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.
I’m excited to try this recipe! I do have a question though…if I’m doing one color it says to use the whole box of jello but the original recipe calls for almost 2 full boxes?
What a fun recipe to do with my grandchildren!!! I also love that you can use it as play dough. Thanks to my Sister in Law for sharing this on her FB page 🤗
easy and can do with my grandchildren.
If you use sugar cookie mix instead of snickerdoodle mix, do you stil need to roll dough ball is granulaed sugar?
Yes, I would.
se ven deliciosas las hare ya que mi esposo siempre busca algo dulce para comer por la tarde
Pretty easy and fun with kiddos !
I plan on making these for Christmas
I would love to try these recipes.
Beautifully colorful and so easy. Will work for so many occasions just by selecting appropriate colors. Cannot wait to make some for Christmas in red and green
When your cookies come out hard,put them in a ziploc or air tight container and put 1 or 2 slices of white bread on top of cookies,in no time your cookies will be nice and soft.If you put bread on bottom,cookies will get hard.