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Jelly Pinwheels

Christmas Recipes· Desserts· Fun Ideas for Kids· Sweet Recipes

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With just two ingredients these Jelly Pinwheels are a little bit of baking magic. So simple to make, so pretty to see!

Posted November 20, 2014, Updated November 24, 2025

Christmas Jelly Pinwheels Just A Mum's

 

This recipe for Jelly Pinwheels or Jello Rollups was one of the first recipes I ever put up on Just a Mum.

It has consistently been one of the most viewed recipes too! So I thought I would give it a bit of a Christmas Makeover to inspire a whole new lot of people to try this magical two ingredient recipe.

Jelly Rollups the process of making them

 

The recipe is just delightful! All it contains is Jelly and mini marshmallows, but the magic happens when you get the mixture out of the fridge – the jelly and marshmallow separate into two distinct layers – so cool!

It takes about 5 minutes to make up the recipe, an hour for cooling time and then the fun bit begins, rolling up and then cutting the roll.

 

And of course with all things magical you don’t cut it the ordinary old way – you use a piece of cotton, so the kids will just love helping out with the entire recipe.

Jelly Rollup how to cut with a piece of cotton

 

The marshmallow will take on whatever colour jelly you use so its fun to create these for any occasion. Mini marshmallows can be found in the baking section of the supermarket.

An added bonus for some families is that these are dairy free (check your brand) and gluten free also, so a nice treat food for parties where there will be children with allergies!

 

Jelly Rollups with green jelly showing the entire process in photo collage

 

So how easy and cool is that! Nice and quick so the kids can help with the making of part, then head off and play for a bit and after not much time come back and cut it – with cotton! 

Sometimes different brands of jelly will work differently. I have found that Greggs works really well, other brands can have more insipid colour.

Jelly Rollups styled to look like a Christmas tree

 

This recipe for one makes a small amount – 10-12 rolls, if you wish to make this for a party you may wish to make multiple batches, or double it and make it in a larger dish. 

If you like cooking with Jelly then you should definitely check out my Jelly Slice, beautiful to make and delicious too. 

Just A Mums Jelly Slice

Check out some of my other Christmas Recipes:

Marshmallow Christmas Trees

Candy Cane Chocolate Bark

White Christmas

Divine Tim Tam Truffles

Jelly rollups with a Christmas theme styled into a Christmas tree shape.

 

So without further ado – here is the recipe – it is easy, few steps and so much fun, I hope you love these Jelly Pinwheels as much as we do!

Jelly Pinwheels

Jelly Pinwheels

Yield: 10
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 7 minutes

Delicious and fun recipe, Jelly Pinwheels are a little bit of magic with just two ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 1 Packet Flavoured Jelly, 85 grams
  • 1/2 Cup Cold Water
  • 1 1/2 Cups Mini Marshmallows

Instructions

  • Prepare a 20-23cm square slice tin with a very light spray of cooking oil - you do not want it to taste of oil so I wipe it around with a paper cloth.
  • In a microwave proof bowl add the jelly crystals and cold water and whisk together well.
  • Heat in the microwave for 1 minute, stir & check if crystals have dissolved, if not heat for a further 10 seconds.
  • Add marshmallows and stir lightly into jelly.
  • Heat for 15-30 seconds (only until marshmallows just begin to puff up* see notes)
  • Using a whisk quickly mix together the ingredients until the marshmallow has completely dissolved.
  • Pour into prepared slice tin and set on a level shelf in your refrigerator for an hour or until set
  • Remove from the fridge and carefully pull away the mixture from one side of the tin to see if it will come away cleanly
  • Gently lift the set mixture onto a clean dry surface, marshmallow side up.
  • If you feel it will catch at the sides of the tin gently run a knife around the edge.
  • Begin at one end and with gently roll the jelly with the fingers of both of your hands, keeping the roll as firm and tight as possible.
  • Mine always has funny ends - don't worry!
  • Set seam side down on bench
  • Get a clean piece of cotton about 15-20 cm long
  • Slide the cotton under the roll about 1cm from the end and cross it over the top of the roll, pulling the cotton tight until it cuts through the rollup.
  • Continue to do this every 1 cm down the roll until you have completely sliced it.
  • Display on a plate and serve!
  • Keep in fridge until ready to serve, best eaten the day it is made.
  • Enjoy!

    • Notes

    **Be careful not to overcook the marshmallow - so watch it as it cooks - when you begin to see the marshmallows change shape and just puff up remove them from the microwave - this allows the layers to separate properly and the sciencey stuff to work!

    Nutrition Information:
    Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1
    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 126Total Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gSodium: 31mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 0gSugar: 22gProtein: 1g

    JustAMumNZ.com, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although justamumnz.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

    Did you make this recipe? Please give me a star rating above.

    Please leave a comment down below, rate this recipe or share a photo on Facebook!

    © justamumnz
    Cuisine: New Zealand / Category: Christmas Recipes

    I do hope you get as much enjoyment of this recipe as my family have.

    Thank you so much for stopping by to check out this recipe, you can follow me on Facebook & Instagram and also follow this blog via email to receive all my recipes as I publish them so check out the subscription box below.

    Happy Baking!

    Anna

     

    Comments

    1. Catherine rae Quirke says

      Made it perfectly till I put it on my stainless steel bench where it stuck and wouldn’t roll. Will try again

      Reply

    3. Joan says

      Hi. One recipe for muffins didn’t work without modification but this one works extremely well 🙂 Kids went crazy about it. Thanks for recipe which I can use as an “emergency”, in 1 hour having great treat for kids. Take care

      Reply

      • justamumnz says

        Hi Marianne – it needs to have at least low sides to hold in the liquid – something about 9 inches square. If your cookie sheet has sides this could be fine – but you may need to double recipe if larger than my measurements 🙂 You can also line it in baking paper if that makes it easier for you to lift out 🙂 Happy Baking 🙂 Let me know if any other questions

        Reply

    5. Janine says

      This is my favourite recipe. Mr 4 has EoE and multiple food allergies and this recipe is my go to for him to have a treat. He is mostly food free so it is so exciting to have something fun he can eat!

      Reply

    18. Danielle L says

      What a creative idea! I’ve never seen anything like this before and in the age of pinterest, food blogs and recipes on the internet that is a very impressive creative effort!

      Reply

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