Red White and Blue Jello Cups
Nothing says summer celebration quite like a patriotic treat that’s as fun to make as it is to eat! These Red, White, and Blue Jello Cups are the perfect addition to any BBQ, picnic, or Fourth of July gathering. With vibrant layers of strawberry and berry blue gelatin, a creamy white middle, and a festive topping of whipped cream and fresh fruit, these colorful cups are a sweet way to show your American spirit. Easy to assemble and always a crowd-pleaser, they’re a cool, refreshing dessert that adds a burst of color and flavor to your summertime table.
What kind of cups do I use?
I’m always a little extra, while still trying to stay on the cheap side. I like to use the clear cups that Dollar Tree puts out for the 4th of July that usually have a small saying on the front. The festive sayings or images don’t block the dessert at all, but still give it an extra flare. If you can’t find them or decide that you don’t need the extra-ness in your life, these Amazon Basics 9oz Clear Cups are sturdy, cheap, and work great.. If you want a more sturdy cup, Jolly Chef 9oz Clear Heavy Duty Cups are amazing, but much more costly. Just be sure they are clear because the tinted blue or red ones don’t provide the same bright effect for the presentation as the clear ones do.
Things to consider before beginning…
Before making your jello cups, consider how many people you are making them for and what size cup you would like to use. Each 6oz box of jello makes eight 1/2 cup servings. I like to use 10oz cups with about 3oz of jello for each layer. This makes about 10 servings and leaves a little room so the top layer doesn’t spill over. It’s also a great spot to begin the whipped cream or cool whip.
I also like to prepare these on a baking tray or buy first putting the cups in a baking dish. This helps with the transport back and forth into the fridge while you wait for the layers to settle and firm up.
Ingredients
1 6-ounce box of blue jello (or two 3-ounce boxes)
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 6-ounce box of red jello (or two 3-ounce boxes)
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
Optional Ingredients
Cool Whip or Whipped Cream
Fruit for garnishment
Directions
Prepare the blue jello according to box directions. Pour as evenly as you can into cups to form the bottom layer. Refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes (or until firm).
While the blue jello is in the refrigerator, begin to prepare the white layer.
In a bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk with 1 cup of boiling water and set it aside.
In a separate small bowl, pour ½ cup of cold water and sprinkle one envelope of unflavored gelatin one top. Wait for about 1 minute, then stir to moisten all the gelatin. Let the gelatin soak for 3 minutes, and then add ½ cup of boiling water to dissolve the gelatin; stir. Finally, add the dissolved gelatin to the sweetened condensed milk mixture and stir to combine. Allow it to cool to room temperature.
Once the blue jello is set, add your sweetened condensed milk later evenly to the blue jello cups. Return all cups to the refrigerator and chill for approximately 30 minutes.
While the blue and white layers are in the refrigerator, begin to prepare the red layer.
Prepare the red jello according to box directions. Allow the red jello to cool to room temperature and the white layer to firm up before adding the final red jello layer to your cups.
Allow the completed, layered cups to firm completely (2+ hours).
Garnish with your favorite toppings. If traveling, bring your garnishments with you and garnish at your final destination to avoid any toppings from melting.