These Red, White and Blue Jello Cups are the cutest and easiest patriotic dessert EVER. The fun and festive colors make them party perfect and they’re made with just 4 ingredients (one of which is water).
Once the gelatin is set, they take just 5 minutes to make so they make a great last-minute treat. They’re super kid-friendly and fuss-free!
Why This Recipe Works
- SUPER easy – While most red white and blue jello cups recipes call for making three stacked gelatin flavors, this recipe doesn’t. It’s SO simple! It uses two gelatin flavors and you can make them at the same time.
- Ready in 5 minutes – Once the Jello has set up, it takes mere minutes to put these cute summer dessert cups together.
- Colorful – The bright, primary colors are eye-catching and super festive!
- Patriotic – Perfect for 4th of July and Memorial Day celebrations.
- Kid-friendly and fuss-free – There’s no messing this up. Kids can do most of it on their own!
Ingredients
- Red Jello – I really love strawberry but any red colored Jello will work!
- Berry Blue Jello
- Whipped topping – I like Cool Whip (or generic) whipped topping in tubs rather than whipped topping sprays as it holds up better. The sprays tend to “melt” in minutes.
- Water
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: Pour Jello mixture into medium bowls, red in one and blue in the other.
Step 2: Add 1 cup boiling water to each and stir until Jello has dissolved. Stir in 1 cup cold water to each bowl.
Step 3: Pour into square or round cake pans and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. The shape of the pans doesn’t matter; just make sure the pans are identical to each other.
Step 4: Run a knife through the jello to cut it into small cubes.
Step 5: Use a spatula or spoon to scoop a layer of blue jello into the bottom third of plastic dessert cups.
Step 6: Spoon a layer of whipped topping on top of the blue jello.
Step 7. Spoon a layer of red jello cubes on top of the whipped topping to fill the last third of the cups.
Step 8. Add a dollop of Cool Whip on top. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired. I love using edible gold or silver glitter stars, red hots or red, white and blue sprinkles. You could even add tiny flags if you wanted.
They’re the cutest 4th of July Jello cups, don’t you think?
FAQ
Partly. For best results, if making ahead, wait to add the top dollop of whipped cream on top (and sprinkles, if using) until right before serving.
The packages recommend chilling for 4 hours so that’s generally the rule I follow.
About 4 hours.
Absolutely! I use store-bought to make it the easiest jello cups recipe ever, but if you want to take the time to make homemade whipped cream, go for it.
Helpful Tips
- If frozen, let the whipped topping thaw in the fridge while the Jello is setting up. It takes the same amount of time!
- When adding the water, you can use a little less than a cup of cold water for slightly firmer Jello blocks.
- Adding the whipped topping and sprinkles just before serving ensures the whipped cream won’t melt and the sprinkle colors won’t bleed before serving to guests.
Other Patriotic Recipes
Red, White and Blue Jello Cups
Ingredients
- 3 oz pkg Berry Blue Jello
- 3 oz pkg Strawberry Jello
- 8 oz container whipped topping
- Water
Instructions
- Pour Jello mixture into medium bowls, red in one and blue in the other. Add 1 cup boiling water to each and stir until Jello has dissolved. Stir in 1 cup cold water to each bowl (see notes below). Pour into square or round pans and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. (The shape of the pans doesn’t matter; just make sure the pans are identical to each other.)
- Using a table knife, cut the set jello in small cubes.
- Use a large spoon to scoop a layer of blue jello cubes into the bottom third of plastic dessert cups. Spoon a layer of whipped topping on top of the blue jello. Spoon a layer of red jello cubes on top of the whipped topping to fill the last third of the cups. Top with a dollop of whipped topping (and sprinkle with decorations, if using.) Store in fridge.
Notes
- If frozen, let the whipped topping thaw in the fridge while the Jello is setting up. It takes the same amount of time!
- When adding the water, you can use a little less than a cup of cold water for slightly firmer Jello blocks.
- Adding the whipped topping and sprinkles just before serving ensures the whipped cream won’t melt and the sprinkle colors won’t bleed before serving to guests.
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