• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Veggies Don't Bite
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Easter
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Resources
  • Portfolio
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Easter
    • Recipes
    • Shop
    • Resources
    • Portfolio
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home ▸ Vegan Desserts

    Homemade Vegan Jello Recipe

    Last modified: October 5, 2022. Originally posted: September 16, 2021 By Sophia DeSantis

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Overlay text on making vegan jello with a photo of three flavors in glass jars
    Three glass jars filled with different flavored jello cubes on a pink napkin
    Collage of the steps to make homemade jello and a final pic with overlay text

    Making vegan jello is easy and healthy! Learn how to make it at home without gelatin for the perfect kid snack.

    Different flavors of jello in three glass jars sitting on a pink napkin
    Click here to subscribe

    Jello is such a childhood memory for me. I always loved the red and hated the orange. Making it at home can be pretty easy but making sure it is vegan requires a little knowledge!

    Traditional jello is made with gelatin, which you may or may not know is not vegan. Luckily for us, there is a plant based alternative! Agar Agar is derived from seaweed, and is a gelatinous substance that is perfect for making vegan jello.

    Ingredients

    There's only a few simple ingredients needed to make vegan jello, and they are very customizable! Here's what you need:

    • Juice
    • Agar agar powder 
    • Sweetener 
    Top view of three jars of different colored liquids next to a tablespoon of powder and a plastic container bag

    How to Make Vegan Jello

    The process for making plant based jello is very similar to the packaged version you may be familiar with. Here's what to do:

    1. Boil all ingredients, whisking constantly.Whisk mixing an orange liquid in a black pot on a wooden surface
    2. Pour into a prepared dish and refrigerate until set.Blue spatula mixing an orange liquid in a white baking dish
    3. Serve!Three glass jars filled with different flavored jello cubes on a pink napkin

    Flavor suggestions

    The beauty of this recipe is just how versatile it is! Mix thing up a try a different flavor every time. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

    • Grape
    • Mango
    • Raspberry
    • Apple
    • Cranberry
    • Lemonade, or flavored lemonade
    • Limeade
    • Fruit Punch
    • Peach
    • Grapefruit
    • Orange
    Three glass jars on a pink napkin filled with different flavors of jello

    Tips and tricks

    As easy as this recipe is, there are still a few hints to help you get the best results possible:

    • The color of your jello will depend on the color of your juice. If the color isn't vibrant enough, you can also use 2-3 drops of food coloring.
    • The jello will taste like the juice you use. If it isn't sweet enough, add in a sweetener of choice like maple syrup, honey (not vegan) or your choice of sugar.
    • If you use agar agar flakes instead of the powder, you will need approximately twice as much. This isn’t exact so you may need to experiment with the texture you prefer.
    • Using half water half juice is a popular method, but we weren't a big fan. Feel free to try it out though.
    • Line the pan with parchment paper to make it easier to lift out after it cools.
    • Keep this vegan jello in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It will melt at room temperature.
    • Jello is not ideal for freezing, as the texture will change.

    Common Questions

    Is there a vegan jello?

    Yes! There are a number of store bought vegan jello options. But, it is so easy to make your own at home with just juice and agar agar!

    What is agar agar?

    Agar agar is a gelatinous substance that is derived from seaweed. It is used as a vegan alternative to gelatin, and can also be used to thicken soups or make jams, pudding, or custards.

    What do vegans use instead of gelatin?

    Agar agar is a plant based alternative for gelatin that is widely used.

    More Vegan Kid Friendly Recipes

    Keeping kids full and happy on a plant based diet is easy when you have the right recipes on hand! Here are some of our favorite kid tested and approved plant based recipes:

    • Baked Oven Fries
    • Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta
    • Vegan Hamburger Helper
    • Homemade Chocolate Milk
    • Vegan Scrambled Eggs
    • Easy Vegan Pigs in a Blanket
    • Rice Krispie Treats
    • Healthy Lunchables
    Click here to subscribe
    Different flavors of jello in three glass jars sitting on a pink napkin

    Homemade Vegan Jello Recipe

    Sophia DeSantis
    Making vegan jello is easy and healthy! Learn how to make it at home without gelatin for the perfect kid snack.
    4 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Set in fridge 2 hrs
    Total Time 2 hrs 5 mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 94 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 4 cups juice of choice , see note
    • 3-4 teaspoons agar agar powder , if you like it firmer go for more (see note)
    • ¼ cup tablespoons sweetener , optional for sweeter flavor

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare a square baking dish (8 or 9 inches) with oil/spray or parchment paper. I like parchment because it is easy to lift out after it cools.
    • Put all ingredients into a pot and bring to a boil, constantly whisking to avoid the agar agar from clumping. About 3-5 minutes.
      4 cups juice of choice, 3-4 teaspoons agar agar powder, ¼ cup tablespoons sweetener
    • Once it is boiling, allow it to boil for about 2 minutes and remove from heat.
    • Pour into the prepared baking dish and put in the fridge to set. It takes about 2 hours for it to be fully set and ready to eat.
    • Serve!

    Notes

    • The more vibrant your juice is, the more vibrant the end result will be. You can also use 2-3 drops of food coloring if you really want a bright color.
    • Agar agar is the vegan substitute for gelatin. If you are using the flakes and not the powder, you will need about twice as much. This isn’t exact so you may need to experiment with the texture you prefer.
    • You can do half water if you prefer, this method is used online a lot but it does end up with a less vibrant color and flavor. I experimented a lot with this and I did not prefer the water/juice combo. Our preference was all juice with 4 teaspoons agar for a firmer result.
    • If your juice isn’t sweet enough you can add in a sweetener of choice like maple, honey (not vegan) or choice of sugar.
    • Make sure to store in the fridge, it melts at room temp.

    Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 94kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 11mgPotassium: 154mgFiber: 2gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 1mg

    Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.

    Never miss a recipe!Sign up here and get a FREE quick and easy meal guide!
    A photo of a signature saying Sophia with a blueberry as the letter O
    « Plant-Based Protein Foods
    Vegan Gluten-Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Questions or comments? Let me know below! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Christa

      May 16, 2022 at 11:20 am

      Made this with 3 tsp of agar, and it was so gelatinous it was impossible to eat. I made again with half the agar, and it was much better.

      Reply
      • Sophia DeSantis

        May 16, 2022 at 3:11 pm

        Hi Christa, The texture is definitely a preference. I tried it with a range of agar, from 1 all the way up to 5 teaspoons. I landed on the 3-4 that I put in the recipe because any less than that and the texture was too soft for us. I am more a firmer texture fan when it comes to Jello. But you can definitely do what works for your preferences! I will say though, that your stove top can also affect this. If your stove top is hotter it can cook it down faster and affect the texture. Jello can be finicky so I always suggest playing with it to get your perfect texture. I also am wondering about the juice you used. It could have affected it as well! Either way, glad you found the texture that you prefer.

        Reply
    2. Sarah

      September 27, 2021 at 7:12 am

      Who knew you could make vegan jello? I'm so excited! We started with fruit punch, excited to try more flavors!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I’m Sophia and I love food. As a food photographer, plant-based recipe creator, and client-centered health coach, I focus on helping people feel empowered instead of overwhelmed when it comes to overall health and wellness. Let me help you eat more plants!

    More about me →

    Click here to subscribe

    Vegan Easter Recipes

    • A tall glass jar in front of another jar both filled with peach colored smoothies topped with shredded carrots, chopped pecans and coconut.
      Healthy Carrot Cake Smoothie (Vegan)
    • Grey bowl filled with shredded coconut covered energy balls.
      No Bake Carrot Cake Energy Balls
    • A kale salad with toppings in a blue bowl on a blue striped towel
      Easy Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing
    • Spinach artichoke dip in a white ceramic bowl with toasted bread dipping into it.
      Healthy Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

    Trending Recipes

    • Pile of three pieces of spanakopita on a white plate
      World's Best Greek Vegan Spanakopita
    • Looking for the perfect way to start your day? This vegan oatmeal recipe is the ultimate creamy delicious choice and it comes together in mere minutes! #veganbreakfastrecipes #easymeals
      The Best Creamy Vegan Oatmeal Recipe
    • A collage of a burrito, sandwich, past bowl and taco bowl.
      Easy Vegan Meal Plan For a Week
    • A purple smoothie bowl in a cream bowl topped with fruit, granola and nuts on a dark grey blue towel.
      How to Make a Thick Vegan Smoothie Bowl
    Cookbook cover with a burrito, burger and fries on a white table with a black background

    Amazon | Barnes & Noble

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Logos of websites that listed places this site has been featured

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    Click here to subscribe

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with me
    • Press

    Copyright © 2013-2023 Veggies Don't Bite