk mixture on top of it. Let this set in the fridge for another 20 - 30 minutes.

    A close up side view of rainbow jello cake in a glass dish to see the layers

    Repeat with the remaining flavors and colors.

    A slice of rainbow jello cake being scooped out of a glass dish

    A Few Helpful Tips

    • Make sure to place the baking dish on an even surface inside your fridge. If the dish is slanted in any direction, the layer will also set as slanted!
    • Mix the condensed milk, gelatin and water in a measuring cup so that it's easily pourable and you can measure how much you pour out at the same time. Keep the measuring cup covered with plastic wrap in between use.
    • Use a clean bowl for each flavor of jello. You don't want some of a leftover color to mix into your current one!
    • Don't pour your jello or condensed milk in just one spot when adding them to the cake. Pour evenly across the previous layer, otherwise, you may end up drilling a hole into it!
    • Let each mix come to room temperature before pouring it. I like to prepare either the jello or condensed milk for the next layer after placing the cake in the fridge. That way it can cool down as it sits on the counter.
    A close up side view of rainbow jello cake in a glass dish to see the layers

    What Kind of Pan to Use

    Use a 9 x 13 baking pan to make this cake; preferably, one with straight edges. Using a straight-edged pan will give you the cleanest cake slices, with even, straight edges on all sides of each slice.

    If you use a baking pan with curved sides, you can trim the edges to get straight cake slices, or just serve them as is! It'll be yummy any way you slice it!

    Rainbow Jello Jigglers

    Instead of serving this as a cake, slice the jello into small rectangles to make rainbow jello jigglers! You can get about 24 jigglers out of this rainbow jello cake!

    Rainbow jello jigglers stacked in a pyramid in a glass baking dish
    How far ahead can you make jello jigglers?

    You can make jello jigglers about 7 to 10 days ahead of time! Make the layered jello and then cover the dish with plastic wrap once everything is set. Keep it in the fridge until you're ready to serve them!

    Storage

    Keep your jello cake stored in the refrigerator, wrapped in plastic wrap. It should last about 7 to 10 days properly stored in the fridge.

    A slice of rainbow jello cake with a bite scooped out on a gold fork
    A slice of rainbow jello cake sits on a white plate topped with cool whip and rainbow sprinkles

    Rainbow Jello Cake

    The layers of this Rainbow Jello Cake will add a colorful pop and jiggle to any table! To get all the colors of the rainbow, you use almost every jello flavor and as a result, the cake tastes like fruit punch!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course Dessert
    American
    Keyword Easter Desserts, Pride Desserts, Rainbow Desserts, Rainbow Jello Cake, St Patrick's Day Desserts
    Prep Time: 4 hours
    Total Time: 4 hours
    Servings: 8

    Ingredients

    • 6 packages of 3 oz jello in assorted flavors suggested: grape, berry blue, lime, lemon, orange and strawberry
    • 12 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
    • 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
    • 8 cups boiling water divided

    Instructions

    • Lightly spray a 9 x 13 pan with non-stick spray and set aside.
    • In a small mixing bowl, mix the package of grape jello with 1 teaspoon of gelatin and 1 cup of boiling water. Whisk until completely dissolved.
    • Pour the mixture into the 9 x 13 pan. Then, place the dish in the refrigerator until the jello sets, about 20-30 minutes. Make sure to place it on an even surface so that you get even layers.
    • While the first jello layer is setting, make the mixture for the layers of condense milk. Start by adding 2 teaspoons of gelatin to 1 cup of boiling water and whisk until it's dissolved.
    • Add ½ can of condensed milk (just over ¾ cups) and mix to combine. Let the condensed milk mixture sit on the counter to cool while the purple jello layer is setting in the fridge.
    • Once the jello is set and the condensed milk mixture has cooled, pour ¾ cup over the condensed milk mix over the layer of grape jello. Return the dish to the refrigerator to set for another 20 minutes. Cover the remainder of the condensed milk mixture with plastic wrap while it’s not in use and leave on the counter.
    • Prepare the next layer of jello (the blue berry) by mixing the package of jello, 1 teaspoon of gelatin, and 1 cup of boiling water and whisking until dissolved. Let this sit on the counter while the layer of condensed milk is setting in the fridge.
    • Repeat this process alternating between layers of jello and the condensed milk mixture, which you'll need to make the rest of half way through.
    • The layers should go from bottom to top in this order: grape, condensed milk mixture, blue berry, condensed milk mixture, lime, condensed milk mixture, lemon, condensed milk mixture, orange, condensed milk mixture, strawberry.
    • Serve with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles!

    Notes

    • I like to fill up a pot with about 8 ½ cups of water and leave it on the stove to boil whenever it’s time to create a new layer of jello. I add the extra ½ cup because some of it will likely burn off as steam in the process. You can of course boil a cup of water one cup at a time as the instructions call for it! 
    • I suggest making the condensed milk mixture in two stages because it will begin to set as time goes on.
    • Mix the condensed milk, gelatin, and water in a measuring cup so that it's easily pourable and you can measure how much you pour out at the same time. Keep the measuring cup covered with plastic wrap in between use.
    • Use a clean bowl for each flavor of jello. You don't want some of a leftover color to mix into your current one!
    • Don't pour your jello or condensed milk in just one spot when adding them to the cake. Pour evenly across the previous layer, otherwise, you may end up drilling a hole into it! 
    • Let each mix come to room temperature before pouring it. I like to prepare either the jello or condensed milk for the next layer after placing the cake in the fridge. That way it can cool down as it sits on the counter. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 90mg | Potassium: 185mg | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 132IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 151mg | Iron: 1mg

    Please note, Holiday Sweets N Treats isn't a professional nutritionist. Any and all nutritional information shared is an estimate. If you're following a specific diet or counting calories, we suggest you use the nutrition calculator of your choice. Calories can vary depending on the brands and products used.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @holidaysweetsntreats or tag #holidaysweetsntreats!
    « Strawberry Icebox Cake
    Halloween Dirt Cake »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Courtney

      August 14, 2022 at 11:08 am

      5 stars
      The instructions were so clear!! Easy recipe to follow and it turned out amazing

      Reply
      • Emma

        August 14, 2022 at 11:14 am

        Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Emma! I love creating recipes that bring a little Holiday Cheer to your kitchen! Are you playing Michael Buble's Christmas album right now? 'Cause I am!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Monster Cookies
    • Maple Spice Whipped Cream
    • Pumpkin Pie Bars
    • Vampire's Kiss Cocktail

    Sign Up for our newsletter

    Bring a little holiday cheer to your inbox

    Please wait...

    Thank You!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Disclaimer & Privacy Policy | Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme