Broken glass cake recipe (crown Jewel dessert) -

Broken glass cake is also known as Crown Jewel dessert. Made with milk jelly and colorful Jell-O cubes, it’s a show-stopper.

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A slice of broken glass gelatin cake with colorful Jell-O cubes, milk jelly, and chocolate cookies on a blue plate. — broken glass cake

This broken glass cake recipe is my ultimate culinary obsession. It’s seriously amazing! This beautiful, light, and oh-so-creamy Jello dessert brings a burst of fun to any occasion, especially kids’ birthday parties.

And the best part is that it’s a no-bake gelatin cake! No need to fire up the oven or stress over complicated baking techniques. Just whip it up, pop it in the fridge, and voila! You’ve got yourself a fantastic jello dessert.

I love no-bake sweets because they’re easy to make and don’t require an oven. Plus, they always turn out incredibly tasty! If the thought of a no-bake gelatin cake makes your heart beat faster, then you’ll certainly love this broken glass cake recipe.

And if you want more impressive sweet treats that don’t need baking, give our easy homemade chocolate salami, chocolate balls, homemade fidge, and edible pine cones a try.

What is a broken glass cake?

This milky jelly dessert is enjoyed in many countries. It goes by different names like Broken Glass Torte, Crown Jewel Dessert, Prism, Shattered, or Stained Glass Cake, Cathedral Window, or Mosaic Gelatin.

No matter what you call it, this bright gelatin cake is undeniably impressive. When you slice or square it up, it looks just like a beautiful stained-glass window.

Perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a party, birthday, potluck, or holiday celebration, broken glass cake never fails to impress. The combination of light and airy Jell-O cubes suspended in a creamy milk jelly is like biting into a weightless cloud of pure joy! You’ll find it hard to resist this colorful masterpiece.

Moreover, Broken glass gelatin cake is a great alternative to ice cream, so expect requests for second helpings!

At first glance, the recipe may seem very complicated, but in reality, Crown Jewel dessert is extremely easy to make.

Useful tips

Here are some helpful tips and tricks to ensure a smooth process and achieve a perfect result:

You can use either powdered gelatin or sheet gelatin for this recipe. If using sheet gelatin, refer to the package instructions to determine the appropriate amount for setting 1 liter (4 cups) of liquid.
Get creative with your Broken Glass cake by selecting different Jello fruit flavors and creating various color combinations. Customize the recipe to suit any holiday, themed party, or event. For instance, use red, green, and white for Christmas, red, blue, and white for the 4th of July, or red and white for Valentine’s Day.
If you prefer not to use pre-made colored jelly, you can make your own colors by adding gelatin to your favorite fruit juices. Most fruit juices work well, except for pineapple and kiwi, as their enzymes hinder proper gelatin setting.
Allow the milk, sour cream, sugar, and gelatin mixture to fully cool before adding the colored Jello-O cubes. Don’t wait too long though, as the milk jelly will start to set as soon as it cools. Timing is crucial to prevent the mixture from thickening too much.
Keep the Broken Glass cake refrigerated until ready to serve.

Your guests will be impressed by this delightful make-ahead dessert, and they might even be curious about the recipe. If that’s the case, feel free to guide them to my blog, where they can find helpful tips and tricks. Who knows, they may even discover some new favorite recipes while they’re here! LOL…

Variations to the recipe

This recipe can be easily customized to suit your preferences:

Do you like coffee? I have a fantastic idea for you! Instead of colored fruit jelly, make coffee jelly by preparing 500ml (2 cups +1Tbsp) of strong coffee, adding sugar to taste, dissolving 20g (4tsp) of gelatin powder in it, and refrigerating until set.
Feel free to replace sour cream with Greek yogurt or opt for whole vanilla yogurt.
Add a fun twist by using different shapes instead of cutting the colored jelly into cubes. Consider using star or heart-shaped molds for a playful presentation.
For an elegant touch, serve your Broken Glass cake in glass cups or ice-cream bowls to transform it into a stunning gelatin dessert.

Feel free to experiment and make this sweet treat your own!

Ingredients

For the colorful gelatin cubes:

3 packages of instant jelly powder (such as Jell-O or another brand of your choice) in different colors and flavors

For the milk jelly:

500g (2 cups + 4tsp) whole milk
500g (2cups +1Tbsp) whole vanilla yogurt, Greek yogurt, or sour cream (in Italy I replace it with Panna da cucina cream)
25g (1oz) unflavored gelatin (powdered or sheet/leaf). If you use leaf gelatin, please read the package instructions to check how many leaves you need to set 1 liter (4cups) of liquid (as the amount may vary depending on the company, manufacturer, and type of gelatin)
1cup sugar
200g (7oz) chocolate shortbread cookies or chocolate crackers

How to make broken glass cake

1. To start, make the colorful jelly. Follow the instructions on the jelly package and prepare each of the jelly mixtures. Pour each gelatin mixture into a separate container, and then chill them in the fridge until they become very firm.

Preparing a red, green, and yellow jelly.

2. Using a mixer or whisk, stir the yogurt or sour cream together with the sugar until well combined. There’s no need to mix it for a long time.

Whisking yogurt or sour cream with sugar until well combined.

3. Dissolve the gelatin in hot milk. Make sure that the milk is hot, but not boiling hot.

Dissolving gelatin in hot milk to make milk jelly.

4. Once the milk has cooled down slightly, add it to the mixture of yogurt or sour cream and sugar. Mix everything together until well combined.

Combining ingredients in a bowl and mixing thoroughly.

5. After the colored jelly has firmed up, cut it into medium-sized cubes, and then add them to the mixture of milk, yogurt or sour cream, and sugar. Make sure to wait until the mixture has completely cooled down before adding the jelly cubes.

Adding colorful jelly cubes to the cooled mixture of milk, yogurt or sour cream, and sugar and preparing a broken glass gelatin cake.

6. Break the chocolate cookies or crackers into small pieces.

Breaking the chocolate cookies in small pieces.

7. Once you have added the broken pieces of chocolate cookies or crackers to the milk and jelly mixture, mix everything together thoroughly. If the cookies or crackers don’t sink into the milk jelly and instead float on the surface, don’t worry – this won’t be a problem. When the dessert firms up, the cookies or crackers will create an interesting decoration on the surface and add some color to the overall presentation.

Mixing broken chocolate cookies or crackers into the milk and jelly mixture for the broken glass cake recipe.

8. Transfer the broken glass dessert mixture to a large rectangular container (32x26cm / 13’’x10’’). Refrigerate until completely set, preferably overnight.

Transferring the broken glass dessert mixture to a rectangular container.

9. Now, you can savor the delicate taste of this Mosaic gelatin Cake by dipping a spoon into the delicious milk jelly filled with colorful Jell-O cubes. Enjoy every bite!

A piece of colorful broken glass gelatin cake with Jell-O cubes and milky jelly.

How to remove Broken glass cake from the mold

I typically use a springform pan or a disposable aluminum container to make Broken Glass cake, but you can also use a bundt pan or an angel food tin. Silicone molds are another convenient option to consider.

Don’t worry if your Broken Glass Jello doesn’t come out of the mold easily. Simply follow these steps: First, dip the bottom and sides of the mold in warm water for about 10 seconds, making sure no water gets inside the mold. Next, place a serving plate or tray on top of the mold and flip them over. Lastly, carefully remove the mold to reveal your beautiful Crown Jewel dessert.

How to serve Crown Jewel dessert

Typically, I like to cut the Broken Glass Cake into squares or slices, just like you would with a regular cake.

But if you’re up for taking it to the next level, here are some delightful additions you can consider:

Top it with whipped cream. Use a pastry bag with different attachments to create swirls of whipped cream on top of the dessert. It adds a creamy and dreamy touch.
Fresh berries, fruits, and even canned options like pineapple or peaches make perfect additions to any gelatin cake.
Chocolate or caramel sauce. For a decadent twist, try serving it with a drizzle of salty caramel sauce or rich chocolate sauce.
Chocolate curls. Use a vegetable peeler to shave a bar of chocolate into thin curls. Sprinkle the chocolate curls on top of the jello dessert for a stunning finishing touch.

FAQ

How to store this dessert?

Keep it refrigerated for up to 4 days.

Can I freeze it?

Crown Jewel dessert should not be frozen. If you freeze it, it will lose its texture and become a strange, indescribable mass that resembles a mix between pudding, ice cream, and panna cotta. Once frozen, it won’t be a proper Broken Glass gelatin cake anymore.

Can I use low-fat milk for this recipe?

I recommend using whole milk for this recipe. Low-fat milk may not have the same creaminess and texture needed for this dessert.

Get ready to impress your guests with the stunning and vibrant Broken Glass cake! This eye-catching treat not only bursts with colors but also delivers an incredible taste experience. With its unique design, it will undoubtedly steal the spotlight at any gathering. Serve it on a beautiful plate, and get ready for a round of applause. With the Crown Jewel dessert, you’ve got this!

Tried this recipe? Please leave a comment with Star Ratings ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. I will really appreciate it.
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