So I am going to let you in on a little secret. It’s really my mom’s secret, but she is the Jello Queen. As I was growing up, we would attend potluck after potluck with my parent’s friends. I was always the youngest one (since my brother is 8 years older than me) but I remember elements of those parties so clearly. Every family would bring a dish to share and we’d all eat everything potluck style. My mom either made 3 layered jello or noodles, for every party. These were her signature dishes and of course, I would always steal jello before heading to the parties, shhhh.

And I’ve been meaning to blog her recipe for THE LONGEST time, like since 2005 and I am finally getting around to it. Of course I took pictures of a Christmas Layered Jello 2 months ago, with the intention of getting it up WAY before Christmas, but yea, well it’s the week of Christmas and I am sharing it and hoping some of you might be able to us it. BUT, the good thing about this jello is that you can swap out the colors and use it for any occasion. You can just pick the two colors of your party theme or holiday and have the white in the middle, so versatile! Anyways, let’s get to it… we are just going to make a small version in a 9×9 square pan. This serves about 6-8 people I would say, depending on how many pieces each person wants to eat!

So let’s start with layer one. Mix in one 3 oz box of red (strawberry) jello with 1/2 pack of Knox gelatin. What I like to do is bury the Knox gelatin within the red gelatin because the Knox is what creates the clumps and I find that less clumps are made this way once you pour the water in. So next you pour in 1.25 cups of boiling hot water and stir until dissolved. Put this layer in your pan and refrigerate for 20 minutes. This part is tricky because I think it varies by elevation, etc. but you have to make sure it’s firm but not too firm, so that the next layer will stick. But while the red layer is in the fridge, you need to start your next layer.

For the white part, my mom uses milk, gelatin, vanilla extract (optional), sugar (optional) and water. Mix 3/4 cup of boiling water with 1 and 1/2 pack of gelatin + sugar (optional) until dissolved. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract, make sure to use the clear kind!!  This is actually optional ingredient too. My mom used to make this with a scoop or two of sugar, but has since removed the sugar from her recipes and it is still just as tasty!  Let this cool about 5 minutes or so and then add 1/2 cup of milk. Once that 20 minutes of setting on the first layer is done, SLOWLY spoon in this mixture. If you pour it in to vigorously, you could potentially break the red layer.

For the 3rd layer, repeat the directions and amounts in the first layer, but the white one usually sets in about 15 minutes or so I’d say, so you will have to make and let cool this layer immediately after you put the white layer in the fridge. Let chill for 2 hours or so before serving! We usually just make it the night before parties!

I know there are a ton of layered jello recipes out there, but this one is seriously one of my favorites. I know I am biased because it’s my mom’s recipe and I grew up on it, but I know that every time this jello is served at parties, it gets eaten up pretty quickly, mostly by the kids! 😉

Three Layered Jello Recipe

Ingredients:

2 packs Knox gelatin
2 – 3 oz. Jello boxes (pick any 2 colors)
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract- clear color (optional)

Directions:

1. Layer One: Mix in one 3 oz box jello with 1/2 pack of Knox gelatin.
2. Pour in 1.25 cups of boiling hot water and stir until dissolved.
3. Put this layer in your 9×9 pan and refrigerate for 20 minutes (time can vary).
4. Layer Two (start after putting Layer One in fridge): Mix 3/4 cup of boiling water with 1 and 1/2 pack of gelatin + sugar (optional) until dissolved.
5. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract, make sure to use the clear kind (optional).
6. Let this cool about 5 minutes or so and then add 1/2 cup of milk.
7. Once that 20 minutes of setting on the first layer is done, SLOWLY spoon in this mixture.
8. Refrigerate second layer for 15-20 minutes.
8. Layer Three: Mix in one 3 oz box jello with 1/2 pack of Knox gelatin.
9. Pour in 1.25 cups of boiling hot water and stir until dissolved. Let cool.
10. Slowly spoon in this layer on top of the white layer.
11. Put back in fridge and chill for 2 hours.
12. Cut into squares and serve! Yummy!

Hope you enjoy and let me know if you decide to make it or if you have any questions! 🙂