How to Make Jello with Beef Gelatin (and 4 Recipes)

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Learn how to make any kind of jello using beef gelatin. In this post I’ll explain how you can make any kind of jello with beef gelatin, answer all you FAQs, and show you 4 different delicious jello recipes. Keep reading and make you own healthy, collagen-rich jello!

What is beef gelatin?

Beef gelatin is a natural protein substance derived from the collagen found in the bones, connective tissues, and hides of cows. When these parts are slowly boiled, the collagen breaks down and turns into gelatin, which solidifies into a jelly-like consistency when cooled. This is what happens, for example, when you make bone broth!

Are you still confused about the difference between collagen and gelatin? Read this post!

Beef gelatin can be purchased as a powder (more commonly) or as sheets.

Beef gelatin is used to thicken or gel foods like gummies, marshmallows, panna cotta, aspic, and homemade jello. It can also be added to other whipped toppings and desserts to help with texture and as a stabilizer.

What are the benefits of beef gelatin?

Gelatin is a form of partially hydrolyzed collagen, which as you probably already know has many health benefits. Consuming collagen helps maintain your skin, hair, and joints healthy and young, supports gut health and bone health, and so much more! Read all about the benefits of gelatin and collagen here!

Which is the best beef gelatin powder?

When buying beef gelatin, prefer gelatin from grass-fed cows raised on pasture. Cows raised on grass rather than artificial feed made from grains and soy, are healthier and their meat (and gelatin) is richer in nutrients. If you chose a gelatin from organically raised animals, you’ll also avoid pesticides and antibiotics residues.

Some good options include Great Lakes Wellness Beef Gelatin, Vital Proteins Beef Gelatin, Perfect Supplements Bovine Gelatin. Some other options from Amazon are Zen Principles Beef Gelatin and Hearthy Foods Beef Gelatin.

Why should you make jello with beef gelatin?

Jello is a fun and light dessert, snack or treat perfect for everyone! It’s great for kids all ages (even picky eaters!), for the eldest, and even for people who are sick or recovering from an illness.

Conventional store-bought Jell-O or other brands are not a very healthy option, though! They are loaded with sugars, artificial colors and flavours, and preservatives. They have no nutritional value at all.

Homemade jello made with real ingredients and beef gelatin is a much healthier option! Plus, it’s completely customizable, and so easy to make.

Let’s learn all about making homemade jello with beef gelatin so you can make it every time you want.

How to make any kind of jello with beef gelatin

1. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of beef gelatin powder over 1/2 cup of cold liquid of choice and let it bloom for 5-10 minutes
2. In the meantime, heat ~2 cups of liquid until hot
3. Mix together the hot liquid and the bloomed gelatin and stir well until completely dissolved
4. Pour the mixture into a dish or individual molds or cups and refrigerate until set (4+ hours)

How to make any kind of jello with beef gelatin

Use these simple instructions to make any kind of homemade jello using beef gelatin

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

4 hours hrs

Course Snack

Servings 8

Ingredients

  

• 1 tbsp beef gelatin powder
• 1/2 cup water or other liquid of choice for blooming the gelatin
• 2 cups liquid of choice fruit juice, puree, dairies or infused water

Instructions

 

• Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of beef gelatin powder over 1/2 cup of cold liquid of choice and let it bloom for 5-10 minutes
• In the meantime, heat ~2 cups of liquid until hot
• Mix together the hot liquid and the bloomed gelatin and stir well until completely dissolved
• Pour the mixture into a dish or individual molds or cups and refrigerate until set (4+ hours)

Notes

Increase the amount of liquid up to 3 cups if you want softer jello, and/or if using thicker liquids (such as fruit puree vs juice or yogurt).

Decrease the amount of liquid up to 1 cup if you want harder jello and for making gummy bears.

Making Jello with Beef Gelatin Powder – FAQs and troubleshooting

What kind of gelatin should I use to make jello?

You can use any kind of gelatin (beef, pork, fish, in powder or sheets form) to make jello. A good quality beef gelatin powder from grass-fed, pasture-raised animals offers the best nutritional value and health benefits.

How much gelatin powder do I need to make jello?

As a rule of thumb use 1 tablespoon (approx. 10g) of gelatin powder per 2 cups (500ml) of liquid. This will give you the classic Jell-O texture.

However you can customize your jello texture: use 1 tablespoon of gelatin per 1 cup of liquid to make harder jello and gummies; use 1 tablespoon of gelatin per 3 cups of liquid if you want a more “wiggly” jello, and/or if using firmer and more creamy liquids such as dairy or fruit puree.

What kind of liquids can I make jello with?

You can use any liquid to make jello. Fruit juice, blended fruit, cooked fruit puree, tea, coffee, water, coconut water, or even milk or yogurt.

What kind of fruit can I use to make jello?

You can use any fruit you like, and you can use fresh, frozen, or canned fruit.

The only thing to keep in mind is that certain fruits like fresh pineapple, kiwi, papaya, or mango contain enzymes that break down gelatin proteins and will prevent the gelatin from setting. Very acidic fruit like citrus can also cause the same issue. Use only canned or fully cooked versions of these fruits to make jello.

How can I dissolve gelatin properly?

To easily dissolve beef gelatin you need to bloom it first:

1. Sprinkle it over a small amount of cold or room temperature liquid (¼ cup per tablespoon).
2. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it absorbs the liquid and becomes gel-like.
3. Then add hot liquid (but not boiling) to fully dissolve the bloomed gelatin. Stir well, or even blend if necessary.

What molds do I need to make jello?

You don’t need any special molds or equipment to make jello. You can use a simple glass dish or container. Once your jello is firm you can cut it into single-portion squares or even shapes (using cookie cutters). You can also pour your jello in individual cups, jars, or ramekins and eat it out with a spoon. If you want, you can use silicone molds to make fun-shaped jello or gummy bears!

How and how long can I store jello?

Store your homemade jello in the refrigerator. Store it in an airtight container or cover the dish tightly with a lid or plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out or absorbing fridge odors. Consume your jello by 3-5 days.

Homemade jello can also technically be frozen, but the texture might not stay the same!

Find 4 different kinds of jello with beef gelatin recipes right below!

1. Berry Juice jello with beef gelatin recipe

For this healthy classic jello recipe we are going to use fruit juice and beef gelatin. I chose this blend of berries juice, which is a favorite in our home and has tons of antioxidants, and low sugar. But you can use any kind of fruit juice!

Berry Juice Jello Ingredients

• 2 cups 100% berry juice (organic if possible)
• 1 tablespoon beef gelatin
• Optional: 1–2 tablespoons honey (if juice isn’t sweet enough)

Berry Juice Jello Instructions

1. Pour 1/2 cup of juice into a large bowl and sprinkle the gelatin powder over the cold juice. Let it bloom for 5-10 minutes.
2. In the meantime, heat the remaining 1 1/2 cups of juice in a saucepan over medium heat until it’s hot (but not boiling).
3. Pour the hot juice over the bloomed gelatin and stir well until fully dissolved. Add the honey and stir again (optional)
4. Carefully pour the liquid into a dish or individual molds and refrigerate until set (4 + hours).

2. Mango Puree jello with beef gelatin recipe

For this jello recipe we are going to use fruit puree instead of juice. The puree adds extra fibers and vitamins to the jello, and also gives it a more creamy, velvety texture, and deeper flavour.

For this recipe, I chose mango which, as mentioned above, contains enzymes that might prevent the gelatin from setting. For this reason we are going to cook the mango first. You can use any kind of fruit puree for this recipe! Try for example my Strawberry Jello with Beef Gelatin or my Pear and Ginger Jello with Beef Gelatin recipes!

Mango Puree Jello Ingredients

• 5-6 cups of sliced/cubed ripe mango* (fresh or frozen) or 2 cups of mango puree
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1 tablespoon beef gelatin
• 1-2 tablespoon of honey (optional, for extra sweetness)

*Notes

Use ripe mango. If you have never cooked unripe mango before, it resembles a lot the textures of boiled potatoes, which is not what we want for our jello! If you’re using fresh mango, pick fruits that are soft (but not mushy) to the touch. If you’re using frozen mango, pick the pieces with the deepest, more orange color.

Mango Puree Jello Instructions

1. Pour 1/2 cup of cool water into a small bowl and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of gelatin powder over it. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
2. In the meantime, place the sliced mango into a saucepan and add 2-3 tablespoons of water. Cover and cook over medium/low heat for about 10-15 minutes, or until the mango softens and starts to break down.
3. Blend the mango using an immersion blender or food processor. You can also run the mango through a food mill for a smoother texture.

4. Add the bloomed gelatin to 2 cups of hot mango puree and stir/blend until fully dissolved and smooth. Add the honey as well for extra sweetness (optional).
5. Pour the mango and gelatin mixture into a container, cups, or molds. Refrigerate until fully set (4 + hours).

3. Creamy Yogurt jello dessert with beef gelatin recipe

This jello recipe is actually a delicious, creamy dessert. It resembles panna cotta, but it’s made with yogurt and beef gelatin for a super healthy dessert rich in gut-friendly probiotics and collagen! It’s sweetened with honey and flavored with vanilla, and you can even add fruit puree or jam for a swirl of extra deliciousness!

I used my homemade bulgarian yogurt for this recipe, but you can use any kind of plain yogurt (regular or Greek) for this recipe!

Creamy Yogurt Jello Dessert Ingredients

• 1 cup plain whole milk yogurt (Greek or regular)
• 1 cup whole milk (or coconut milk)
• 1/2 tablespoon beef gelatin
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Optional: ½ cup fruit purée or jam swirl (blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, mango, etc.)

Creamy Yogurt Jello Dessert Instructions

1. In a small bowl pour 1/4 cup of cold milk and sprinkle 1/2 tablespoon of gelatin powder over the surface. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to bloom.
2. Pour the remaining milk in a saucepan and heat it over medium/low heat until hot (but don’t boil it!).
3. Stir in honey and vanilla extract.
4. Add the bloomed gelatin to the hot milk and stir until fully dissolved. Let it cool off for a few minutes.

5. In the meantime, add 1 cup of yogurt to a large bowl.
6. Once the milk is cooled off enough and not hot anymore, slowly whisk it into the yogurt. Add the warm milk a little bit at a time and whisk constantly to keep the yogurt smooth and prevent curdling.
7. Pour the mixture into a dish or individual cups/ramekins.
8. Optional: add a spoonful of fruit puree or jam either at the bottom or top of the jars and/or swirl it into the yogurt jello.
9. Refrigerate until firm and creamy (4 + hours).

4. Ginger jello with lemon and honey with beef gelatin recipe

This last jello recipe is made with a ginger tea base with added lemon juice and honey. It’s a great healing jello for soothing a sore throat and aiding digestion thanks to the medicinal properties of ginger, lemon and honey. This jello is also great during pregnancy to relieve nausea and add more collagen to your diet! Check out all the other nutrient-dense foods for a healthy pregnancy here.

You can substitute the ginger with any kind of herbal tea you like (such as chamomile or echinacea), and the lemon with orange for a sweeter, milder taste. You can even add elderberry syrup and/or a pinch of Vitamin C powder and make your own throat-soothing jellies!

Ginger Jello with Lemon and Honey Ingredients

• 2 cups of filtered water
• 2–4 tablespoons sliced or grated fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon beef gelatin powder
• 2-3 tablespoons honey
• 1/3 cup lemon juice (about the juice of 1 lemon)

Ginger Jello with Lemon and Honey Instructions

1. Place the 1/3 cup of lemon juice in a large bowl and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of gelatin powder over it to bloom.

2. In the meantime make the ginger tea: bring the water to boil in a saucepan, add the grated ginger, and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes on low heat. Once ready, strain the tea. Use 1 1/2 cups for the recipe.
3. Add the honey to the hot tea and stir it in.
4. Pour the hot tea over the bloom gelatin and lemon juice and stir completely until dissolved.
5. Pour into a dish or molds and refrigerate until fully set (4 + hours).

Related posts

The Benefits of Eating Collagen and Gelatin

Nutrient dense animal foods for pregnancy

Strawberry Jello with Beef Gelatin

Pear and Ginger Jello with Beef Gelatin

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Drop me a comment down below and let me know if you enjoy making jello with beef gelatin and which one is your favorite jello recipe!