If you’re looking for a colorful, fun, and super easy treat, this Jello cookies recipe is perfect! These bright, chewy cookies come together with just a handful of ingredients, including your favorite Jello mix. It’s a quick and simple way to get kids involved in the kitchen, making this a sweet baking project for any occasion.
We love desserts in my house, but colorful cookies are always a win! Some of our favorites are Thumbprint Cookies, Rainbow Sprinkle Cookies and our Italian Wedding Cookies.
Jello Cookies Recipe
When my kids were little, I always hunted for fun activities to keep them entertained and treats we could make together. If you’re looking for a way to create memories in the kitchen, this recipe is more than just baking Jello cookies—it’s an opportunity for little hands to craft their own edible masterpieces. Why? This fun twist dough does double duty—it’s not only perfect for making soft, flavorful cookies, but it also works as homemade playdough!
Sugar cookie dough has a soft, squishy texture and is easy to mold. With just a few ingredients: cookie mix, butter, an egg, and a box of Jello, you can create vibrant colors. Kids will have a blast mushing and shaping the dough into creative, Jello-flavored combinations, making baking time a hands-on adventure.
This recipe is pure nostalgia—a little taste of childhood joy baked right into every cookie!
Ingredients for Jello Cookies
- Snickerdoodle cookie mix: This recipe does not need the cinnamon sugar packet. 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 (Cherry or Strawberry Jell-O)
- Blue-flavored gelatin powder (Berry Blue Jell-O)
- Green-flavored gelatin powder (Lime Jell-O)
- Yellow-flavored gelatin powder (Lemon Jell-O)
- Granulated white sugar
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 of 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 approximately 1-inch 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, roll the cookie dough balls into the extra jello powder prior to baking or add a dash of vanilla. - Bake, let cool on a wire rack and plate, and enjoy!
Pro-Tip: Bake the cookies until the bottoms are just barely golden and the tops are firm to the touch.
Tips & Variations
- 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.
- 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.
Proper Storage
- Jello cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, adding a small piece of bread to help keep them soft.
- In the Fridge: For longer storage, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7-10 days and bring them to room temperature before serving.
- To freeze baked cookies: Arrange them in a single layer in an airtight container or freezer bag, separating layers with parchment paper. They’ll stay fresh for up to 3 months, and you can thaw them at room temperature before enjoying.
- Freezing cookie dough: Roll it into balls and freeze them on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake directly from frozen, adding a few minutes to the baking time.
More Sugar Cookie Recipes
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.