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We’re getting ready for Valentine’s Day by celebrating with a whole week of Valentine’s themed parfait recipes! That means every recipe we’re sharing this week will be served in a glass, which is pretty much my favorite way to serve anything – like french fries and pretzel sticks!
I adore parfaits for a few reasons.
1. they are served in glasses. Yes, this is totally obvious, but to me this means less of a mess.
2. they are already made into individual servings.
3. they are made up of layers upon layers of deliciousness.
And our first recipe for Valentine’s Parfait Week is just that – it’s all about the layers!
Layered Strawberry Jello Cups Recipe
If your Valentine is a fan of jello, I think they will be impressed if you make these layered strawberry jello cups! Or can you imagine the look on your kids faces if you were to surprise them with these jello cups?!
Usually I am all about chocolate on Valentine’s Day (just wait, a chocolate parfait will be coming) but jello is just so fun. Does it weird you out that you can mold it into any shape? That’s what I really like about jello!
In terms of Valentine’s Day treats, this one isn’t going to ruin your diet or send your kids into a chocolate induced sugar frenzy. Plus, it’s a great dessert for our non-chocolate loving friends, which is bizarre, how can you not like chocolate?!
Ingredients
- 5 boxes of strawberry jello mix, 3 oz each
- water
- cool whip
- strawberries
Total Time Required
Because each layer needs to set before you can add the next, this recipe takes a minimum of 11 hours, however that is based on estimating how long each layer will take to set. I found that it was easiest to make this recipe over the course of 2 days, just be sure to cover the cups in plastic wrap if they will be sitting in the fridge overnight.
You can easily switch out the strawberry jello for raspberry, mixed berry, or watermelon.. pick your Sweetie’s favorite!
WHAT SIZE GLASSES SHOULD I USE TO MAKE CHAMPAGNE JELLO CUPS?
The glasses I used are mongo BIG, 15 oz! That’s a whole lot of jello in one cup. You could definitely use smaller glasses, like these 5 oz ones I used in this white chocolate raspberry dessert mousse recipe, that way you’ll have more glasses to go around!
Valentine’s Day isn’t complete without mini oreo cheesecakes, maraschino cherry cookies, and peanut butter whipped cream.
Tap stars to rate!
Strawberry Jello Cups
Ingredients
- 5 boxes Strawberry Jello mix, 3 oz each
- Water
- 2 cups Cool Whip, plus more for topping (about 2 containers)
- Strawberries, to top each parfait
Instructions
Layer 1:
- Combine 1 cup boiling water in a bowl with a packet of strawberry jello mix. Stir until the mixture is dissolved. Add in one cup of cold water and stir. Evenly divide this mixture among the cups you’ll be using. Refrigerate until set, 1-2 hours.
Layer 2:
- Combine 1 cup boiling water in a bowl with a packet of strawberry jello mix. Stir until the mixture is dissolved. Add in one cup of cold water and stir. Add in 1 cup of cool whip, and stir until mixed. Evenly divide this mixture among the cups you’ll be using, layering on top of the previous jello layer. Separation may occur, causing a lighter and darker layer. Refrigerate until set, 1-2 hours.
Layer 3:
- Combine 1 cup boiling water in a bowl with a packet of strawberry jello mix. Stir until the mixture is dissolved. Add in one cup of cold water and stir. Evenly divide this mixture among the cups you’ll be using. Refrigerate until set, 1-2 hours.
Layer 4:
- Combine 1 cup boiling water in a bowl with a packet of strawberry jello mix. Stir until the mixture is dissolved. Add in one cup of cold water and stir. Add in 1 cup of cool whip, and stir until mixed. Evenly divide this mixture among the cups you’ll be using, layering on top of the previous jello layer. Separation may occur, causing a lighter and darker layer. Refrigerate until set, 1-2 hours.
Layer 5:
- Combine 1 cup boiling water in a bowl with a packet of strawberry jello mix. Stir until the mixture is dissolved. Add in one cup of cold water and stir. Evenly divide this mixture among the cups you’ll be using. Refrigerate until set, 1-2 hours.
- Before serving top each parfait with cool whip and a strawberry.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclosure
All nutritional values are approximate and provided to the reader as a courtesy. Changing ingredients and/or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
Beth, I’m coming over right now!! I LOVE jello and these jello cups look so DELICIOUS!! And your photos are gorgeous, girl! :)
Yes, come over! How fun would that be?!
I must be a kid at heart because I want these all to myself!! I love to make layered jello but my layers have never looked as good as yours! Lovely!
It’s all about the patience, haha
Can you imagine if you made these boozy?! OMG. ha. Too much?
Hahaha, do it!!
These jello cups had me at hello! I never would have thought to mix cool whip into jello. SUCH a great idea!
And I love the layering effect the cool whip adds!
These are beautiful, Beth! I love that there is a creamy layer too.
Thank you Andi!
I made these for dessert today and they were an absolute hit! I definitely will make them again and I might try green for St. Patrick’s Day!
Anita, I am so glad you enjoyed them! I think we have a green version up our sleeve for St. Paddy’s Day :)
If I have the larger packages of Jello (8.5 servings) – do I just used half a packet for each layer?
Hi Steph! It all depends on how many cups you are making and how thick you want each layer to be. I suggest just pouring the jello into the cups, making each layer as thick as you want, and if you have left over jello, you could set it in a different container to eat separately or throw it away.
25-30 years ago Jello sold a product called 1-2-3 Jello, which separated the jello into 3 layers. I wish they still had it
This is a very beautiful desert 😋
Can I use a whipping cream instead of cool whip ?
Yes, you can!
When we were kids my mom told us that you had to set jello over night and we couldn’t have any until the next day. I was married for several years before I found out that wasn’t really true. I still feel a little silly for believing that but, hey it worked. We never pestered her for any until the next day.
Haha silly mom secrets!
I make layered jello all the time in less than half the time. Set up the layers in freezer! When i make 7 layer salad it only takes 20 minutes for each layer to set up, then store it in the refrigerator. This has similar thin layers, I’m sure it would work :)