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Tray of finished Swimming Bears Jello cups arranged for serving at a summer pool party – easy and adorable pool party dessert idea for kids and adults

Swimming Bears Jello Cups

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Servings 6 servings (more or fewer depending on cup size)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 box (6 oz.) Berry Blue Jell-O
  • Water (as directed on the Jell-O box)
  • Teddy Honey Grahams crackers (about 2–3 per cup)
  • Gummy Lifesavers (about 2–3 per cup)
  • 1 tub whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), thawed
  • Blue food coloring (gel icing color recommended)
  • 6 clear plastic cups

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the Berry Blue Jell-O according to the package directions, using the recommended amounts of hot and cold water.
  • Pour the prepared liquid Jell-O into clear plastic cups, filling each cup about two-thirds full. Leave space at the top for the whipped topping.
  • Refrigerate the cups for at least 2–4 hours, or overnight, until the Jell-O is fully set.
  • When ready to serve, assemble the bear floaties: slide one Teddy Honey Graham cracker through the hole of a gummy Lifesaver so the bear sits inside the ring like an inner tube. Repeat for all bears.
  • Scoop the whipped topping into a bowl. Add a small amount of blue food coloring and fold it in gently just a few times - do not over-mix. You want a swirled blue-and-white effect that looks like waves.
  • Remove the set Jello cups from the refrigerator. Spoon a generous amount of the blue-swirled whipped topping on top of each cup, creating soft wave-like peaks.
  • Place 1–2 bear floaties on top of the whipped topping in each cup.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

  • Make the Jello cups the night before to save time on party day.
  • Add the food coloring to the whipped topping right before serving so it stays fluffy and the swirled look stays vivid.
  • For a Fourth of July version, use red gummy Lifesavers for a red, white, and blue color scheme.
  • Use clear plastic cups so the blue Jello pool is visible through the sides for maximum visual impact.
  • Gel icing color gives a more vivid, true blue than standard liquid food coloring.