Broken Glass Jello
Updated
Updated
Broken Glass Jello (also known as Stained Glass Jello) looks so impressive, but is really easy to make! Different colors of Jello float in a sweetened white gelatin mixture. Vary it every time by using different flavors and colors to suit your occasion. This classic make-ahead recipe looks so lovely on a buffet table and is always a hit at holidays, potlucks, and luncheons!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItThis post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
5 STAR REVIEWS
Ever had Broken Glass Jello? Aka Stained Glass Jello, Cathedral Jello, and Mosaic Jello. It’s a classic Kraft recipe that’s been around for decades. Different flavors of Jello cubes are submerged in a condensed milk-gelatin mixture, then it chills in the refrigerator until solid before cutting into squares.
Isn’t it beautiful? It’s like a mosaic or church windows. Seems as though it would be a ton of work to make, but it’s so easy. We love how sweet and light it is, fun to eat, plus so eye-catching put out on a dessert table for any occasion.
Recipe Tips
- Any flavor and color of jello works. Use whatever colors and flavors of Jello that would fit the holiday or special occasion you’re celebrating. I included a list of suggestions below.
- Regular or Sugar Free jello. Sugar free Jello works the same way for this Jello recipe, so feel free to use that, if preferred.
- DO NOT follow the directions on the boxes of jello. You will not be following the directions on the box of Jello, which calls for more water than you need or the cubes will be too diluted and harder to slice once solid.
- Pour the dissolved gelatin into separate rectangular containers. Use shallow containers that will give you no more than 1-inch thick cubes, otherwise it takes longer for the Jello to set and also more challenging to cut. The Jello should only take about 2-3 hours to set if you chill it in shallow containers.
- Make a beautiful Jello mold instead. If you’ve got a bundt pan, make a jello mold and then slice like a cake instead of squares.
Broken Glass Jello
Ingredients
- (4) 3 ounce boxes Jello gelatin, assorted colors
- 4 cups boiling water
- (2) .25 ounce envelopes unflavored gelatin
- 2 cups hot water
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Dissolve each 3 oz. box of jello with 1 cup boiling water per flavor, then carefully pour into its own individual container coated with nonstick spray (ideally no more than 1-inch deep.)Cover and chill until solid, about 3 hours or overnight.
- Once solid, cut each of the different flavors into small square cubes.
- Lightly coat a 9×13 glass dish with nonstick spray and add in the cubes. Gently mix the four colors together in an even layer (being very careful not to break or tear them.)
- In a medium-sized bowl, dissolve both envelopes of unflavored gelatin in 2 cups of hot water. Let the hot mixture cool slightly and then whisk in the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla.
- Let mixture cool to the touch (if it's at all warm, it will melt the Jello cubes.) Then evenly pour the mixture over the cubes of Jello.
- Chill in the refrigerator until fully set, ideally overnight.
- Cut into squares and serve.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!How To Make Broken Glass Jello Step By Step
Gather your ingredients.
Dissolve 4 small 3 oz. boxes of jello with 1 cup boiling water per flavor, then carefully pour into its own individual container coated with nonstick spray (ideally no more than 1-inch deep.) Chill until solid, about 3 hours or overnight.
Lightly coat a 9×13 glass dish with nonstick spray. Once the jello is solid, cut each of the different colors into small square cubes. Add cubes to the casserole dish and gently mix together, arranging to an even layer (being very careful not to break or tear them.)
In a medium-sized bowl, dissolve 2 envelopes of unflavored gelatin in 2 cups of hot water. Let the hot mixture cool slightly and then whisk in a 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
Let mixture cool to the touch (If it’s at all warm, it will melt the Jello cubes.) Then evenly pour the mixture over the cubes of Jello.
Chill in the refrigerator until set, ideally overnight. Cut into squares and serve.
Recipe Variations for Holidays
Use whatever colors and flavors of Jello that would fit the holiday or special occasion you’re celebrating. Here are some ideas:
- Valentine’s Day: cherry and cotton candy.
- Saint Patrick’s Day: lime.
- Easter: lemon, peach, and strawberry.
- 4th of July: cherry and berry blue for a red, white, and blue jello.
- Halloween: grape, orange, and lime.
- Christmas: cherry and lime.
- Kid Party: cherry, lemon, berry blue (primary colors.)
Proper Storage
Keep any leftover jello in the refrigerator tightly covered with plastic wrap or a lid to prevent it from picking up other smells or flavors from the refrigerator. It will keep for 4 days. I don’t recommend freezing this dish.
More Jello Recipes:
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Will this hold up if made in a jello mold? Also how large are the 4 containers that the jello sets in? Thanks.
I’ve never made this in a jello mold, but I can’t see why not. You just want to make sure the white jello covers the colored jello cubes and it should be fine. Enjoy!
This is a great jello recipe! My family loved it!
I made this for tonight’s dinner. Everyone loved it. Only two servings left!
Is there a substitute for condensed milk that can be used
No, sorry. For this to turn out properly, you need the sweetened condensed milk.
My family and friends loved this jello recipe! Thank you for sharing this.
Have made this stained glass recipe several times. My family loves it. This time I made individual servings, wish I could send photos they came out beautiful. I made 5 different flavors and it made 16 5oz servings, of course my grandson ate some of the pieces of jello as he was helping me.
Could you use vanilla pudding for this? Maybe with part milk part water? Just curious it seems I never have all the ingredients at the same time?
Hi Lora – use all the ingredients listed for proper results.
Want to use for Christmas for a friend dinner. Thank you would love to use more recipes.
It’s a family favorite. I always make sure i have all the ingredients on hand.
Aloha from Hawaii
This is a no fail recipe. Easy, light, delicious, and beautiful.
I made this and took it to a potluck. I was asked several times for the recipe. Thank you for sharing.
Hello, I’ve tried once before but the less water tip is greatly appreciated! Wondering also if you can use Pre-made jello cups? Cube them up and continue with the next step?
I’ve never tired this recipe with pre-made jello but I can’t see why it wouldn’t work. Just keep all the ratios the same.
I made this for the first time yesterday for a party on this upcoming Sunday. I was so happy it looked just like your photo. The one thing I did different was add 2 of the airline size bottles of Malibu Rama with coconut liquor into the condensed milk portion. I cannot wait to taste this!
Made this on a base of graham cracker crumbs and butter (like what a cheesecake would be made on) and topped with this recipe. Turned out great! We scooped it as a dessert rather than cut into bars
Love this recipe! I make a dairy free version using sweetened coconut condensed milk (Nature’s Charm). It isn’t as white as when you use regular condensed milk but my dairy-free people enjoyed it!
i just tried this love it looked up on internet can’t wait to try it thankyou so much for sharing will let you know when i make hopefully like yours thanks Kerry S from Aussie.
Made this for Christmas dinner and it was such a hit! I did cherry and lime jello only for red and green colors. Super fun and easy dessert!
Made this for Christmas and we all loved it. Super fun dessert. I added almond extract.
Plan on making this next week. However need to make totally sugar free .so could I substitute regular sweetened condensed milk for a Home made sugar free version? Thanks!
Without further testing, I can’t vouch for substitution results, sorry.
My family and I really loved this jello. It’s one of our favorites. Thank you for SHARING!