Wow, it took me quite a long time to nail this vegan jello recipe.
I’m not much of a jello person really, which is good because it’s not something you find vegan varieties of very often. Usually jello’s use gelatine which is a by-product of the meat industry.
But I decided to rise to the challenge of making a vegan jello because I wanted to make a Christmas Trifle!
And in South Africa a Christmas Trifle almost always contains jello. Or what we call ‘jelly’. Green and red jelly/jello to be precise. You know, lovely Christmas colors!
Everything I read online told me that agar agar was the magic ingredient in vegan jello. So off I went to find some.
An organic/health food store had some in stock, but only the flakes version (and at first I didn’t know there was any other version to get!).
So off I went and tried to make a recipe that I got from PETA, that advises to use 2 Tbsp of agar agar along with fruit juice and a little sugar. Well…. if jello is meant to be a rock hard brick, then sure!
But there was no jiggle in that jello and that’s just not jello in my view!
So… back to the drawing board.
I found another recipe that said to use half fruit juice and half water and only 1/2 tsp of agar agar. Needless to say that is a HUGE difference.
But when I tried it that way my jello didn’t set at all.
Again…back to the drawing board. And that’s when I found out from this article that agar agar is either in flakes OR in powder form. When it’s in the flake form you need 3 times as much as if it was in the powder form.
OH! I see! The penny droppeth!
So I then used the same recipe but adjusting for the fact that I was using agar agar flakes and not powder, so using 1.5 tsp instead of 1/2 tsp and then the magic happened. Perfectly textured, delicious tasting jello!
Absolutely perfect to use in a recipe calling for jello – like my Trifle – or to enjoy as is!
So remember this lovely people! Agar agar powder is up to 3 times as strong as agar agar flakes. So if the recipe calls for powder and you have flakes, use up to 3 times as much. Easy as that. Update: I have since made this recipe using agar agar powder and found it takes a little more than 1/2 tsp, so the calculation is close but not exact! Directions for both inside the recipe card.
You will love this vegan jello, it is exactly like the ‘real thing’! It’s:
- Fruity
- Jiggly
- Perfectly textured
- Sweet
- Perfect for use in desserts
- Only 4-ingredients!
Enjoy it as a dessert or use it in a recipe that requires jello. You can mix and match flavors just by switching out the fruit juice you use. Pretty cool.
Let me know in the comments what you think of this vegan jello! And if you’re going to use it in another dessert recipe, let me know where you’ll use it. Other than a trifle I’m not sure what else I would put it in. But eating it as is, is pretty fun too, so it’s not like it’s a problem!
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Vegan Jello
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Prep Time: 1 min - Cook Time: 4 mins
- Total Time: 5 mins
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Yield: 2 cups -
Category: Dessert, How To -
Cuisine: Vegan
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
Fun and fruity vegan jello. Perfect for use in other desserts or to eat as is. Perfectly textured, deliciously sweet, gluten-free and vegan.
Ingredients
- For Red Jello:
- 1.5 tsp Agar Agar Flakes (if using Agar Agar Powder, use 3/4 tsp)
- 1 cup (240ml) Red Grape Juice (100% fruit juice)
- 1 cup (240ml) Water
- 1/4 cup (50g) Sugar
- For Green Jello:
- 1.5 tsp Agar Agar Flakes (if using Agar Agar Powder, use 3/4 tsp)
- 1 cup (240ml) Green Apple Juice (100% fruit juice)
- 1 cup (240ml) Water
- 1/4 cup (50g) Sugar
- A few drops Green Food Color*
Instructions
- For the red jello: Add the agar agar flakes or powder, water, fruit juice and sugar to a pot on the stove. Bring to the boil stirring regularly. Allow to boil for 2 minutes.
- Pour out into serving bowls or glasses.
- Refrigerate to set.
- For the green jello: Follow the steps as above, but after boiling for 2 minutes, remove from the heat and stir in the green food coloring. Pour into serving bowls or glasses and refrigerate to set.
Notes
*The green food coloring is added in to get the green color because green apple juice is more cloudy in color than green. However, if you don’t like using food coloring you can omit this step. Some brands of green food coloring I’ve used up to 1/4 tsp of color before it gets to the right shade, other brands are stronger and I’ve only needed a couple of drops, so go slow if you’re adding it in.
*Each batch (green or red) makes around 2 cups of jello.
To make jello shots, check out our recipe for Vegan Jello Shots.
*Adapted from Manjula’s Kitchen
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (of 2 cups per batch)
- Calories: 172
- Sugar: 42.9g
- Sodium: 6mg
- Fat: 0.1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44.2g
- Fiber: 0.7g
- Protein: 0.4g
Never realised one could make jelly for vegans! This must be a first – amazing!
★★★★★
I’m so excited to make this with my kids. I didn’t know it was even possible to get a vegan version of jello. Thanks so much!
★★★★★
I made this but mine turned out grainy. The texture wasn’t good at all. I used the powder. Not sure what I did wrong.
Sorry to hear that! Did you let it boil for 2 minutes? This is crucial in getting it to the right texture. If you already did that, then I have no idea what went wrong.
My daughter and I made this today and it turned out perfectly! Same texture that I remembered from non-vegan jello, and the taste may be a little bit better!
Thanks so much for posting this!
★★★★★
So glad to hear it turned out well! Thanks for sharing! š
Wonder how it would work if I wanted to make Jell-O shots? Less water?
Hey Samantha, I’m not sure really! I guess it would be an experimentation! Maybe using a little less water to account for adding alcohol and then adding the alcohol before chilling. But I am really shooting in the dark here, no idea! Good luck and let us know how it turns out if you do try it!
Can you use juices like cherry, lime, or lemon? Or would that not work because those are more acidic? (Cherry and lime are my favorite jello flavors, so I thought Iād ask.)
I don’t see a problem with it at all, I really think any flavor would work here. š
Finally I can make jello anyone can eat.
★★★★★
Too cool! š
OMG!!! After trawling the internet for months, and trialling many many vegan jello recipes, this is the FIRST recipe I found that actually works and tastes AMAZING!! I tried it for the very first time to top our Christmas trifle (I know, risky trying a new recipe for Christmas) but it worked!! Egg-less sponge, coconut milk custard, fruit and vegan grape jello – a match made in heaven. Thank you SO much Alison for all your persistence in trialling those jello recipes. It paid off, because now I have THE perfect recipe, and the glowing comments from Christmas guests was an added bonus. I can’t tell you how important the information was regarding agar agar flakes v agar agar powder. I did not change a thing with this recipe. It had the right color, texture and wobble. Just perfect! Cheers from Australia š
Brilliant! So glad to hear! Thanks so much Doreen! š I also love this jello in a trifle. š
I first tried making a double batch,but the jello never really set,
even though I used the right amount of agar agar flakes.
So I made the recipe as written and it firmed up!
My kids were really excited, they loved it!
★★★★★
It’s such a weird thing about doubling a recipe that it often causes issues – these days I have learned to not really recommend doubling a recipe because it often doesn’t work even though it ‘should’ in theory! So glad to hear that it was good and the kids loved it though! Thanks for sharing Parie! š
I just found a new recipe that I would like to make, but my sister would need vegan Jell-O. How does this adapt when a recipe calls for a 3 ounce box and 1 cup boiling water? It’s this amazing Jello salad I had at a church function. Grape Jello, crushed pineapple and blueberry pie filling. With a creamy topping (no, that part isn’t vegan!) Thanks!!
I honestly have no idea, I don’t know how much jello a box makes, it’s been a long time since I made regular jello. That dessert sounds delish though and with a vegan creamy topping…. š
I’m preparing for an upcoming colonoscopy. The instructions say the day before you can have clear fluids and yellow or green jello. As a vegan I rolled my eyes and thought, “great…” On a whim I looked up vegan jello and found this! It cheered me up and gave me hope that I’ll have a little something to munch on for the 24+ hours that I”m not supposed to eat “real” food. I can’t wait to try this! Thank you!
Awesome! Yes, you can have jello too! Good luck with everything! š
Worked great. Just used berry tea and stevia instead. Has the perfect texture!
★★★★★
Awesome! š Thank you for sharing!
Can I make this with a microwave and a blender?
I really don’t know, but I think it would make it a lot more difficult.
So happy to find this recipe. I am wanting to make a vegan version of that carrot jello with grated carrots and oranges in it. Has anyone tried adding the fruits or veg to this jello? Any ideas on at which point would be best to add stuff, and if there should be lessening of liquid or anything? Thanx!!!!
★★★★★
Hi Sarah, I would add it in before it sets, so just as you pour it into the glasses when it’s in liquid form, add in the fruits and veg then so it all sets together. I don’t think you would need to use less liquid or change anything else.
Thank You!! I can’t wait to try it. I will report back with results. š