My kids love jello. Any chance to make it brings big smiles, and holidays are the perfect excuse to turn this simple treat into something festive. With bright colors and a little creativity, jello can be more than a dessert — it can be an edible decoration. Jello jigglers are just as easy to make as regular jello, with two small changes to make them firm enough to cut into shapes that both kids and adults will enjoy.
To make jello jigglers, the key is using less water than the standard recipe. Less water lets the gelatin set firmer so it will hold its shape when cut with a cookie cutter or knife.
Start with a flavor you like. For St. Patrick’s Day I chose lime for its bright green color.
I used one 6 oz. box of gelatin, which made about 24 shamrock jigglers using a 1 1/2 inch cutter. If you want more, double the ingredients — quantities for both pan sizes are listed below.
Empty one 6 oz. box of gelatin powder into a glass bowl.
Add 1 1/4 cups boiling water and stir for three minutes until the powder is fully dissolved. This is where the method differs from regular jello — DO NOT add cold water. Adding cold water will thin the mixture and the jigglers won’t hold their shape.
Pour the hot gelatin into a 7 1/2 x 11-inch glass baking dish. Take a moment to remove any bubbles on the surface with the back of a spoon — otherwise the air pockets will leave a bumpy finish when the jello sets.
Refrigerate for about three hours, or until completely firm.
When the jello is firm, place about an inch of warm water in the bottom of your sink. Set the dish into the warm water for roughly 15 seconds — just enough to loosen the edges so the jello will release cleanly from the glass.
When bathing the pan, make sure the water level only reaches about a half-inch above the jello. If water spills into the dish it will dissolve the surface.
After the warm water step, remove the dish and dry the bottom. Use a cookie cutter of your choice to start cutting shapes. Press the cutter straight down all the way to the bottom of the pan so each shape releases cleanly.
Start in a corner and keep cutting across the pan until it’s filled with shapes. Then use a small spatula to gently work around the edges of each piece and lift them out. The excess jello between shapes pulls away easily when you go slowly.
You’ll be left with a pan full of pretty, firm jigglers. Serve them on a simple platter or arrange them on a decorative tray for a festive presentation.
Jello Jigglers — smaller batch (7 1/2 x 11 pan)
1 (6 oz.) box gelatin, flavor of your choice
1 1/4 cups boiling water
Put the gelatin powder into a glass bowl. Add boiling water and stir for three minutes until dissolved. Pour into a 7 1/2 x 11 glass baking dish and refrigerate for three hours. Briefly set the bottom of the dish in warm water for about 15 seconds, dry the dish, then cut into 1-inch cubes or use cookie cutters to make fun shapes.
Jello Jigglers — larger batch (9 x 13 pan)
2 (6 oz.) boxes gelatin, flavor of your choice
2 1/2 cups boiling water
Combine the two boxes of gelatin in a glass bowl, add 2 1/2 cups boiling water and stir for three minutes. Pour into a 9 x 13 glass baking dish and refrigerate for three hours. Briefly set the bottom of the dish in warm water for about 15 seconds, dry, and cut into cubes or shapes with cookie cutters.
Extra tip: Pack these jigglers in your child’s lunch box for a fun, themed treat. Use red hearts for Valentine’s Day, purple eggs for Easter, or any shape and color that matches the holiday or your child’s favorite flavor. They’re a simple, creative way to celebrate.
