Colorful Jello Cookies
This post may contain affiliate links, read our disclosure policy.
These colorful Jello Cookies are a delightful treat that combines the chewy goodness of sugar cookies with a burst of fruity flavors. Vibrantly colored and irresistibly delicious, these festive cookies are perfect for parties, special occasions, or just fun everyday snacking.
Easy Jello Cookies
Made with a basic store-bought cookie mix and a handful of pantry staples, these cookies are a simple yet delightful treat that’s perfect for any occasion. Adding different flavors of sweet and tangy Jello powder to the dough transforms basic sugar cookies into an array of bright and cheery treats with delicious fruity flavors.
One of the best things about this recipe is that making these Jello Cookies is a breeze, and a great activity to involve the little ones. You just mix together the cookie mix with a handful of other simple ingredients to make the dough. Then let the kiddos mix the Jello powder creating beautiful and fruity cookie dough. Whether you’re looking for a rainy day activity or just a delicious snack, these Jello Cookies will create easy and delicious treats for the whole family.
If you love colorful cookie recipes, check out these easy Pinwheel Cookies or these festive Red, White and Blue Crinkle Cookies.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Vibrant colors: Jello powder is the secret ingredient used in these cookies that adds a pop of fun color, bringing a playful touch to any occasion.
- Bursting with flavor: Not only does the Jello add color, but it also infuses the cookies with a sweet and tangy flavor, adding an extra layer of deliciousness to each bite.
- Easy to make: This easy recipe uses a sugar cookie mix for the main ingredient, which saves time and effort in measuring out individual dry ingredients.
- Family friendly: This is a fun recipe for little beginner bakers to make. They’ll love watching simple cookie dough transform into colorful baked cookies as they come out of the oven.
Ingredients
- Bag of sugar cookie mix
- Unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- Cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- Large egg
- Red Jello powder
- Orange Jello powder
- Green Jello powder
- Yellow Jello powder
- Granulated sugar
Instructions
Step One: Prepare the Cookie Dough
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar cookie mix, butter, cream cheese and egg.
- Using an electric mixer or hand mixer, combine until the dough is formed. It will be crumbly.
Step Two: Add the Jello Mix
- Separate bowl of dough into 4 smaller bowls in equal portions. Add 3 tablespoons of Jello powder to each of the bowls.
Step Three: Mix Until the Color is Even
- Using your hands, mash in the jello powder into the dough, pinching pushing, until smooth. The color will blend into the dough, dying it evenly.
Step Four: Roll Balls into Sugar
- Use a cookie scoop to compact and scoop the dough from the bowls. Shape dough into smooth balls in between the palms of your hands.
- Roll dough balls in the granulated sugar, then place on them on the cookie sheet. Be sure to place the cookie dough 2 inches apart from one another. You will likely need two baking sheets.
Step Five: Bake and Cool
- Bake cookies for 10-11 minutes. If you make smaller cookies, adjust the time to 8-10 minutes.
- When done, allow the colorful cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Serve them slightly warm or at room temperature.
Recipe Add-in’s and Variations
- Chocolate chips: Add a handful of white chocolate chips to the sugar cookie dough. The combination of Jello and white chocolate taste great together.
- Sprinkles: Add even more bright colors with some of your favorite colored sprinkles mixed into the dough.
- Citrus zest: Enhance the fruity flavor of these Jell-o cookies by adding lemon or orange zest.
- Chopped nuts: If you want to add some crunch to your cookies, you can mix in some chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds to the dough.
- Shredded coconut: If you love coconut, you can mix some shredded coconut into the dough.
- Dried fruit: Add a little chewiness to this festive Jello cookies recipe with dried cranberries, raisins, or apricots.
- Extracts: Experiment with different extracts like almond, mint, or coconut to infuse additional flavors into this jello cookie recipe.
- Fun shapes: Instead of rolling the dough in sugar, you can roll it out on a floured surface. Use cookie cutters to make them into cute shapes. Heart-shaped jello cookies would be a cute idea for Valentine’s Day.
What Can I Do with Leftover Jello Powder?
Because you’re only using a few tablespoons out of the box of jello, here are some ways to put the rest of it to good use.
- Jello fruit salad: A tangy twist to your next fruit salad by adding a sprinkle of the extra jello powder. Gently toss a medley of your favorite fruits with a sprinkle of the jello.
- Fruity milkshakes: Give your milkshakes a hint of fruit flavor by adding a small amount of dry Jell-O powder to the milkshake ingredients.
- Flavored frosting: Give your cakes or cupcakes a zesty twist by using leftover jello powder to the frosting.
- Cheesecake bites: For a delicious fruit treat, create mini cheesecake bites with a touch of fruity flavor. Just prepare your favorite no-bake cheesecake recipe and add in some of the leftover Jello powder.
- Yogurt parfait: Create a colorful and fruity yogurt parfait using dry Jello powder. Take plain or vanilla yogurt and mix in a small amount of Jello powder. Layer the Jello flavored yogurt with fresh fruit, granola, or nuts.
What Flavor of Jello Can I Use
Feel free to choose any flavor of jello mix you prefer. You can use classic flavors like strawberry, lime, orange or explore more unusual options like watermelon or blue raspberry jello.
How Do I Store These Cookies?
Allow the cookies to cool completely then transfer them to a gallon-size Ziploc bag, a cookie jar or other type airtight container. You’ll want to place a sheet of parchment or wax paper between the layers of cookies to prevent them from sticking together. Store at room temperature for 5-6 days.
More Easy Cookie Recipes
- Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies
- Lemon Cake Mix Cookies
- Snowball Cookies
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- Candy Bar Sandwich Cookies
- Perfect Macarons
- Italian Ricotta Cookies
- White Chocolate Chip and Macadamia Nut Cookies
Jello Cookies
Ingredients
- 17.5 ounce bag sugar cookie mix
- ½ stick unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 3 Tablespoons red Jello powder
- 3 Tablespoons orange Jello powder
- 3 Tablespoons green Jello powder
- 3 Tablespoons yellow Jello powder
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar cookie mix, butter, cream cheese and egg.17.5 ounce bag sugar cookie mix, ½ stick unsalted butter, 4 ounces cream cheese, 1 large egg
- Using an electric stand or hand mixer, combine until the dough is formed. It will be crumbly.
- Separate the bowl into 4 smaller bowls (like cereal bowls). Add 3 Tablespoons of Jello powder to each of the bowls.3 Tablespoons red Jello powder, 3 Tablespoons orange Jello powder, 3 Tablespoons green Jello powder, 3 Tablespoons yellow Jello powder
- Using your hands, rub the powder into the dough, pinching and combining until smooth. The color will blend into the dough, dying it evenly.
- Use a cookie scoop to compact and scoop the dough from the bowls. Round into smooth balls in between the palms of your hands and place on the baking sheet.
- Roll dough balls in the granulated sugar, then place on them on the cookie sheet. Be sure to place the cookie dough 2 inches apart from one another. You will likely need two baking sheets.½ cup granulated sugar
- Bake cookies for 10-11 minutes.
- When done, allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
Don’t forget to share it with me on @thebalancingmom and follow on Tiktok @balancingmotherhood and Pinterest @thebalancingmom for more!
It looks nice and light and fun for the summer.
I need something light and fresh for my daughter. I think she’d like this.
confused? if i make all the same color cookies how much jello would i use?
Can these be made with sugar free jellow powder?
I haven’t tested these with the sugar-free powder. I think it’s worth a try, but I can’t guarantee the results.
There’s no mention in the recipe to roll the balls in sugar?
In the main blog post instructions Step four mentions rolling the dough in sugar and has photos. I’ve updated the printable recipe so it’s clear to do this step. Thanks!
Pretty, but my cookies are so flat. They look thicker in the pictures.
Can you make these ahead and freeze them
These can be made and frozen. Place in an air tight container and put in freezer for up to 3 months.
The jello recipe for the cookies looks interesting for Easter also but I am not sure about the Fall Festival time. But I will keep it in mind thank you for that idea also again. Dawn White