Why You Should Make It

• No complicated steps here—just allow for some chilling time!
• You only need three simple ingredients.
• Your kids or grandkids will be amazed at the colorful layers!
• It’s whimsical and can be cut into fun shapes.

When I was younger, I loved when my mom made Jello. Revisiting those fond memories, I turned that simple dish into a spectacular rainbow salad with an impressive nine delectable layers. While it may seem like a labor of love, you can easily prepare this treat one or two days before the event. Just carve out some time when you’re free, perhaps while enjoying a good book or binge-watching your favorite show, and create this stunning dessert!

Expert Tips for Making Your Rainbow Salad

During a leisurely Thanksgiving weekend, I decided to whip up this layered Jello salad. Armed with five small boxes of Jello, unflavored gelatin, and sweetened condensed milk, I was ready to go! A 9 x 13-inch glass dish and liquid measuring cups rounded out my supplies.

• PRO-Tip: Don’t hesitate to switch up the colors based on the occasion. While I used a vibrant assortment for a rainbow look, red and green are perfect for Christmas, and red, white, and blue can be festive for the Fourth of July!
• For individual servings, consider using parfait or highball glasses to show off those beautiful layers.
• Find unflavored gelatin, commonly found in the baking aisle next to Jello. This ingredient is essential for thickening your sweetened condensed milk mixture.
• Accurate measuring is key to ensure you have enough of the creamy mixture for all layers.
• PRO-Tip: Use liquid measuring cups for the best results!
• Before you start, read through the entire recipe to familiarize yourself with all the steps, as timing is crucial for layering.
• Begin with a colored Jello layer; it makes for a stunning presentation!
• PRO-Tip: If you want your Jello to reflect the true colors of a rainbow, follow the ROY-G-BIV order: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet! You can stick with five colors like Blue, Green, Red, Yellow, and Orange for a simpler version.
• If your sweetened condensed milk mixture thickens too much while waiting for layers to set, just place it in a bowl of warm water to liquefy it again.
• Allow each layer to cool a bit before pouring the next to prevent melting, but don’t let it cool too long, or it will start to set!
• I like to keep hot water handy to easily rewarm the Jello layers as needed.
• While some variations use sour cream mixed with sugar or dry Jello, I find using sweetened condensed milk easier and more enjoyable.
• When cutting, use a straight-edged knife for neat, clean slices.

Ingredients

• 5 (3-ounce) packages of Jello in assorted colors and flavors
• 4-5 envelopes of Knox unflavored gelatin
• 1 (14-ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

1. Start with the first Jello flavor: mix it with 1 teaspoon of unflavored gelatin and 1 cup of boiling water until fully dissolved. Let it cool briefly (this step isn’t as crucial for the first layer) and pour it into a 9×13-inch glass dish to showcase those beautiful layers.
2. Refrigerate for 30 minutes while you prepare the next layer.
3. For the second layer, mix 1 envelope of unflavored gelatin with ½ cup of boiling water, stirring until dissolved. Then, incorporate half a can (about ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons) of sweetened condensed milk and finish with another ½ cup of boiling water. Mix until thoroughly combined.
4. Once the first layer has set, gently pour ¾ cup of the sweetened condensed milk mixture over it. Chill for another 30 minutes as you prepare the next colored layer.
5. When the second layer has chilled, proceed to pour the third colored layer on top. Chill for an additional 30 minutes.
6. After the third layer has set, repeat the pour with the remaining sweetened condensed milk mixture. Chill for 30 minutes while you prepare the next layer.
7. If at any point the sweetened condensed milk mixture thickens, place the measuring cup in a warm water bath until it liquefies again.
8. Since you’ve used part of the sweetened condensed milk, you’ll need to recreate another batch. Mix another ½ cup of boiling water with 1 envelope of unflavored gelatin before adding the remaining milk, followed by another ½ cup of boiling water.
9. Keep layering and repeating the process until all five flavors of Jello and all the sweetened condensed milk mixture have been used.
10. After the final layer has been poured, cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
11. Cut into squares or fun shapes to serve and enjoy the rainbow!

Frequently Asked Questions