Have you been looking for a way to make vegan jello? This is a simple and easy jello recipe that can be made in minutes with just a few simple ingredients. With only fruit juice, agar agar (vegan gelatin), and some sugar (optional), you can make your own delicious homemade jello!
Regular jello contains gelatine which is made from animal products and is therefore not vegan. For this plant-based recipe, I use agar agar (a seaweed-based thickener) to make jello firm.
Most store-bought boxed jello mixes are not vegan, so it is easiest to make your own.
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❤️ You will love this recipe because it is
- quick and easy to make.
- free of all major allergens so everyone can enjoy it!
- made with real fruit juice and natural ingredients with no artificial colors or flavors.
- easily be made refined sugar-free.
- kid-friendly!
🧾 Ingredients and substitutions
- Fruit Juice - most fruit juices will work. Apple juice, grape juice, and cranberry juice work the best. Orange juice will work as well, but it tends to come out firmer than the other juices. Citrus juices like lemon juice, lime juice, pineapple juice, kiwi juice, and papaya juice will not set correctly.
- Agar Agar powder - this is a white powder made from seaweed. It comes in powder or flakes, but the powder works better. If you can only find the flakes, you will need to triple the amount of flakes. (The best deals on agar agar are usually on Amazon or at your local Asian market. It tends to be very expensive at natural food stores). Note: you can also use kappa-carrageenan instead of agar agar in equal amounts. It is also derived from seaweed and works the same as agar agar, but tends to be more expensive and harder to find.
- Sugar - to sweeten the jello. Sugar is optional, but if you want it to taste like the traditional jello that you remember, it will require an added sweetener. You can use any type of sugar or sweetener that you would like.
🥄 How to make vegan jello
Step 1 - Pour the fruit juice, sugar, and agar agar into a medium-sized saucepan and stir.
Step 2 - Turn on the heat to medium and stir frequently with a whisk.
Step 3 - When the mixture begins to boil, turn the heat down and let it boil slowly for 5 minutes stirring occasionally.
Step 4 - Pour the jello mixture into individual serving glasses and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours.
Decorate the tops of the jello with fresh fruit or berries for a pretty dessert.
👩🏻🍳 Pro Tips
- Make sure to boil the jello for a full 5 minutes to activate the agar agar and make it set correctly.
- Don't add pineapple, papaya, or kiwi to the jello. The enzymes in these fruits cause the jello not to set. (You will also want to avoid using these fruit juices for the jello).
❔ Can I make a jello mold?
Yes! You can use this jello in a mold and even add fruit! However, vegan jello is not quite as jiggly and pliable as traditional jello.
If you double the agar agar add 1 tsp of tapioca starch to the mixture before cooking, it makes it firm enough and gives it a little more stretch to set in a jello mold and get it out again without breaking.
🍓 Can I add fruit to vegan jello?
Yes, you can add fruit to the jello once it starts to cool. If you want the fruit to be suspended in the jello, you need to watch the jello carefully once it starts to cool. After about 10-15 minutes, it will cool enough that it will start to thicken, but will still be liquid.
It is at this point that you will want to add fruit or berries to the jello. This way they will stay suspended in the jello and not sink to the bottom.
Note: Don't add pineapple, papaya, or kiwi to the jello. The enzymes in these fruits cause the jello not to set. (You will also want to avoid using these fruit juices for the jello).
🌟 Other uses for agar agar
Don't be afraid to buy a container of agar agar, you can use it to make lots of vegan treats like homemade vegan marshmallows, a firm meringue on a Vegan Lemon Meringue Pie, or a Vegan S'mores Pie, or use it to make your own Homemade Vegan Cheese.
🥂 Vegan jello shots
If you want to turn this jello into jello shots for your next party, it's just a matter of swapping out some of the fruit juice for vodka and pouring it into shot glasses. You can see the full instructions in my vegan jello shots post.
✨ More no-bake vegan desserts
- Vegan Pudding
- Silken Tofu Chocolate Mousse
- Aquafaba Chocolate Mousse
- Vegan Creme Brulee
- Vegan Lemon Curd
📌 Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for new vegan recipes!
📋 Vegan jello recipe
Vegan Jello
Ingredients
Instructions
- Pour juice, sugar and agar agar into a medium-sized saucepan and stir.
- Turn on heat to medium and stir frequently with a whisk.
- When the mixture begins to boil, turn the heat down and let it boil slowly for 5 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Pour the jello mixture into individual serving glasses.
- Refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours.
Notes
- Double the amount of agar agar and add 1 tsp of tapioca starch to the mixture before cooking. (This makes it firmer and stretchier to allow it to set in a jello mold and so that it can be removed without breaking).
- Use a silicone mold or spray the inside of a metal mold with a little oil to help it come out after it sets.
- Allow it to sit for 2 hours in the refrigerator before taking it out of the mold.
- If you want the fruit to be suspended in the jello, you need to watch the jello carefully once it starts to cool. After about 10-15 minutes, it will cool enough that it will start to thicken, but will still be liquid. It is at this point that you will want to add fruit or berries to the jello. This way they will stay suspended in the jello and not sink to the bottom.
Nutrition
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Click the stars above or leave a comment! I'd love to hear from you!
Hi, what are the measurements of ingredients to make in a 9x8 glass dish for example?
This recipe will make about 2 cups of jello, so I would double it for a 9x8 dish depending on how thick you want it.
What if you don't have agar agar
You really need agar agar. Nothing else (that's vegan) works the same to give a true jello consistency.
I don' have agar. What will work?
There is nothing else that will work in place of agar with the same effect. You could use 1 tablespoon of corn starch, but it will not have the same jello-like texture.
Will it work with a Sangria base, or will alchohol “F” it up?
I haven't tested it with sangria base, but it works with vodka for jello shots, so I think it will work for you. Just be careful of using kiwi or pineapple since they don't set well. Here is a link to the jello shots recipe... https://thehiddenveggies.com/vegan-jello-shots/
Loved the recipe. Thanks 😊
You're welcome, Kavya. I'm happy that you enjoyed it! 🙂
Hello! I have Carrageenan on hand. Would I prepare it the same way as the Agar-agar? I’ve only used Carrageenan in cheese before.
I also do not have any juice but as thinking about using some Crystal Lite flavor packets I have handy. Thoughts?
I think that it should work. Sometimes things make it not set correctly, so I can't be sure about crystal lite since I've never tested it. Let me know if you try it.
Will the juice color the jello?
Yes, it will. If you want a specific color, you can use a clear juice like white grape juice and add a drop or two of vegan food coloring. Enjoy! 🙂
Just made this last night to test it out for Thanksgiving. It was perfect and tasted even better that jello that I remember. Thanks for the recipe!
I'm so happy that you liked the Jello recipe, Amanda! 🙂
My jello didn’t form overnight. Still liquidy. I made molds with 1tsp agar and 1tsp tapioca What did I do wrong?? TIA
I have found that some agar agar is not as strong as others. If you use flakes instead of powder you will need 3 times as much. Agar agar that is sold in Europe also seems to take more to set properly. Did you add fruit to it? If not you can cook it again and add more another teaspoon of agar agar.
This is what I did. I think it’s looking better this time around. Thanks!
Can one use a fruit puree instead of juice? I live in Ecuador and we can easily get fruit puree but it is difficult to get juice.
I think that it would work, but I have never tried it. Please let me know how it works if you try it.
Jello! I haven't had it for so long. This version is easy and tastes awesome. Good flavor and texture.
Thanks for all of your amazing recipes!
Thanks so much, Julie! I'm so glad you liked it! 🙂