The ultimate cold + creamy dessert: Japanese Coffee Jelly! Also known as coffee jello, it’s a gelatin dessert with the rich flavors of coffee. Add chilled sweetened milk for the ultimate coffee lovers’ treat! A unique dessert that highlights bouncy, jiggly, coffee-flavored jello!
What is Coffee Jello or Coffee Jelly?
Coffee Jelly, also known as Coffee Jello, is a Japanese-inspired, gelatin-based dessert made of cubed coffee jello and cold, creamy milk. A unique and refreshing dessert that combines the dark, bittersweet flavors of coffee with the delightful texture of jelly.
Cooling and refreshing, Coffee Jelly is an ideal hot weather treat. Or as a light and satisfying dessert option any time of the year.
Simple to make, you’ll need to brew coffee and combine with gelatin powder and sugar. Chill in the fridge until set. Then slice into jiggly, wobbly cubes of coffee-flavored jello.
A versatile dessert, this coffee jelly recipe can be enjoyed in multiple ways. Enjoy with cold, creamy, lightly sweetened milk. Or serve with ice cream for a more indulgent treat! For a fun and festive cocktail, add a shot of Kahlua or coffee-flavored liquor.
Instead of serving coffee and dessert at the end of the meal, why not serve this Japanese dessert made of coffee jello instead? Such a fun dessert or drink to enjoy!
Ingredients
If you can make jello from a box, you can make this dessert. Japanese Coffee Jello is so fun and simple to make!
- Gelatin. Powdered Gelatin comes in two sizes: teeny tiny (packets of 2 1/4 tsps) or ginormous (2 cup box). The small packets can be found in the baking aisles of standard supermarkets. However, I found the large box to be a better value so that’s what I purchased. I found it easily at my local Asian grocery store (specifically, T & T).
- Sugar. To lightly sweeten the coffee jello cubes.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk. A delicious canned milk that is thick, syrupy, and rich. Typically served with Vietnamese coffee or drizzled on top of Bingsu. I recommend the Vietnamese brand Longevity (pictured below).
- Milk. Choose the milk of your choice. Whole milk or Half-and-Half makes it especially creamy. But it’s also very good with 2%, 1%, or skim milk. Any plant-based milk also tastes very good in this recipe: soy, rice, oat, or almond milk. The goal is to balance out the sweetness and make the milk more light and pourable.
- Coffee. My recipe calls for strongly brewed regular coffee, not instant coffee with hot water. You’ll need some for the jello and some for serving (for the ombre effect).
Instructions:
- Make Coffee Jello. Whisk hot coffee, gelatin, and sugar until completely dissolved in a large bowl. Pour into an 8×8 pan or a baking dish and chill for at least 4-6 hours but preferably overnight.
- Cube jello. When firm, cut into squares. Use a spatula to gently release the bottom of the cubes from the pan.
- Make sweet milk. Whisk 1 can of sweetened condensed milk with 1 cup of milk of your choice. Chill for at least 2 hours.
- Assemble dessert. In a clear glass or bowl, add cubed jello. Pour sweetened milk until 80% full. To create an ombre effect, add a little extra chilled coffee on top. Serve with spoons and enjoy!
PRO Tips:
- Chill milk. For the coldest, creamiest drink! Make in advance and chill in the fridge for a few hours.
- Make strong brewed coffee! When coffee is chilled, it loses its potency and flavor. Make extra strong coffee (I add 1.5x the amount of coffee grounds — not quite double) so the rich coffee flavor really shines through. Or, use Cold Brew coffee which is steeped overnight.
- NOTE: Coffee maker servings sizes all differ. Depending on your coffee maker, serving sizes or portions will vary. The measurement on the side of the coffee maker does NOT match standard measuring cup amounts. In other words, 4 servings specified by the coffee maker manufacturer DO NOT equal 4 cups in real life.
How to serve:
Coffee Jelly is such a pretty dessert! I recommend serving in clear glasses or glass bowls so people can see the dessert from the side. Make it even more festive by serving in cocktail glasses such as Martini or Champagne glasses.
For a more indulgent dessert, add a scoop of vanilla or coffee ice cream. Or lightly sweetened whipped cream.
For an adult-only cocktail, add a shot of Kahlua or coffee-flavored liquor.
FAQ:
Can I make this in advance?
Yes, Coffee Jelly is best made the day before. Make the jello and let it set overnight. Mix together the sweetened condensed milk with regular milk and chill in the fridge. When it’s time to serve, add jello cubes to glasses and fill with sweet milk. Top with additional chilled coffee for the ombre effect!
How long will Coffee Jelly keep in the fridge?
The jello squares should keep in the fridge, tightly covered, for 2-3 days. The sweetened milk will keep longer, about 5-7 days. Store in separate containers. I do not recommend storing the jello and milk in the same container, as the jello will lose its shape and dissolve.
More Dessert + Drinks recipes:
- Dalgona Latte with Honeycomb Toffee Candy
- Vegan Dark Chocolate Mousse with Cashew Cream
- Black Sesame Mochi Donuts
- Coconut Mango Sago
- Korean Donuts
- Matcha Pudding Dessert
Coffee Jelly (Coffee Jello)
Equipment
- 8×8 square pan
- small pitcher (for sweet milk)
Ingredients
Coffee Jello
- 4 cups hot coffee strongly brewed
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 3 Tbsp gelatin
Sweet Milk
- 1 300 ml/10 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup milk any kind will do (I used almond milk)
To serve:
- 1 cup cold coffee optional, for ombre effect
Instructions
Coffee Jelly
- In a large bowl, whisk together hot coffee, gelatin, and sugar in a large until completely dissolved.
- *Don't forget to make additional 1 cup hot coffee and chill in the fridge for ombre effect when serving.
- Pour into 8×8 square pan and chill for at least 4-6 hours, preferably overnight. there's no need to grease the pan.
- When firm and completely chilled, cut into squares and carefully place into individual glasses or small bowls.
Sweet Milk
- Whisk 1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk into milk of your choice until smooth and fully combined. Chill for 2 hours. When ready to serve, transfer into a small pitcher for serving.
To Serve
- Place coffee jello into individual cups/bowls. Pour sweet milk over jello squares and serve immediately with spoons and extra sweet milk in pitcher.
- Optional: To make your coffee jello ombre, fill about 3/4 of the way with sweet milk. Top with a little extra coffee, gently stir, and serve.
To store:
- The jello squares should keep in the fridge, tightly covered, for 2-3 days. The sweetened milk will keep longer, about 5-7 days. Store in separate containers. I do not recommend storing the jello and milk in the same container, as the jello will lose its shape and dissolve.
Notes
-
- Chill milk. For the coldest, creamiest drink! Make in advance and chill in the fridge for a few hours.
-
- Make strong brewed coffee! When coffee is chilled, it loses its potency and flavor. Make extra strong coffee (I add 1.5x the amount of coffee grounds — not quite double) so the rich coffee flavor really shines through. Or, use Cold Brew coffee which is steeped overnight.
-
- NOTE: Coffee maker servings sizes all differ. Depending on your coffee maker, serving sizes or portions will vary. The measurement on the side of the coffee maker does NOT match standard measuring cup amounts. In other words, 4 servings specified by the coffee maker manufacturer DO NOT equal 4 cups in real life.
- Serve in clear glasses or glass bowls so people can see the dessert from the side. Make it even more festive by serving in cocktail glasses such as Martini or Champagne glasses.
- For a more indulgent dessert, add a scoop of vanilla or coffee ice cream. Or lightly sweetened whipped cream.
- For an adult-only cocktail, add a shot of Kahlua or coffee-flavored liquor.
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