These bright and colorful Jello Cookies are quick and easy to make using only 4 simple ingredients plus jello mix. This recipe is perfect for baking with kids because it is practically foolproof and is a fun way to bake deliciously soft and sweet sugar cookies that can be customized according to their favorite color-flavor combinations.
Jello Sugar Cookies – Double Duty Dough
When my kids were little, I was always searching for fun activities to keep them occupied and treats that we could make together. If you too are looking to spend time with kids in the kitchen, this recipe is so much more than simply baking jello cookies; it’s the perfect pastime for little fingers to make their own creative edible creations. Why? Because the dough serves a dual purpose–it makes the easiest, yet tastiest cookies AND it doubles as homemade playdough!
Just like the original playdough, I love that the texture of this sugar cookie dough is soft and squishy and the colors can be made into so many bright shades. Using only a bag of cookie mix, some butter, and an egg, kids will have fun making their own jello-flavored cookie combinations while squashing and mushing the dough into delicious handmade moldable masterpieces.
To me, this is the best nostalgia baked inside a cookie!
Why We Love This Jello Cookies Recipe
- Quick and super easy to make–you almost can’t mess this one up!
- Uses only 4 ingredients plus jello mix.
- Fun recipe to make with kids.
- Soft and chewy sugar cookie recipe.
- Kids will love the bright colors and fun flavor combinations.
- Perfectly portable to take to a potluck or a holiday party.
- Easy to customize the colors for Valentine’s Day, Easter, baby showers, Mother’s Day, Christmas, or any other special occasion.
Ingredients / Shopping List
- Snickerdoodle cookie mix: You can use a sugar cookie mix, but then make sure to use softened butter, not melted.
- Salted butter: You can use unsalted butter but I recommend adding a pinch of salt to the mix if you do.
- Egg
- Red flavored gelatin powder (Jell-O)
- Blue flavored gelatin powder (Jell-O)
- Green flavored gelatin powder (Jell-O)
- Yellow flavored gelatin powder (Jell-O)
- Granulated white sugar
Substitutions and Additions
- Color Combinations: If you can’t find or don’t want to use 4 different colors/flavors, you can just use more or less of the others. Add 1 ½ additional Tablespoons of gelatin powder to the dough for each color you omit. For example, if you prefer only 2 colors, use 6 Tablespoons of powder per bowl when you mix it into the dough. For 3 colors, use 4 ½ Tablespoons of powder per bowl of dough.
- Cutout Cookies: This jello cookie dough is great for making fun shaped cookies with cookie cutters. Simply prepare the cookie dough as instructed. Instead of rolling into balls and baking, form the dough into a disk and wrap it in plastic wrap. Chill the dough into the fridge for about 2 hours and then roll the chilled dough out on a lightly floured surface or between two sheets of parchment paper. Use cookie cutters to cut out your favorite shapes.
- Mix-Ins: Since the jello adds so much flavor and color to the cookies, you honestly don’t to add anything to the dough. But if you want to mix in some extra treats, feel free to use M&Ms, chocolate chips, peppermint, caramel, peanut butter cups, or your favorite candy.
- Jell-O Mix: You can use sugar-free jello mix if preferred.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Glass mixing bowls
- Measuring tools
- Sheet pan
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
- 2-inch Cookie scoop
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How to Make Jell-O Cookies
This recipe is so easy to make using Jell-O and 4 simple ingredients. These bright and colorful cookies are fun to bake with kids and add instant pleasure to any plate!
- Mix together the cookie mix, butter, and egg. Separate the cookie dough into four bowls.
- Knead a different color gelatin powder into each portion of cookie dough.
Pro Tip: I find it easiest to use my hands to knead the dough with the gelatin. - Scoop cookies and roll them into balls. Roll each ball of cookie dough into sugar until completely covered.
- Place each ball of cookie dough on parchment lined sheet pan.
Pro-Tip: For an even sweeter cookie, you can roll the cookie dough balls into the extra jello powder prior to baking. - Bake, cool, plate, and enjoy!
Pro-Tip: Bake the cookies until the bottoms are just barely golden and the tops are firm to the touch.
Tips
- Bake the cookies until the bottoms are just barely golden and the tops are firm to the touch.
- You can use sugar-free jello mix if preferred.
- For an even sweeter cookie, you can roll the cookie dough balls into the extra jello powder prior to baking.
Storage Tips
- To Store: Store at room temperature in an airtight container for 3-5 days.
- To Freeze: Completely cool your baked cookies and freeze in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
These cookies store well at room temperature, in an airtight container, for 3-5 days. After they are completely cooled, you can freeze them in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Jello Cookies are a great recipe for kids to help in the kitchen! Since there are no sharp tools used, they can help with almost all of the steps, however, they should stay away from the oven! Kids will love to mix up the dough and knead in the gelatin powder. The dough becomes similar to playdoh once it has the gelatin in it, which makes it perfect for little fingers. They can roll it into balls, roll it in the sugar and place it on the baking sheet as well. This is a great parent-child activity with delicious results!
You do not need the cinnamon sugar packet for this recipe but there are several other ways that you can use it if you don’t want to throw it away! Sprinkle it on buttered toast for a sweet snack, use it on pancakes or french toast, sprinkle it on your fresh fruit or use it in a baked fruit dessert, roll homemade doughnuts in it, fry up some flour tortilla strips and cover them in the cinnamon sugar for a crunchy dessert, or mix it into your morning oatmeal.
If you want to make just one color (like pink or blue for a baby shower), you will use the whole box of Jello (The 3.4 ounce smaller box).
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Jello cookies
Ingredients
- 1 17.5 ounce bag snickerdoodle cookie mix (you will not be using the cinnamon-sugar package for this recipe)
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter melted
- 1 large egg
- 3 tbsp red flavored gelatin powder (about ½ of a 3 ounce package)
- 3 tbsp blue flavored gelatin powder (about ½ of a 3 ounce package)
- 3 tbsp green flavored gelatin powder (about ½ of a 3 ounce package)
- 3 tbsp yellow flavored gelatin powder (about ½ of a 3 ounce package)
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a sheet pan by lining it with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a large bowl, stir together the cookie mix, melted butter, and egg until fully combined.
- Separate the cookie dough evenly into four small mixing bowls.
- To each bowl, knead in 3 Tablespoons of each color of flavored gelatin. You should have four different colored doughs when you finish. (I found it was easier to use my hands for this part)
- Place the sugar in a shallow bowl, you will be rolling your cookies in it as you prepare them.
- Scoop out the cookies using a 2 Tablespoon cookie scoop and roll them into balls. Roll them in the sugar until completely covered.
- Place the balls on the prepared sheet pan with 2 inches between each cookie. Bake in the oven for 10-13 minutes or until the tops of the cookies get firm to the touch. You may begin to see a golden color on the tops of the cookies, if so take them out so that they don’t overcook.
- Let cool on the baking sheet for 3-5 minutes and enjoy warm or cooled!
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: Store at room temperature in an airtight container for 3-5 days.
- To Freeze: Completely cool your baked cookies and freeze in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
- Bake the cookies until the bottoms are just barely golden and the tops are firm to the touch.
- You can use sugar-free jello mix if preferred.
- For an even sweeter cookie, you can roll the cookie dough balls into the extra jello powder prior to baking.
My daughter, who is 6, and I made these today! The whole process was easy and fun from start-to-finish. We made it exactly as per recipe and they turned out great! I’ve never had such fruity-flavored cookies before and was nervous, but they taste just like their jello flavor name suggests. Will make again, for sure!
I found out that 1 stick of butter is equal to 1/2 cup : I made a double batch and it said 1 stick of melted butter and it should have been 2 sticks equaling 1 cup
I’m confused. The recipe above shows 1/2 cup butter which is equivalent to 1 stick of butter – are you saying the recipe is incorrect?
Can you use jello mix?
Is there any way to make the colors deeper, too make school colors? For example, burgundy and dark green?
I would just put a few drop of food coloring or food coloring gel in the dough to get your desired color.
Will this work with sugar cookie dough??
Yes, see the instructions above in the post ❤️
Do you have to flatten the cookies a bit before baking or will they flatten out by themselves?
No – they should flatten on their own.
If you where to do just one color, lets say blue, would you use the full package of gelatin, Thanks waiting to make these for a baby shower.
Yes, with only one color you would use the whole box (The 3.4 ounce smaller box)
Hi Jenn – Can’t wait to try these, they look so pretty and fun, probably rather yummy too! I honestly do not use the bagged mixes you show, but definitely plan to try them, which make me wonder, in part of your post, you state…”Snickerdoodle cookie mix: You can use a sugar cookie mix, but then make sure to use softened butter, not melted.”, and them later the recipe states…”In a large bowl, stir together the sugar cookie mix, melted butter, and egg until fully combined.” Are we suppose to use melted or softened butter…I appreciate your time!
When using a snickerdoodle mix you should use melted butter.
If you use a sugar cookie mix you should use softened butter. The cookie type makes the difference.
Truly appreciate the way you made this jello cookies. Everything is so nicely described that really helped me. Looking forward for more such yummy recipes in future too.
Couldn’t you just use a sugar cookie mix?
Yes, you can, but I prefer the snickerdoodle base for this recipe.