The first time I used clear gelatin for a recipe, I wanted a white color and only flavored it with milk. It tasted terrible. I steered clear of clear gelatin for years after that.
Then I decided to make gelatin flowers and knew I had to learn how to make a great tasting clear gelatin. This clear gelatin recipe is a winner. It is also the perfect consistency for creating beautiful gelatin flowers in.
First, there is a difference in clear gelatin. Not all clear gelatin is created equal. Some are a little yellow in tint while some are super clear. I prefer to use Super Clear Gelatin I bought on Amazon. It is crystal clear. You can find the link here. Some gelatins are made from different animals, you can find Kosher gelatin.
Also the bloom rating on gelatin can be different. The bloom rating ranges from 30 to 300. A higher rating will gel faster and be stiffer. What does it mean to bloom gelatin? If just means you add water to it and let it sit for 5 – 10 minutes. Doing this will ensure the gelatin will dissolve I the warm ingredients and won’t cause clumps or grainy residue.
First step, is to add your gelatin to a cup of water and let rest and bloom for 10 minutes.
Next, while your gelatin is blooming, mix the sugar, citric acid and remaining water in a saucepan and stir until clear and dissolved. Do not let the liquid come to a boil.
Do not add too much citric acid. I once added a Tablespoon of citric acid instead of a teaspoon and it tasted terrible! I made a beautiful flower, but nobody wanted to eat it.
Next, add your gelatin to the saucepan and stir until dissolved. Using a medicine dropper, add your food flavoring. Don’t add too much! Only a couple drops are needed. When I’m creating a clear gelatin, I always make sure to use a clear food coloring. I use the little containers of food coloring that you may be familiar with when flavoring suckers. It may be hard to find clear colors at the store, here is a link to some on Amazon.
Some of our favorite flavors are Strawberry-Kiwi, Cotton Candy, and Tropical Punch.
Finally, pour your gelatin mixture into the a bowl or container of your choice and refrigerate for a few hours until set.
Next, follow this link to the recipe for the opaque gelatin base to make your flowers.
Links to everything you need:
Clear Gelatin
Equipment
- medium saucepan
- medicine dropper
- bowl
- small whisk
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp clear gelatin powder
- 2 C sugar
- 4 C water
- 1 tsp citric acid powder
- 3 drops clear food flavoring
Instructions
- Mix gelatin with 1 cup of the cold water in a small bowl and let it sit for 10 minutes. In a saucepan, heat sugar with citric acid powder and remaining 3 cups of water. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat when vapor begins to appear above the surface. Do not let it come to a boil. Take off heat.Add gelatin to saucepan and stir until completely dissolved. Using a medicine dropper, stir in just 3 drops of food flavoring. Go ahead and taste it to make sure flavor is right. Pour into desired containers and leave in the refridgerator until set.
First Jello Flowers – Mistakes and Success
The first night I got the gelatin flower tips, I was so excited. However, I didn’t have any clear gelatin in the pantry so I decided to try to make flowers in some Jello I already had on hand. It did NOT work. The colors of the gelatin I had were too dark and you can’t even tell that I tried to put a flower in the jello. Don’t try it. It’s not going to work.
(Also, I love to use my Great-Grandma’s Corelle vintage dishes. They are my go to dishes for lunch and when I just need a plate. Love them.)
So the next day I went to the grocery store and bought a package of Knox clear gelatin and some flavoring. **Note – You have to flavor clear gelatin. I tried to use a clear gelatin once years ago and didn’t flavor it. It was terrible. Don’t make the same mistake. Check out this post on my clear gelatin recipe.
That night, I created my first successful gelatin flower. It turned out amazing and it really wasn’t that hard. It’s pretty easy for an impressive effect.
Here are some links to some products that. can help you get started with your first gelatin flower. Make sure you get clear flavors for the clear part of the gelatin.
I’d love to see your first jello flowers. Please leave a comment and link below.
Jello Flower Tools
Who gets excited to get needles and syringes for Valentine’s Day? I do! And no, not druggie needles! I’m not like that! I’m talking about Gelatin Flower making needles and syringes. My husband knows me so well.
To make beautiful gelatin flowers, there are a few things that will make it super easy. First, you need to get a set of special needles and syringes. Some tips are little, some are big and flat. Some are pointed and some are rounded. Some of my favorites have zig zag edges and others are shaped like leaves.
My husband bought me this starter set from Amazon with 30 tips. It has been great. I also bought myself a set of syringes with long needles.
Here is another great beginning option for flower tips that includes a straight tip, you can start with this smaller set from Amazon. I also included another link for a complete starter kit that has tips, gelatin and lots more.
If you like to create Gelatin Flowers, what are your favorite tips? I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.