Gelatin Aquarium Recipe

Kids go absolutely wild for this one. Blue jello poured into clear bowls with gummy fish swimming inside? It looks like a tiny aquarium you can eat.

The trick to getting the fish to “float” at different levels is all about timing. You add ice cubes to the dissolved jelly powder, which thickens it fast. Once it hits that slightly-set, syrupy stage (about 3 to 5 minutes of stirring), you spoon it into clear-sided bowls and poke the gummy fish in at different depths. They’ll stay right where you put them instead of sinking to the bottom.

Make sure you remove any unmelted ice before spooning into bowls, or you’ll end up with watery pockets. And use clear glass or plastic cups so the “aquarium” effect is actually visible. That’s the whole point!

Pro Tips

• Berry blue gelatin gives the best ocean color, but any blue-tinted flavor works
• Poke fish in at different angles so they look like they’re actually swimming
• If the jelly gets too thick before you add the fish, microwave it for 5-10 seconds to loosen it back up
• These set in about 30 minutes in the fridge, making them great for same-day party prep

Variations

• Use gummy worms instead of fish for a “swamp” theme
• Layer green and blue gelatin for a seaweed-and-ocean look
• Add a crushed graham cracker “sandy bottom” layer before pouring in the jello