Edible Jello Slime Recipe (3 Ingredients)
The BEST edible Jello slime recipe made with just 3 ingredients—non-toxic, taste-safe sensory play that changes color as you mix it!
The Original Edible Jello Slime
(Originally published in 2017, updated 2026)
Growing up, I loved playing with slime, like Nickelodeon Gak and homemade white glue slime! Though in my day, our options were a bit more limited because we didn’t have the internet with thousands of different recipes to choose from.
When the latest slime craze hit a few years ago, most of the new recipes I found were made with glue, borax, liquid starch, etc.
Since my youngest daughter was only two years old at the time and still liked to stick everything in her mouth, I wanted to find a safer alternative. Because obviously she wasn’t going to be happy just watching her older sister play with slime! She wanted to play too!
Why Jello?
That led me to create our first edible slime recipe (this one!!), which was a fun spin on the oobleck I played with as a child. Except we added JELLO — which gives our slime fruity flavor and causes it to change color when you mix it!
In 2017 when we originally published this recipe, there was nothing like it on the internet, and I’ve still never found a better Jello slime recipe!
It was such a smash hit with other parents of young kids that we kept experimenting with other edible slime recipes — pudding slime, chocolate slime, and even edible glow in the dark slime! We even tried edible pizza slime – and that got a LOT of comments, both good and bad! But we thought it was super fun!
Not only is this easy silly putty recipe non-toxic…it’s edible! Actually, it tastes pretty yummy! Not that I recommend eating the whole batch, but if your kids lick their fingers it’s all good.
How Do You Make Slime without Borax?
Borax is one of the most common slime activators – it causes a chemical reaction when combined with glue that results in streeeetttcchhyy particles and slime!
However, like I mentioned above, it may not be the best choice for young children or those with sensitive skin.
The good news is that you can make an amazing slime recipe without borax! Actually we’ve made a LOT of homemade slime without borax! Like this one!
FYI…
Borax free slime does not necessarily mean the same thing as non-toxic slime.
Many so-called “borax-free slime recipes” on the internet actually contain a form of boric acid — which is essentially the same thing.
If you see contact lens solution, laundry detergent, or liquid starch listed in the ingredients of a slime recipe — those are not truly borax-free slime recipes.
We’ve made plenty of awesome slime recipes with contact lens solution and liquid starch as the activator, with no adverse effects. However, with young kids, I like to err on the side of caution, which is why we make so many taste-safe and easy slime without borax.
Be sure to check out the demo video in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post!
Why I love this edible silly putty recipe:
- Easy to make (only 3 ingredients)
- Safe and non-toxic (glue free slime, no borax, no liquid starch, etc)
- Quick clean-up (washes right off with water)
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Jello Slime Ingredients
- Cornstarch — Our edible slime activator. Start with about 1/2 cup, you can add more if needed.
- Sugar-free gelatin mix — We used half of a 1.55 ounce package, which is the larger sized box. Any flavor you like!
- Water — As needed
Tip: Don’t have Jello? Try our edible pudding slime recipe!
Do You Have To Use Sugar Free Jello?
We’ve tried this recipe with both regular Jello and Sugar-free Jello mix. It works with both!
However, we found the sugar free Jello to create a slime that was less sticky and easier to clean up. That’s why we recommend using sugar free if you have it!
Instructions
- Add cornstarch and sugar-free Jello to a medium mixing bowl. Whisk together with a fork or spoon to combine the dry ingredients.
- Add 2 tablespoons water to bowl with dry ingredients. Stir until a paste begins to form.
- This is the cool part…the pale white powder turns a vivid color! (Ours is purple because we used a Frozen-inspired berry-flavored gelatin) However, any flavor Jello will have this neat color-changing effect!
- Continue to add water little by little until the silly putty clumps together instead of sticking to the bottom/sides of bowl.
Video Demo:
Tips for Making Perfect Jello Slime
- Clean Up – We used a silicone play mat as our play surface to contain the mess for easier clean-up. However, this edible slime washes away easily with soap and water!
- Consistency – You can’t really “mess up” making this recipe. If it’s too runny, simply add more cornstarch. If it’s too thick, add a bit more water. (Note that this is similar to classic “oobleck” putty, as opposed to stretchy and bouncy kinds made with chemicals).
- Rehydrating – If the slime begins to dry out or crumble, add a teaspoon of water and squish to rehydrate for more play time!
- Staining – I found that once mixed, the jello slime is fairly colorfast. However, to be safe, I would stick with “cool” colors like green, blue, and purple because they are less likely to stain hands than something bright like red.
- Safety Note – Yes, this slime is technically taste-safe, but it’s not meant to be eaten as food. Always supervise young children when playing with any slime.
Tips for a Mess-Free Slime Play Experience
One of our readers shared this simple tip for mess-free play and we loved it so much that we asked if we could share!
For mess-free slime play, simply scoop your silly putty mixture into a plastic zipper bag and seal. It’s also perfect for kids that don’t like sticky hands and it keeps slime from drying out as quickly. Win-win!
Thanks Teresa!
Learn to Master Slime
There are three starter slime recipes that form the base for hundreds of awesome slime variations, like this Edible Silly Putty Slime. Once you master these basic recipes, you can make almost anything!
Click here to learn how to make slime using our three starter recipes!
Edible Jello Slime Recipe (Printable Copy)
Have you make this DIY slime without borax? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
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Edible Jello Slime Recipe (3 Ingredients)
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 large package sugar-free gelatin half of 1.55 ounce package
- water as needed
Instructions
- Combine cornstarch and sugar-free Jello powder in a medium mixing bowl.
- Begin adding water to dry ingredients, 2 tablespoons at a time. Stir until a paste begins to form.
- Continue to add water little by little until the silly putty clumps together instead of sticking to the bottom/sides of bowl.
- Finish mixing by hand and play!
Video
Notes
- Clean Up: Use a silicone mat for easier cleanup; slime washes away with soap and water.
- Consistency: Add more cornstarch if too runny or more water if too thick. Texture is similar to oobleck, not stretchy slime.
- Rehydrate: Mix in a little water if slime starts to dry out.
- Staining: Cooler colors like blue, green, and purple are less likely to stain.
- Safety: Taste-safe but not intended as food; supervise young children during play.
Pin our Easy Jello Slime Recipe on Pinterest:
More Edible Slime and Play Dough Recipes
Don’t miss: Check out our Master List of Edible Slime Recipes for Kids here!
Our edible slime recipes are made with simple household ingredients that you might already have in your kitchen. Perfect for hours of sensory play that’s safe and non-toxic!
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How long will this last if kept sealed between play times?
Hi Sally – I would say this is a 1-2 use slime recipe, since it is made with food ingredients. If kept sealed, you can add a little bit of water and try to rehydrate, but I wouldn’t allow kids to taste on the 2nd play. Hope this helps!
you called your putty color changing it makes people think it changes colors so if you don’t want people to be mad bc it doesn’t then I suggest changing your title
Hi Charlotte – the putty changes color when you mix it up, which I explain in the post and show in the video. If anyone were to get mad about that title, I think they have too much time on their hands 😉
We tried this and loved it. Great Post!
Is it actually edible to eat raw cornstarch?
It’s not meant to be eaten as a snack or actually food item. It’s simply meant to be taste-safe (unlike glue-based slime) in case kids stick any in their mouth.
I only have regular jello….would I use 1/2 of the package (I think it’s 3oz)? Or half of the amount in the sugar-free jello? Thank you!
You can use the whole package — I just recommend sugar free because it’s a little less sticky. Still fun though!
I noticed the pudding slime should be kept in the refrigerator, should the jello slime be kept in the refrigerator or left out in a ziplock bag?
The Jello slime tends to dry out after a day for us, so I usually just toss it and make a new batch next time.
I didn’t like this. Never got it to the right consistency which is my fault, but we used strawberry flavor and the color stained our hands. Not great for littles who wipe their hands on everything.
The good news is that it is not permanent! But I do recommend using “cool” colors such as green in the recipe notes, for a lower chance of hand staining.