Vegan Jello

Contrasting colors of royal purple and verdant green come together in this perfectly wiggly and multi-layered vegan jello! Real fruit juice delivers all of the flavor while a touch of cane sugar brings sweetness to the table.

As a kid, the best part of any sick day was most definitely the special treats and snacks. Whether it was a fever or case of the sniffles, a cup of vibrantly colored jello never failed to brighten my mood. As an adult however, I found myself wishing there was a better option. Not only is regular jello not vegan, but it also contains a ton of sugar and additives.

So, I took it upon myself to come up with an alternative! It turns out that agar agar--an ingredient extracted from red algae--makes for an excellent gelatin powder substitute and is 100% vegan. Also, by using real fruit juice, this easy dessert requires less added sugar but still has all of the sweetness and flavor that a good jello demands. 

This treat may have been inspired by sick days, but you certainly don’t need to be feeling under the weather in order to enjoy it. My vegan jello is refreshing in warm weather and provides some serious pick-me-up benefits on rainy or snowy days indoors. No matter when you eat it, this wiggly, jiggly gelatin dessert will leave you feeling like a kid again! 

Ingredients

• Water - tap water is fine here, or use bottled water if you prefer. 
• Cane sugar - be sure to choose cane sugar which is raw or organic, as refined white sugar is often processed with animal products. 
• Agar agar powder - this ingredient is derived from algae and when mixed with water, produces a jelly-like texture. Measure carefully, as even just a bit too much could result in a texture that is rubbery as opposed to jello-y. We’ll go over a bit more about agar agar in our Chef Tips section. 
• Grape juice - concord grape juice will be your best option here as it boasts a deep purple color and sweet flavor, but red grape juice will do the trick as well. 
• Green apple juice - I was able to find a bright green vegan apple juice for my jello, but if you can’t find one, plain apple juice will work too. The color will be different and the clarity will be a little more cloudy, but it will still be plenty tasty! If you prefer brighter colors, add a drop or two of vegan green food coloring. We'll chat more about the use of food coloring in the Variations section. 

How to Make Vegan Jello

1. Make the grape jello. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the grape jello ingredients: water, cane sugar, agar agar, and grape juice. Stir well, then bring the mixture to a boil. Cook the mixture at a rolling boil for 2 minutes--keeping a close eye on it to avoid boil-over!--then remove it from the heat and let cool until it stops steaming, about 3-5 minutes. 
2. Pour and set. Equally divide the grape mixture between 4 dessert glasses. Carefully transfer them to your fridge and chill for about 1 hour, until almost set.
3. Make the apple jello. In another saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the apple jello ingredients: water, cane sugar, agar agar, and green apple juice. Stir well, then bring the mixture to a boil. Cook the mixture at a rolling boil for 2 minutes–again keeping a close eye on it to avoid boil-over!--then remove it from the heat and let cool until it stops steaming, about 3-5 minutes.
4. Layer and set. Equally divide the green apple mixture between the 4 dessert glasses, pouring it directly on top of the grape jello. Allow the jello to set for 1 hour. 
5. Serve! I love to enjoy this jello nice and chilled, straight out of the fridge.

Watch Us Make Vegan Jello

Chef Tips

Cooking with agar agar can be tricky. Be sure to measure it carefully, as the precise ratio of agar agar powder to total liquid is very important. Also, boiling agar agar too long can have some negative textural effects, so set your timer and make sure to remove it from the heat after 2 minutes.

Agar agar flakes are different than agar agar powder, but if you already have them on hand, you can certainly use the flakes instead. Keep in mind that depending on the brand, they may be 2-3 times less potent than the powder. Start with twice as much as the recipe calls for, but you may need to do a bit of experimentation to get the proportion right. 

Use food coloring to pump up the volume if you are looking for extra vibrant jello! There are a number of excellent vegan and natural food coloring options in most grocery stores.

Small clear glasses like dessert cups or mason jars are ideal for showing off the layered, contrasting colors of the jello in this recipe. Use what you have though! Sturdy glassware, clear mugs, or jelly jars would also work here. Or, use small opaque bowls or ramekins and let that layer of grape jello in the bottom remain a secret until the jello lovers in your life go to dig in!

Recipe Variations

For Other Flavors: Feel free to swap in other fruit juices in order to produce jello of different colors and flavors! Bright and clear fruit juice like watermelon and fruit punch are wonderful for a classic jello-like appearance while cloudier juices like mango and pineapple add great flavor and color. 

Skip the Layers: I love the layered look of the apple jello on top of the grape jello in this recipe, but if you want to keep them separate or not fuss with the layers, that’s fine too! Just pour each jello flavor into its own dessert cups and chill as instructed. 

Make Jello Cubes: Instead of pouring the jello mixture into dessert cups, pour it into a rectangular or square baking dish or pan--think something you would use to make a small batch of brownies or casserole. Chill until the jello is firm all around. Hold a sharp knife under warm running water, dry it off, then run the warm blade around the edges of the jello to release it from the sides of the dish. Slice the jello into cubes and carefully remove them from the pan. 

How to Store Vegan Jello

Refrigerating. Cover each jello cup tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. If your jello is in cubes, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the same way.

Freezing. I have never tried it myself, but some people swear by frozen jello--saying it takes on a soft, chewy texture that is entirely delicious! In order to keep your jello's classic texture, I don’t recommend freezing it. If you are feeling adventurous and want to give this recipe a shot as a frozen treat, let me know how you like it!

📋 Recipe