Broken Glass Jello
At all our family potlucks you’ll always find Spam Musubi, Somen Salad, and of course, JELLO. Jello is an absolute must on the dessert table. It’s light, pretty and jiggly. In Hawaii it’s known as Broken Glass Jello, but recipes can also be found with the name Stained Glass Jello. Either way, this beautiful dish is always a crowd pleaser.
This gorgeous jello only looks like a lot of work, but in just a few steps you’ll have delightful little cubes of flavorful jello in no time. Use primary colors to make Lego Block Jello for a kids party, or go the extra mile like Food Librarian and make a Broken Glass Jello Bundt! The options are endless!
This is the perfect party food, easy to pick up and fun to eat. I guarantee your guests will be impressed!
Broken Glass Jello
Ingredients:
4 small boxes of jello (3 oz), different colors
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
water (see recipe for amounts)
Instructions:
Dissolve each box of jello separately, using just one cup of boiling water per flavor. Pour into individual containers (small tupperware works well) and chill overnight.
Once solid, cut the flavors of jello into small blocks and mix together carefully in a glass 9×13 pan.
In a separate bowl, dissolve 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin in 2 cups hot water. Let cool slightly, then stir in the condensed milk. Once it’s cool to the touch, pour the cooled milk mixture over the jello cubes and chill overnight.
Cut into squares and serve.
That looks awesome! But how does it taste with all those different flavors? Do you prefer/recommend a particular combination?
I love jello and I’ve been wanting to make this ever since I found your blog several months ago! I’m thinking of doing a red, white and blue variation for July 4th. Is the milk in this SWEETENED condensed milk?
to all the people who are wondering if this is good………yes it is my mom made it before and its s0o good!!!!!!
also yes it is sweet and the white milk is good.
all of it taste so good combined you would be surprise of how good it is.
ALSO THE MILK IS NOT REGULAR MILK ITS A SWEETER MILK THATS THEY SELL IN A LITTLE CONTAINER. IF YOU GET THE WRONG MILK ITS GOING TO TASE BAD.BYE!REMEMBER.
I’ve tried your layered jello recipe and get compliments on that one. I soooooo want to try this one now. Thanks, Jenn!
That is crazy cool looking! Love it! Thanks for posting.
beautiful
Huh – cool! I could see kids loving that at a birthday party!
I love this and haven’t had it for years. It’s making me want to find my old Jello recipe book. So fun to mix it up with your fave flavors. Nice job!
I just found this neat post! I didn’t know how pretty Jello could be!!
You should bring this recipe over to my blog for “Tasty Tuesday” this week!
Oh, wow! This is very neat. Can’t wait to try it! I used to make soap that looked like this.
[…] Broken Glass Jello […]
Love this…our kids will also! Thank you for posting this idea.
I love it! Can I share it on my website with a link to you?
-Mandy
This is perfect. Jello is my absolute favorite.
Thank you thank you thank you!!! I’ve been trying to find these recipes for a long time.
This is amazing! I am going to make it tonight, for tomorrow’s dessert at a family function. I’ve had this book marked this for ages, I think it’s just so cool.
[…] the last visit with my Finnish nephews I decided to bring Broken Glass Jello. I first saw it on JustJenn’s excellent blog, and thought it looked like fun. I went […]
WE LOVE the broken glass jello. I have made it many times and it has always been the conversation piece at dinner.
This was exactly what I was looking for!
Thanks for the post . . . I’ll be busy in the kitchen this holiday!
let the milk mixture COOL down completely or it will melt the other colors.
My mom made this years ago, but she just used the red, green, and yellow jellow with the other ingredients and poured it in a ring mold after she had mixed all together and then she frosted it with whipped cream and placed some red and green decorations on top. When you cut it, it is really pretty. She made it at Christmas time. Everyone just loved it. You can also put flaked coconut on the whipped cream…it’s yummy.
[…] Coffee & Stained Glass Jello – Maybe I’m feeling retro, maybe there’s always room for Jello, either way […]
Did you use the 1/4 oz unflavored gelatin packets?
@Angela
…no – both packets.
I have glanced at a lot of of your current blog entries and I was thinking about if you wanted to swap blog links? I am continually wanting to switch links with websites about very similar content! I look forward to hearing back from you shortly.
2-angela yes, 2 packets of .25oz. for a total of .50oz or one half ounce.
Thanks, Jenn for the great website. Love coming to see what you have everyday! Can’t wait to try the burrito filling, looks so good.
My bunch of fussy eaters loved this recipe
I was just double checking to make sure it is sweetened condensed milk and not evaporated milk? I’ve made the layered jello before, and that usually calls for the evaporated milk. Really wanting to make this, my son would love it!
[…] This Broken Glass Jello would be really fun to make for Romy’s next birthday. I am thinking about doing a rainbow […]
Hi! I’m really looking forward to making this recipe for xmas with xmasy colors. My only question is if I can use large boxes instead of small boxes?
Like your christmas broekn glass jello, itt asks for 2 small boxes.
thank you
@marjorie
Large boxes (6 oz) makes a heck of a lot of jell-o, you are better off with small boxes, really. You can always half the large boxes and save the other half for another time, I do that a lot.
I have made this jello recipe four times since thanksgiving. Everyone likes this better than my 7 layer jello. It is the sweet taste and creamy texture they enjoy. I am making more jello for our new years day parties tomorrow.
Do you think I could add one more gelatin pkt to make it a little firmer without loosing the creaminess?
I’ve made this once with a similar recipe to yours, it’s on my blog…tonight I’m trying it with Sprite instead of sweeten condensed…hope it works out good 😀 My blog is http://www.bitterbettyville.com and the recipe is under cook books
This looks like my childhood favourite jello but of course we used Agar-agar/Kanten. It has firmer texture than gelatine. Have you ever tried using it?
Made it for New Year’s gathering…everyone loved it! Was very colorful/festive.
@ Haley…how did it come out using Sprite?
I just thought I would let you know your site is loading very slow
Do you only use one cup of water for each box of jello or use 2 cups as directed on the box? I was just confused by which you said.
This idea is wonderful 🙂 I plan on making this tomorrow for an induction and stand out from all the cookie makers out there.
Oh, DRAT. I messed up. I made 4 flavors of Jello last night and just realizing now that you call for it to be made with only 1 cup water instead of the traditional two. I wonder if it will still work or if the flavors will be too diluted? Well, we’ll see…
OK. I ditched my first attempt and followed the directions properly the second time– using only 1 cup of water per Jello batch. HUGE hit. It was delicious and the kids and adults thought it was great. I think I may tweak the condensed milk portion– maybe adding some vanilla for a bit more flavor next time– but overall, very fun recipe.
[…] Source: justJENN recipes […]
[…] Step-by-step directions and the recipe can be found right here – justjennrecipes.com/broken-glass-jello/2007/04/29/ […]
We’ve made this recipe with the condensed milk, but it is tasty also with substituting Cream of Coconut instead of condensed milk. mmmm…
[…] Broken Glass Jell-o […]
i love this stuff! a lot of my friends have it at partys.
I am following your recipe of this beautiful dessert for a Xmas party. Unfortunately, my jello didn’t turn up nicely cubes as I only chilled for 3 hours. Now am waiting for the jello to set with the sweeten milk. It is still watery after being in fridge for 4 hours, must I chill it overnight? Oh dear, I m later for the party… Lol
Thank you so much for the recipe! I used it for my son’s 1st birthday party this past weekend and it was hit! I had a few myself!! Definently gonna make this again, soon! Thanks again!
I have tasted this at a party, and it is worth the effort, lovely and looks so great too.
@Shan
Both need to chill overnight.
I have made this 2 times since I saw this a couple of weeks ago. It may look hard, but it is super easy to make. It’s cold here in MI, so it was done and set in just a couple of hours. Everyone loves it. It’s perfect for any occasion. I’m so glad that I found this recipe on Pinterest. Thank!!
Good job! I’m gonna bookmark this site now.
This jello is an old mexican way of making jello for birthday parties or any festivity, originally called “mosaico” or ” mosaic” Delicious!!
[…] Glass Jello (from justJenn who also has really awesome Hello Kitty cookie […]
As easy as this sounds, it really takes two nights to make it? Bummer! I made the four jellos tonight and was hoping to have it completed for dinner tomorrow night. Think if I make the condensed milk part first thing in the morning it would be ready to go by tomorrow evening? Please help! 🙂
@Stacy It’s really a matter of setting. The timing is just to make sure everything is solid so it won’t all melt together.
you make the jello as you normally would right? like 1 cup boiled water and 1 cup cold water?
hi, i’ve got a box of unflavored gelatin w/4 packs inside of it…so i use 2 packs? each pack is 7.2 grams….wondering what that is in ounces? since you say you need .50 ounces total?? i’m confused lol
[…] Broken Glass Jello […]
[…] Source: As seen on Brown Eyed Baker, originally from Just Jenn recipes […]
VERY CREATIVE!
[…] one, I can take credit for the adult version of this. Aren’t they just gorgeous?Adapted from justjennrecipes.com Recipe: Broken Glass JelloIngredients4 – 3 oz boxes of jello (colors of your choice)1 […]
[…] just a fun food! I made these rainbow stained glass jello squares by following the instructions HERE. Want something easier? Make each color “finger jello” and just cube it up. layer each […]
im going to make this for my daughters first birthday. her party is all pink purple and white. so im going to use watermelon and grape jello. im a little nervous that the grape will be too dark. but i hope it still tastes and looks just as good with only 2 flavors 🙂
[…] As seen on Brown Eyed Baker, originally from Just Jenn recipes Share […]
[…] Via: foodlibrarian.com / justjennrecipes.com […]
Congratulations! Your broken glass jello has been chosen as a Jiggly Jello contestant on Joy of Jello. The winner will receive a prestigious Jello Prize in the mail! Please stop by our blog to vote for this Jello/Gelatin at joyofjello.com Voting ends on Sunday the 17th of February. You can vote for yourself and get your friends, family and followers to vote for you too. http://www.joyofjello.com. The post will be posted later today Feb. 12, 2013.
Eunice Jello
[…] broken glass Jell-O is from justJENN recipes and makes for a colorful and fun-to-make […]
[…] Found this on a website here: https://justjennrecipes.com/broken-glass-jello/2007/04/29/ […]
I have made this twice before, but I have a question. When I make jello, I first spray oil on the pans so that I can get them out easy. However, I find that when I mix the color squares together, each peice gets coated with oil. As result, when it is finished and I cut out a peice, it falls apart because nothing will stick togeter. Is there a way to prevent this?
@Stranger I don’t recommend oil in the pans at all. Just cut them close to the bottom and they shouldn’t fall apart.
I have a question with regards to the Jello brand. I usually make Jello with this brand, is it common for the gelatin to turn back into liquid after you remove it from the refrigerator? If it is like that how do you manage with your recipe, and if not, am I doing something wrong in the preparation (I follow what’s indicated in the box).
Thanks.
I think this should be called stained glass jello. I don’t like the idea of eating broken glass or serving broken glass to people.
I know it isn’t really broken glass, I just don’t like the connotation. 🙂
To get the Jello out of the pan easier fill the sink with warm water or run warm water over the bottom of the pan for just a few seconds… Cut and you should be able to remove from the pan.
By far da best jello I’ve made!! Thank U!!! 🙂
I am making this and sharing it with the neighbors for a Christmas treat that isn’t heavy on the usual holiday calories!
This looks amazing. My son and I are going to make this for Christmas this year just wondering how long you would think it would last kept in the fridge?? Thanks
@Melissa I like to make this the day before a party.
We made this with yellow jello and mixed it with enough mayo to make it cloudy and then poured it over the mixed jello. We called it jewel jello.
This looks amazing!! I only have one question: For the colored jello, after you dissolve with the hot water do you also add the cool water too? I couldn’t understand that part! Thank You!
I thought it was hard to make,but it was easy and fast. It was yummy the next day!!!!
I love this recipe. It is one of my very favorites and make it at least 3 times a year. I often get requests to make it. Good for pot lucks. If it is warm, make sure you keep it chilled. Works great if you want something easy. Can even make it a few days before it is needed.
Dear Sis, I made this last week. But mine milk pudding is too soft and it sticks to the glass pan. Any idea on why it happened so.
I just made this using the Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk for tomorrow’s 4th of July dessert…. red, white and blue. This brand of condensed milk has a tan color to it, so mine didn’t come out “white” like the picture above. 🙁 Also, make sure you allow the jell-o to harden and the milk to cool down. When I pour the milk mixture into the jello-o mix, the colors of the jell-o were bleeding into the milk. So I have swirls of red and blue mixed with the tan milk mixture now. I’m sure it’ll still taste good tomorrow, but don’t make my mistakes. Happy 4th everyone!
I have made this every year for my son’s birthday. This year he will be 4 and asks for this all the time. I’m making it for Thanksgiving using orange, cherry and lemon.
I would like to make this but is it sweeten condensed milk?
Hi, I tried making broken glass jello a few weeks ago but it didn’t quite work out. After I put the sweetened condensed milk mixture into the pan with the jello pieces and refrigerated it, it didn’t get hard. It just stayed liquidy even though I left it overnight. When I checked it the next day to cut it up it was still liquidy and I didn’t understand what I did wrong. Help!!
I would love to make it again but I don’t know what I did wrong and where u live the don’t have know Gelatine is there another brand you know of that i can use I really love this recipe but any make it until these questions are answered thank you!!
Thank you for this recipe! Tried it for the first time last weekend & it came out great. Used the 3oz pkgs of lime, orange, black cherry & lemon. I’m making it again tonight with lime, strawberry, berry blue & black cherry. I love the mosiac look & love experimenting with the different colors. This recipe is definitely a keeper.. So easy & great for gatherings. And besides, there’s always room for jello.
@Melanie You have to use gelatin in order for it to become solid, there’s no other way. I’m not sure where you live but you can buy Knox gelatine online.
Thank you so much for this recipe!!!
I see the same questions being asked again and again, do I thought I would throw in a few answers for anyone currently attempting to make this for the first time. After all, it’s 2016 now, and I hope the earlier folks found their answers.
#1 – Read the recipe. Yes – you use ONLY ONE cup of hot water per 3oz box of Jell-O. This makes very solid little Jell-O blocks with very deep colors which is why this recipe works. Do not read the directions on the box – they do not apply here. By leaving out the cold water, it extends the amount of time it will take to chill and set up in the fridge too, which is why it’s best to let it set up overnight to get completely hardened.
#2 – Use Condensed milk, not Evaporated milk. Condensed milk, otherwise known as Sweetened Condensed milk, is sweet because it’s been cooked down with added sugar. It’s the kind that many fudge recipes call for. Don’t use Evaporated milk. That’s only thicker milk with a lot of the water removed (evaporated) from it, and has no sweetness whatsoever. If you try and substitute one for the other, you will have inedible dessert and that’s not what we’re doing. If you’re not completely sure what you’ve got, read the ingredients on the label. If it says it’s got sugar in it, that’s what you want. No sugar? Put it back and try again.
#3 – Do not spray your Jell-O dishes with oil spray when you first pour the Jell-O into the dishes to set. This puts s coating of oil on the bottoms of all the pieces, and when you mix the Jell-O squares up before pouring the condensed milk/unsweetened gelatine mixture over them, the oil will spread around and coat every piece so that nothing sticks together go form a solid mass when the milk/gelatine mixture sets up. It all falls apart when you try to dish it up, and you lose the whole effect. Better to put the Jell-O into glass or metal dishes to set up, and before cutting the pieces, dip the bottom of the container into warm – not hot – water BRIEFLY to loosen up the pieces when you use a rubber spatula to lift the pieces out. Rubber stands less of a chance of mangling the Jell-O squares than a spoon or even a knife.
#4 – Yes, it can take two nights to make this dessert, so plan accordingly. It doesn’t necessarily have to if you start very early in the morning and have the Jell-O thoroughly set by dinner time. “Thoroughly set” is the key. If it’s not, it WILL be runny, and it WILL take longer to make. Runny Jell-O will not work. Period. Everyone’s refrigerators are different. And even the time of year can make a difference with the amount of humidity in the air can affect setting times. If your refrigerator has a place for really dry cold air, that will help it set up faster. If not, try to separate the dishes from each other and that should help also. Cold air falls, so many people think the bottom of the fridge is the coldest but that’s not necessarily true. The air is coldest where the cold air first comes into the refrigerator compartment, before it’s had time to pick up the heat from other items in the fridge. If your refrigerator seems to have a “cold zone” where things seem to get and stay colder longer, that’s where you want to put it.
#5 – Remember, you are making this with four packages of different flavors of Jell-O, so you do want to use the 3oz packages -small boxes- of Jell-O. You end up with the equivalent of 2 large boxes in doing this, and thats plenty of Jell-O once you add the milk/unflavored gelatin mixture to it and let it set up. (Unless you are doubling the recipe for two big dishes of it, in which case you use TWO cups of boiling water for a large box of Jell-O. Forget the cold water!)
#6 – Unsweetened gelatine is made by Knox, and is usually found in the large supermarkets by the rest of the Jell-O type products. It can be found in some stores in the candy making section, or where the pie shells and other dessert ingredients are kept. It used to be much easier to find when it was being advertised as a strengthener for weak fingernails and such hocus-pocus as that, in addition to being used more often in different desserts before flavored, sweetened Jell-O came along in such abundance. But it’s not quite so popular or well known to today’s cooks, and other means of trying to strengthen weak fingernails abound, but are still generally a lot of hocus-pocus! If you think you might possibly ever make this dessert at any time in the future, now is the time to start looking for Knox Brand Unflavored Gelatin! And that’s exactly what it’s called too. If your grocery doesn’t have it, look online. It can be ordered and sent to you!
#7 – Have fun, and enjoy this dessert all year round! Remember, there’s always room for Jell-O! ?
If your milk mixture is not setting up, it could be because the unsweetened Knox gelatine did not get thoroughly dissolved in the HOT water. Make sure the water is hot – not boiling – and you are patient about stirring it and dissolving it before adding the condensed milk to it. If it’s not thoroughly dissolved, then the “structure” of your milk and gelatine mixture isn’t complete, and its going to be runny.
@Shari D. – Thanks for the additional information to reduce the confusion, but there are a couple of points that still need to be addressed. 1. How big are the packet sizes for the unflavored gelatin and how many ounces of sweetened condensed milk do you add?
This is to Confused_A_Bit, You use 2 – 1/4 ounce packs of unflavored gelatin for a total of 1/2 ounce. As for sweetened condensed milk, you use the entire can, which is 300ml.
It’s a great recipe, it took me two days but it was delisous
what kind of milk should we use for that? anyone please..?
Per the recipe you need to use one can of sweetened condensed milk.
I use to make this many years ago (1980’s), however my version just called for lemon jello and whipping cream (or Cool Whip) for the binding jello. (Think only 1 1/2 cups water for the jello, add 2 cups whipped whipping cream.) I’d cube the chosen colors and put them in a bowl. Gently fold in the creamy jello and pour it all in a bundt pan. Chill overnight, turn out onto a plate…it would turn out very pretty.
Why does no one tell you that gelatin smells like death? Well… for those of you who haven’t done this yet… it does. ?Will be tasting the final product tomorrow. I hope it tastes better than it smells right now lol
A friend of miine made this and it was very good!!!
Wonderful old-fashioned dessert AKA “CONFETTI PIE” in the old US ARMY RECIPE CARD COLLECTION (only minor change). PREPARE CUBES AS PER INSTRUCTIONS. YOU WILL NOT NEED SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK OR UNFLAVORED GELATIN.
You will need additionally :
1 cooked pie shell
1 small box lemon, white grape,pineapple, OR your favorite flavor JELLO that stays light colored.
1 small container COOL WHIP or 1-2 CUPS whipped cream made with Whip-It or other whipped cream stabilizer. YOU control the flavor of the cream portion by using different amounts of the Jello mixture. Usually one part thickened but NOT SET Jello to two parts whipped cream or Cool Whip are folded together to combine. Just fold in the “Glass” cubes and spoon into baked pie crust. Chill 1 hour. This was perfect for 4th of July using red and blue stained glass cubes. Of course this is adaptable for any holiday colors. The whipped cream and Jello mixture makes a wonderful “mousse” to accompany any flavor of cake. Raspberry mousse with Devils Food cake is nirvana! You MUST whip the cream well, one step down from stiff. Makes a great cake frosting for icebox cakes. Can be made stiff enough to make Antique Roses, also possible with just the whipped cream! I’m sure you can connect the dots and turn out beautiful AND delicious products.
Just made this for a potluck supper. Love the look and taste. Easy to make.
How to make broken glass jello pudding sugar less.
thanks! all i have ever seen is to use coconut milk, ick. Sweetened Condensed Milk sounds so very tasty~~
Hi, can I use Tortally jelly instead of Jell-O ?
I need a dairy free substitute for the sweet condensed milk.
I have made this many times and each time I do my guests love it. It’s also fun making with grandchildren. It’s easy
Try coconut milk.
you can also go to a Mexican store and buy coconut jello packets. Just add 2 cups of hot milk to it and prepare like regular jello. this tastes and smells really good and you save time too. We make it all the time and my family loves it!!
Thank you for sharing!!
this is always been one of my childhood favorites !!
now I make it for my grandchildren !???????
I tried to make the jello.When I cut them there’s a hard skin on the bottom.
Hello, not so much a comment, but a question. Can a gram craker crust be made with this recipe?
Like a Pretzel Jell-o? Sure, anything is possible. 😉
I love this recipe, I make it for birthday parties and I’m actually making this right now. All the kids love it and I always add crushed gram crackers on top of it. Makes it so much tastier!
I MAKE MINE WITHOUT USING GELATIN OR THE CONDENSED MILK….AND IT IS DELICIOUS…..
I NEED TO FIND MY RECIPE, IT IS NOT LIKE ANY OF THESE AT ALL….
Loved it so Christmas added a little whipped topping..
Will this recipe work using sugar-free jello?
I’ve never used it but feel free to try it and let me know!
I have found recipes that call for 2 cups of boiling water with the Knox gelatin and some recipes that call for 1 1/2 cups boiling water. Which is better?
Or a recipe that says to dissolve in 1/2 cup cold water and then add 1 1/2 cups boiling water?
I don’t know why it would say that since the point is to dissolve the gelatin, that’s what the hot water is for.
I have made this many times. I usually use strawberry, lime, blueberry and… island pineapple. No matter what other three flavors you use, the pineapple flavor takes this over the top!
Hi I’ve made this over the years and it has always turned out great! Made it today to take to cooking club for tomorrow night. I know they will love it! Not too sweet just the right amount, pretty and delicious!