Agar-Agar Rainbow Jelly Cake (Printable)

Six colorful agar-agar jelly layers topped with creamy coconut for a light, vegan, gluten-free treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Jelly layers

01 - 8 1/2 cups water
02 - 2 tablespoons agar-agar powder
03 - 2 cups granulated sugar
04 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 - Gel food coloring (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple), as needed
06 - 1/2 cup fruit juice per color (optional)

→ Coconut cream layer

07 - 13.5 fl oz (1 2/3 cups) full-fat coconut milk
08 - 1/2 tablespoon agar-agar powder
09 - 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
10 - Pinch of salt

# Directions:

01 - Combine 8 1/2 cups water and 2 tablespoons agar-agar powder in a large saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until agar-agar fully dissolves.
02 - Stir in 2 cups granulated sugar until fully dissolved, remove from heat and mix in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
03 - Pour the hot agar-agar mixture evenly into six heatproof bowls. Keep bowls warm over a pan of hot water. Add a few drops of a different gel color to each bowl and, if using, 1/2 cup of the chosen fruit juice to each for additional flavor.
04 - Pour the first colored portion into a 9x13-inch rectangular pan. Refrigerate for 10–12 minutes, or until the layer is just set and the surface does not stick when touched.
05 - Gently pour the next colored portion over the set layer. Repeat the pour-and-chill process, alternating colors and chilling each layer until all six layers are assembled.
06 - In a clean saucepan combine 13.5 fl oz coconut milk, 1/2 tablespoon agar-agar powder, 3 tablespoons sugar and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer 2–3 minutes, stirring, until agar-agar dissolves.
07 - Allow the coconut mixture to cool 3–5 minutes, then gently pour it over the final set colored layer. Refrigerate until fully set, at least 2 hours.
08 - Loosen the edges with a thin knife, invert onto a serving plate, slice and serve chilled.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • This is the kind of showstopper that never fails to impress, yet comes together with simple supermarket finds.
  • Once you cut into those vibrant layers, you&apoll discover how effortless it is to customize with flavors and colors for every mood or celebration.
02 -
  • If you rush stacking the layers before they set properly, the colors can bleed together—it&aposs hard to fix later.
  • Adding even a touch too much agar-agar turns the jelly from delightful chew to mouthful of eraser—measure with intent.
03 -
  • Keep your agar-agar mixture moving while heating so it dissolves fully—undissolved granules will ruin the smooth finish.
  • A tiny bit of coconut oil brushed on the pan makes unmolding dramatically easier without marks or tears.
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