Colorful Jelly Cake with Coconut (Printer-friendly)

A vibrant dessert of layered jelly and coconut cream.

# What You'll Need:

→ Jelly Layers

01 - 2 liters water
02 - 16 g agar-agar powder (about 2 tablespoons)
03 - 400 g granulated sugar
04 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 - Gel food coloring (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
06 - 1/2 cup fruit juice per color (optional, for flavor variation: e.g., orange, pineapple, grape juice)

→ Coconut Cream Layer

07 - 400 ml coconut milk (full-fat)
08 - 4 g agar-agar powder (about 1/2 tablespoon)
09 - 40 g granulated sugar
10 - Pinch of salt

# Steps:

01 - In a large saucepan, combine 2 liters of water and 16 g agar-agar powder. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until agar-agar is fully dissolved. Add 400 g sugar and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla.
02 - Evenly divide the hot agar-agar solution into six bowls (you may keep bowls warm set over hot water to prevent setting). Add a few drops of different food coloring to each bowl for a rainbow effect. Optionally, add 1/2 cup of fruit juice to each for natural flavor.
03 - Pour the first colored layer into a rectangular cake pan (about 9x13 inches). Refrigerate for 10–12 minutes, or until just set (surface should not stick when touched). Gently pour the next color layer over the previous one. Repeat, alternating colors, chilling between each layer, until all colors are used.
04 - In a clean saucepan, combine 400 ml coconut milk, 4 g agar-agar powder, 40 g sugar, and a pinch of salt. Stir well and bring to a boil; simmer for 2–3 minutes until agar-agar dissolves.
05 - Let the coconut cream cool for 3–5 minutes, then pour gently over the final set jelly layer. Allow cake to set completely in the refrigerator, at least 2 hours.
06 - To release, gently loosen edges with a thin knife and invert onto a serving plate. Slice and serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This dessert is not only visually stunning but also a fun project to tackle with friends.
  • It's a delightful blend of flavors and textures that will impress at any gathering.
02 -
  • Using too much agar-agar can lead to a chewy texture rather than the delightful wobble you want.
  • Letting each layer cool slightly before pouring the next one helps keep the colors distinct.
03 -
  • Bake a little patience into your process; the layering takes time but is worth it!
  • The key to vibrant colors is gel food coloring—they won’t fade as much when setting.
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