Perfect Jello Jigglers Recipe (Secrets from a Jello Whisperer) (2024)

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Find out how to make perfect Jello Jigglers every time with these helpful Jello tips and tricks. This Jello Jiggler recipe works for both regular Jello and sugar-free Jello Jigglers.

*Don’t just skip to the Jello recipe — you will want to see all the helpful tips before you start to make the Jello!

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Perfect Jello Jigglers

Jello Jigglers are everything that is wonderful about Jello; they are colorful, delicious, and tons of fun to make and eat!

The perfect Jello Jiggler is firm and jiggly, but never hard.

Jello Jigglers can be cut into neat cubes and shapes and still hold their form. They make a great finger snack for toddlers and young children, who also love to assistwith making and cutting the Jello.

Making Jello Jigglers is less intuitive than you might believe; in fact, you will not follow the instructions on the box!

Read on and I will share the best Jello recipe for Jigglers and teach you how to make Jello Jigglers perfectly every time.

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You can even make multi-colored Jigglers!

What you need to make Jello Jigglers

To make Jello Jigglers you will need the following items, most of which can be found at your local supermarket or even on Amazon.

Ingredients:

  • 2 boxes (3 oz each) of Jello, any flavor (regular or sugar-free)
  • 2 cups of boiling water

Tools:

You can choose any flavor of Jello to make Jello Jigglers; you can also choose to make regular or sugar-free Jigglers. I tested both regular and sugar-free and did not find a big texture or taste difference.

If you want to make a single color of Jello Jigglers you will need two boxes of the same flavor (unless you want to layer it to make multi-color jello).

If you choose to make multiple colors at once, you will want a mold for each color (I used three separate molds to get yellow, blue, and red).

Most people are used to making Jello with a glass Pyrex pan, but I also love to use my Japanese nagashikan moldfor Jello Jigglers; a nagashikan has a four-sided outer pan and an inner pan that slides out and is open on two sides. Since you are able to pull out the inner pan it is just easier to cut the Jello into perfectcubes.

This is the exact nagashikan that I own (it’s also great for making fruit jellies with agar agar):

Perfect Jello Jigglers Recipe (Secrets from a Jello Whisperer) (3)
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Jello tips and tricks

On to the Jello tips! Here is a list of tips on how to make Jello Jigglers without experiencing pesky problems, like having your Jello stick to the pan (the horror!)

  1. Water to Jello ratio: For Jello Jigglers, keep the water-to-Jello ratio at 1:1; that means that for every ONE BOX of Jello you will need one cup of water. This is half of what the regular Jello recipe on the box requires. As a rule, the less water you add the stronger the Jello will be.
  2. Don’t add cold water: Rather than adding cold water, as the directions on the box instructs, you are only going to use boiling water to make Jello Jigglers — this helps the gelatin molecules form a really strong bond and results in that strong and jiggly jello you love!
  3. Spray the pan with cooking spray before putting in the Jello, then wipe with a paper towel: Before you add the liquid Jello into the pan, take the time to spray the pan lightly with a cooking spray and wipe it in with a paper towel. The spray will help stop the Jello from sticking to the pan and the wiping will help make sure the surface of your Jello is smooth since the little droplets of cooking spray can cause indentations in the Jello.
  4. Pop or scoop out any bubbles: After adding the liquid Jello to the mold make sure to pop any bubbles with a toothpick (or scoop out with a spoon). If you don’t, those bubbles will remain and you will get holes and divets in the top of your Jello! This doesn’t impact the taste, but can make it look rather uneven.
  5. Make thicker jello cubes: if you want your jello to be more like large, jiggly cubes double this recipe
  6. How to get Jello out of the pan: Even with the spray beforehand, sometimes Jello can still stick to the pan — especially with glass pans! To stop Jello from sticking to the pan, fill your sink with 1-2 inches of warm water and place the Jello into the sink for 10-15 seconds (you only want a little bit, not so much the water spills over into the Jello). Remove and begin to cut into shapes.
  7. How to store Jello: To store Jello, place it in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator; it should last 7-10 days this way.

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How to make Jello Jigglers

Compared to the regular Jello recipe, Jello Jigglers are firmer to the touch. Here is how to get perfect Jello Jigglers, every time.

1. Boil water; add to gelatin

Boil one cup of water for every one 3 oz box of Jello. If you are making more than one color keep them separated.

Add the water to the Jello and stir for two minutes until completely dissolved. Don’t forget to pop those bubbles!

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2. Pour into Jello mold

Spray the Jello mold or pan with cooking spray and wipe down.Slowly pour the Jello into the pan; you don’t want to create more bubbles!.

3. Refrigerate

Carefully place the Jello molds into the refrigerator for 3-4 hours or overnight.

4. Cut and serve

To remove the Jello Jigglers cleanly and stop them from sticking to your pan, place in the sink with around 1-inch of warm water for 10-15 seconds, then remove for cutting.

Use cookie cutters to cut Jello Jigglers into fun shapes or simply use a knife to slice into squares. Serve cold.

Reserve the scraps for later snacking.

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I hope you enjoyed this Jello Jiggler recipe!

Please take the time to leave me a review if you found this recipe useful; I LIVE for your reviews.

How to make two-tone Jello Jigglers

If you want to make two-tone Jello Jigglers like the ones pictured below on the orange spoon, here’s how.

  1. Make one color of Jello (two 3 oz boxes and 2 cups of boiling water) per the directions above and refrigerate in the mold for 30 minutes or until firm.
  2. Make the second color, pour gently on top, and refrigerate again until ready to serve!

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Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes

Find out how to make perfect Jello Jigglers every time with these helpful Jello tips and tricks. This Jello Jiggler recipe works for both regular Jello and sugar-free Jello Jigglers.

Ingredients

  • 2 boxes (3 oz) Jello, any flavor
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Bring water to a boil. Add the boiling water to the dry gelatin and stir for two minutes until fully dissolved.
  2. Spray Jello mold or pan with cooking spray; wipe with paper towel. Slowly pour the Jello into the 9x13 pan or nagashikan. Poke/remove any bubbles.
  3. Place Jello into the refrigerator for 3-4 hours or until completely set.
  4. To remove Jello placethe pan in 1 inch of warm water in the sink for 10-15 seconds, then remove. Cut and serve.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 20Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 15mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 5gProtein: 0g

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Perfect Jello Jigglers Recipe (Secrets from a Jello Whisperer) (2024)

FAQs

Perfect Jello Jigglers Recipe (Secrets from a Jello Whisperer)? ›

It's important to use the right amount of water, as using too much or too little can affect the taste and texture of the Jell-O. Additionally, you can add fruit, whipped cream, or other ingredients to enhance the flavor.

How to make Jello better? ›

It's important to use the right amount of water, as using too much or too little can affect the taste and texture of the Jell-O. Additionally, you can add fruit, whipped cream, or other ingredients to enhance the flavor.

What happens if you add less water to Jello? ›

If I use less water when making Jello, will it come out firmer? - Quora. It will indeed. My grandmother used to make her Jello quite firm by using less liquid, so much so that it led to a memorable family incident.

What is the ratio of Jello powder to water? ›

Whisk together 1 cup (240 milliliters) of hot water with 1 packet of jello in a large bowl. Keep whisking until no powdery granules remain, about 2 to 3 minutes. If you are using a larger, 6-ounce (170 grams) packet of jello, use 2 cups (475 milliliters) of hot water instead.

What not to put in jello? ›

Fruits That Ruin Jell-O
  1. pineapple - bromelain.
  2. kiwi - actinidin.
  3. figs - ficain.
  4. papaya - papain.
  5. pawpaw - papain.
  6. mango.
  7. guava.
  8. ginger root.
May 8, 2019

What is the secret ingredient in Jello? ›

Gelatin, the primary ingredient in Jell-O, is derived from collagen, a protein found in the connective tissues, bones, and skin of animals," Sabat says. "Historically, gelatin was obtained by boiling the bones and tissues of animals, such as cows or pigs, to extract collagen.

Why do people put whipped cream on jello? ›

The combination of the whipped cream with the gelatin creates a creamy, cloud like texture with a punch of flavor. If you want chunks of fruit, you can add in fruit to match or compliment your jello flavor to make a jello salad. Enjoy right away or chill it for several hours to thicken up.

Can you use milk in jello instead of water? ›

Dissolve the jello, then use the milk instead of water for the added cold water. The milk jello will set on top making a foamy layer. I use to do this to make dessert look fancy for my kids when I only had a budget for jello.

How much Jello powder for 1 cup of water? ›

Soft Set: Use 1 teaspoon of unflavored powdered gelatin for 1 cup of liquid. Medium Set: Use 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin for 1 cup of liquid. Firm Set: Use 1 tablespoon of unflavored powdered gelatin for 1 cup of liquid.

Do you add gelatin to hot or cold? ›

How to dissolve gelatine powder
  1. Place cold water in a small bowl and sprinkle with gelatine while whisking with a fork. Set aside for 5 minutes or until spongy.
  2. Stand the bowl in a heatproof bowl of hot water and stir until the gelatine dissolves. ...
  3. Cool slightly, before adding to the mixture you want to set.

What happens if you add too much gelatin? ›

Use exact measurements: Gelatin can be a balancing act. Too little and your dessert will be a liquid mess; too much and it will be stiff and rubbery.

What makes Jell-O stronger? ›

The gelatin made with salt was stronger than the powdered milk but not as sturdy as the sugar. The average weight sugar was able to hold was 40.95 grams. Overall, sugar was the additive that created the sturdiest gelatin.

Why wont my Jell-O get firm? ›

It's not working because you're trying to set jello to lukewarm water - from mixing the hot and cold and then adding the jello. The hot water needs to be added first, then the jello, then the cold water, then refrigerate, in that order. Heat water (boil) Dissolve the Jello powder in the heated water.

What happens if you add too much gelatin to Jell-O? ›

Getting the gelatin-to-liquid ratio right is crucial for a successful gelatin dessert. Too much gelatin can result in a rubbery texture, while too little gelatin can lead to a dessert that won't hold its shape. It's important to follow the specified measurements in the recipe and avoid any guesswork.

How do you make jello pudding taste better? ›

  1. Fresh Fruit: Add fresh fruit like strawberries, raspberries, bananas, or sliced kiwi to your pudding. ...
  2. Nuts: Chopped nuts, such as toasted almonds or pecans, can add a delightful crunch and a nutty flavor to your pudding.
  3. Whipped Cream: Top your pudding with a dollop of homemade or store-bought whipped cream.
Oct 25, 2023

Why do you add cold water to jello? ›

In conclusion, the science behind gelatin's need for cold water when mixing is all about preserving its unique gelling properties. By hydrating the gelatin in cold water first, you can ensure a smooth, lump-free solution that will form a perfect gel upon cooling.

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