Broken Glass JELL-O has colorful cubes of gelatin combined with a creamy vanilla mixture to create a beautiful design. An easy, no-bake holiday dessert you can make ahead of time!
This nostalgic treat feels like I’m tapping into my childhood. Grandma always served a cold side with holiday dinners, and this Broken glass Jell-O is a creamy favorite.
This recipe was originally published in December 2022. I updated the images and recipe notes in December 2025.
Aimee’s Recipe Notes
Taste & Texture: Slightly firm JELLO cubes with a soft, creamy gelatin base. Bright, fun, and lightly sweet.
Ease to Make: Very easy. No baking, no oven, mostly chilling and simple stirring.
Top Tip: Use only 1 cup boiling water per JELLO box (instead of the full amount). This makes sure the cubes are frim enough to hold up when mixed and cut.
Storage: Keep broken glass JELL-O in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Ingredient Notes
You only need five ingredients to make this recipe — and three of them are JELL-O!
- Flavored gelatin – We used lime and cherry flavors to give this a holiday flair. You will need two boxes of each.
- Unflavored gelatin– I use Knox Gelatine.
- Sweetened condensed milk – Combined with the plain gelatin to make white Jello with a creamy flavor.
- Water – You will use boiling water for flavored Jello and hot water for the plain Jello mixture.
PS. Try my stained glass cookies next. You know, if you love the “glass” haha!
How to Make Broken Glass JELL-O
Prepare colored gelatin cubes.
- For each flavor, dissolve one box gelatin with 1 cup boiling water. Pour into a 13×9 dish (one for each color).
- Allow gelatin to set then cut into cubes.
Assemble.
- Gently combine the different colored cubes together in a 9×13 pan.
- Make the creamy gelatin base. Let cool slightly and pour over the gelatin cubes. Refrigerate for up to 4 hours or overnight.
Tips and Tricks
- Spray your pans generously before adding the jello mixture. I use a butter flavored baking spray.
- If you don’t have three 13×9 pans, you can make each batch of JELL-O separately using one pan. This will take longer, so plan accordingly!
- Use a glass or clear pan to show off the colorful “stained glass” look.
- Customize the dessert by picking colors and flavors to match holidays or events (Christmas, 4th of July, Easter, etc).
- Store any uneaten Jello bars covered in the refrigerator for up to one week.
More Holiday Recipes
- These creamy, perfectly spiced Eggnog Cookies are like eating Christmas in every bite!
- This festive Cranberry Christmas Cake is so simple, yet so pretty! Impress your guests with this sweet and tart cake!
- Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies take 3 of my favorite desserts combined! Fudgy brownies with layers of tangy cream cheese filling!
- Cranberry Bliss Bars are a chewy soft blondie base, topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting! Add it to your breakfast menu!
- These mean, green Grinch Cookies are nothing but sweet! With a red heart to honor the original Dr Seuss story everybody loves!
- Learn how to make this easy Vanilla Fudge and customize it with your favorite holiday add-ins for a festive fudgy treat!
- Love desserts made with Jell-o? Try this Jello Pie next! My Strawberry Pretzel Salad is another favorite for the holiday season.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Broken Glass Jello Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 boxes lime gelatin 3 ounce each
- 2 boxes cherry gelatin 3 ounce each
- 4 cups boiling water divided
- 2 envelopes nflavored gelatin .25 ounce each u
- 2 cups hot water
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 ounce
Instructions
- You'll need three, 13×9 glass baking dishes (or 4 square pans). See notes below.
- In a medium bowl, combine 2 boxes of lime gelatin with 2 cups of boiling water. Mix until sugar is completely dissolved (about 2 minutes). Pour into one of the 13×9 pans.
- In a separate bowl, combine the 2 boxes of cherry gelatin with 2 cups boiling water. Mix until sugar is completely dissolved (about 2 minutes). Pour into one of the 13×9 pans.
- Place pans in refrigerator to set, about 1-2 hours.
- Lightly spray a 13×9 dish with butter cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium size bowl, combine 2 envelopes of unflavored gelatin with hot water (not boiling). Stir until dissolved, several minutes.
- Add sweetened condensed milk to mixture and stir until combined. Allow to sit for about 20 minutes, too cool to room temperature.
- While cooling, remove prepared gelatin from the refrigerator. Cut each pan of colored jello into bite sized cubes, about 1-inch in size. Evenly place cubes in the prepared 13×9 dish, alternating the cubes by color and arranging in the dish.
- When the milk mixture has cooled, pour over jello cubes gently. Refrigerate for an additional 4 hours, or overnight.
- When ready to serve, cut into bars. Store leftovers in refrigerator.
Notes
- If you don't have three 13×9 pans, you can make one layer of gelatin, chill, cut into cubes and place cubes in airtight container. Then repeat with second layer of gelatin. Then use your dish to assemble. This process will take longer as you have to chill each layer individually.
- Any variety of colors and flavors can be used for any occasion or holiday.
- Make a smaller batch. 1 box of gelatin for 1 cup of boiling water.
- Recipe can also be made in a bundt pan. Be sure to spray generously.
Nutrition
Easy Dessert Recipes
You’ll love this creative and easy Broken Glass JELL-O idea for the holidays or any time of year!
Aimee you keep giving me great ideas. My list for food Christmas Eve was done but now
I will have to try these. I am also making the Pecan Pie brownies for my granddaughters fellow workers. Thank you