21 Best Jell-O Flavors Ranked in 2025
An exploration of Jell-O flavors is a dive into the heart of American food culture. These wonderfully wobbly and curiously colorful desserts are a sweet-treat staple in households around the country.
With that in mind, defining the best Jell-O flavor is something of a contentious topic. However, it would seem that some are more popular than others.
Why? That’s what we’re here to find out. Whether you’re looking to expand your horizons and explore new Jell-O flavors or are completely new to this gelatinous snack and want to know where (and where not) to start, we have you covered.
In this guide, we'll delve into the wonderful world of Jell-O flavors, ranking them from pretty good to great, all so that you can go ahead and tuck straight into the good stuff.
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How Many Flavors of Jell-O Are There?
This is a tricky question to answer. A quick scan of the Kraft Heinz Jell-O product directory yields over 90 different flavors and products. That’s a lot of Jell-O! This includes the gelatin dessert in powdered and pre-prepared form as well as Jell-O pudding products.
However, the number of Jell-O flavors available varies significantly by region. What’s more, the brand regularly releases limited edition flavors, sometimes in collaboration with other brands. A good example is the range of limited-edition Jell-O flavors released in partnership with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, including “Booyakasha Berry.”
Other limited-time flavors of Jell-O include Pumpkin Spice Pudding and Island Pineapple. Given the number of limited-edition flavors that are continually released by Kraft Heinz, it’s very difficult to say exactly how many flavors of this popular dessert are available at any given time.
Fortunately, with a regular line-up of Jell-O cup flavors to choose from, most of which are available in superstores across the country, a delicious dessert is never far from reach. What’s more, Jell-O flavors go beyond the brand’s signature wobbly desserts.
In fact, dessert fans can choose from an impressive range of products, including:
- Jell-O Gelatin: Classic, ready-to-make gelatin in an array of flavors.
- Jell-O Instant Pudding and Pie Filling: Available both ready-to-eat and ready-to-mix in a range of flavors.
- Jell-O Sugar-Free: A range of sugar-free gelatin and pudding products for those looking to reduce their sugar intake, available in multiple flavors.
- Jell-O Dessert Kits: Complete, easy-to-make dessert kits in flavors including Oreo, strawberry cheesecake and more.
What Were the Original Jell-O Flavors?
As we’ve seen, there are lots of Jell-O flavors to choose from today. But it wasn’t always that way. In fact, when the brand first hit the shelves way back in 1897, it did so with just four core flavors: orange, strawberry, raspberry and lemon. These have stood the test of time, and despite the release of virtually countless others, remain some of the most popular Jell-O flavors available.
The 21 Best Flavors of Jell-O Ranked
21. Zero-Sugar Strawberry
Whether you’re catering to a crowd of conscious eaters or simply looking to reward your sweet tooth without demolishing your dietary goals, the zero-sugar Strawberry Jell-O flavor might just be what you need.
Just bear in mind that while it smells great, reviews suggest that this Jell-O flavor is pretty much all downhill from the first bite. It’s not unpleasant, per se; it’s just much closer to “artificial” than regular, original strawberry Jell-O.
20. Cranberry
If you’re looking for a sweet treat that’s on-theme during your next Thanksgiving dinner, why not give this Jell-O flavor a whirl? Sweet, tangy and even tart, this one’s great for cleansing the palate after a rich main course. However, some find it tastes too much like straight-up cranberry sauce to enjoy it as a dessert.
19. Lime
When you whip up a batch of this ready-to-mix Jell-O flavor, expect a firm, citrus-packed punch on the nose. While some will enjoy that, it might be a cause for concern among others when it comes to putting it in their mouth.
But don’t worry. It tastes nowhere near as strong as it smells. It’s what you might describe as a slow-burner (except it doesn’t burn). It starts out mellow, before building to a sweet, smooth and lime-lit crescendo that’s guaranteed to cleanse your palate.
18. Cherry
To those of you who have been stung before by lesser artificial cherry-based products, hear us out. Sure, the cupboard-ready cardboard box quite clearly signposts the flavor as “artificial.” But the same can be said for every other Jell-O flavor.
If you’re willing to forgive and find a way forward with cherry-flavored desserts, this fruity, cheerful and endlessly nostalgic option might just provide the neutral ground you need to make amends.
17. Blueberry Pomegranate
This Jell-O flavor does its level best to pull together the steadfast sweetness of blueberries and the punchy, blood-red tartness of pomegranate. Why? We don’t know.
Is it good? Yes, if only because it’s one of the more complex varieties on this list of Jell-O flavors. Whether that’s a good thing really depends on what you’re after.
The tartness of the pomegranate certainly shines through, making it a fantastic option for cleansing the palate after really rich meals. If you’re more in the mood for a straight-up sweet berry treat, this may not be the one.
16. Berry Blue
Few people dislike blue raspberry, which is precisely why this is ranked as one of the best Jell-O flavors. This ready-to-mix dessert is a convenient and crowd-pleasing cooler to follow a sizzling summer barbecue. It’s refreshingly sweet and is sure to delight your guests as the taste transports them back to those tongue-staining blue raspberry sweets they ate as kids.
15. Lemon
What’s more synonymous with sunshine than lemons? Nothing, except perhaps this Jell-O flavor. Reported to taste exactly like lemonade, the flavor profile is mellow, bright and far from overwhelming.
Keep some handy in your cupboard for those impromptu summer gatherings. While Jell-O does expire, it lasts for a long time if stored properly, and your future guests are sure to be pleased you kept some in reserve.
14. Zero-Sugar Raspberry
For those out there hoping to reduce their sugar intake, this Jell-O flavor is for you. In fact, while reviews would suggest that it doesn’t give off the most appetite-inspiring smell, the flavor more than makes up for it.
It does come with a slight aftertaste — the sort you’d expect from products that use artificial sweeteners. It’s still pretty good, though, and how many other Jell-O flavors satisfy your sweet tooth without compromising your health goals?
13. Grape
Grape is a classic flavor when it comes to snack food treats, from soda to candy and, of course, Jell-O. However, as with many grape-flavored snacks, Grape Jell-O has a strong artificial taste that doesn’t resemble actual grapes much at all.
Some adore the nostalgic flavor profile, while others find it too fake and cough-medicine tasting. Its love-hate reputation is what puts Grape firmly in the middle of this guide to Jell-O flavors ranked. You’ll just have to try it yourself to see where your opinion lies!
12. Mango
While most love the taste of this tropical stone fruit, many avoid it because they don’t know how to deal with the pit that awaits in the middle. Fortunately, this Jell-O flavor does away with the mess and inconvenience, delivering tropical notes that taste remarkably like real, bona fide mango. If you like sunshine vibes in your dessert — the kind that are sweet, juicy and relentlessly refreshing — this is most definitely the flavor for you.
11. Watermelon
This Jell-O flavor is every bit as refreshing as it sounds. Reviewed by some as reminiscent of pink Starburst but more refreshing, that should give you an idea of what to expect here.
It harnesses the natural candy-like sweetness of real watermelon, but it does so in a treat that’s endlessly more indulgent. Sure, real fruit is good, and we’ll admit that watermelon is among the best of them.
But nothing beats the guilty nostalgia that comes with a pot of Jell-O, and few Jell-O flavors come close to nailing the color and flavor of the real article quite like watermelon does.
10. Tropical Fusion
This flavor is probably best described as a “general blend of fruitiness.” If you’ve ever dreamed of lining your fridge with a snackable version of Capri Sun, this might just be the one for you. It’s a real crowd pleaser, perfect for those whose party food or tailgate food spread usually includes shots of Jell-O.
What we like about this particular entry is that it doesn’t try to replicate one particular type of fruit. At the same time, however, we’re unsure whether it delivers the notes of orange, cherry and pineapple that it claims to on the box. What we can’t deny is that this Jell-O flavor is fruity. Like, really fruity.
9. Apricot
If your sweet tooth calls for a more mellow Jell-O, this flavor might well be for you. While it doesn’t promise to take your taste buds to tang town like its stone-fruit cousin, cherry, we don’t think that’s a bad thing. If you’re looking for a Jell-O flavor that’s refreshing, pleasantly sweet and as deliciously subtle as its real namesake fruit, you won’t go wrong with this one.
8. Blackberry Fusion
Sweet, tart and built like some kind of atomic juicy cluster, blackberries have been a dessert staple for time immemorial. This Jell-O flavor captures their essence beautifully, in a way that’s less sweet than others on this list.
The overall flavor feels less artificial, too. It tastes like summer, as anything with “blackberry” in the name should, making it the perfect addition to your pool party food spread.
7. Melon Fusion
Have you ever eaten a piece of melon and wondered why you don’t do it more? If so, you might be curious to try this particular Jell-O flavor.
It harnesses the same uber-refreshing and sumptuously sweet juiciness of ripe melon without messing too much with the fruit’s natural taste. While this Jell-O flavor is artificial (all are), it’s one of the more difficult ones for your taste buds to spot.
6. Cherry Lemonade
Adding a novel twist to everybody’s favorite summer sip, the Cherry Lemonade Jell-O flavor delivers precisely the kind of refreshment you’d expect. Anybody who’s sampled the flavors side by side will know that cherry is the more dominant of the two, and that’s certainly the case here.
However, what this Jell-O flavor does beautifully is cut those full-bodied stone-fruit notes with just the right amount of acidity and lemon citrus. The result? A show-stopper for lemon lovers and cherry cheerleaders alike.
5. Peach
While this isn’t what we’d describe as the best Jell-O flavor, it’s still pretty good. We’re not going to say that it tastes bad, because it doesn’t. We’re also not going to say that it tastes like peaches. However, it’s pleasantly sweet and undeniably refreshing, especially on a hot summer’s day.
4. Raspberry
This convenient and ready-to-mix treat is sure to delight those around your table who have a sweet tooth. But does it taste like real raspberries? Reviews would suggest that it doesn’t, but don’t let that put you off. They’re also unanimous in their praise for the vibrant, berry-ish taste of this popular Jell-O flavor.
3. Island Pineapple
Take your taste buds to an island paradise with this next Jell-O flavor. Reviewed as one of the most complex of all, the flavor is surprisingly subtle when you consider how punchy the real article is. It’s a fantastic feat of flavor engineering, but be warned: if you like the acidity of real pineapple, you’re not going to find it here.
2. Orange
As one of the four original Jell-O flavors, orange is quite literally a cornerstone of Jell-O’s success. Open up a cup or mix up a batch and you’ll see why.
Heavy hits of citrus fill your nose, transporting you instantly to sunnier climes. In terms of taste, it’s about as close to real orange you’re likely to get on this list.
1. Strawberry
Given that this is one of the original Jell-O flavors, it’s no surprise that it’s considered by many to be one of the brand’s all-time greats. It’s nostalgic, but not in a way that’ll have your kids rolling their eyes.
They’ll be too busy enjoying it every bit as much as you. If you’ve yet to try this iconic flavor, firstly, where have you been? Secondly, be sure to add some to your basket the next time you’re at the store!
When it comes to picking the best Jell-O flavor, it all comes down to personal taste. Classics like orange, strawberry, raspberry and lemon have stood the test of time for good reason, while new flavors keep popping up to satisfy the curiosity of more adventurous sweet-toothed foodies.
In the end, the best Jell-O flavor is simply the one that adds the most sunshine to your day. After all, that’s what these wobbly treats are all about — fun for kids and nostalgia for their parents. Whether you stick with time-honored favorites or branch out into new flavors, you’re sure to find something that hits the sweet spot.
For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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