Understanding Your Options: What Jello Has No Artificial Flavors?

October 4, 2025 •

4 min read

According to research from 2016, an attempt was made to reintroduce a cleaner version of the classic dessert, meaning there once was a line of Jell-O that did not contain artificial flavors. This serves as a reminder for those asking what jello has no artificial flavors?, to look beyond the brand name and explore a wider world of wholesome dessert options.

Quick Summary

This article explores the availability of gelatin desserts free from artificial flavors, including the status of Jell-O's natural line. It details specific natural and plant-based brands, provides guidance on making homemade gelatin with real juice, and compares popular vegetarian gelling agents.

Key Points

Jell-O Simply Good was discontinued: The Jell-O brand's natural gelatin line, called Simply Good, was discontinued but may return in the future.
Look for natural brands: Companies like Simple Mixes, Simply Delish, and Bakol offer ready-made gelatin and jel dessert mixes with natural flavors and dyes.
Homemade is a clean option: You can make your own healthy gelatin dessert using unflavored, grass-fed gelatin powder and natural, 100% fruit juice.
Use vegan alternatives: For plant-based options, agar-agar (from seaweed) and pectin (from fruit) serve as effective gelling agents for desserts.
Compare gelling agents: While animal gelatin creates a soft, melt-in-the-mouth texture, agar-agar produces a firmer, more brittle gel and sets without refrigeration.
Read ingredients carefully: Always check the labels of both gelatin mixes and accompanying fruit juices to avoid hidden artificial ingredients and excess sugar.
Choose unflavored options: Many brands, like NuNaturals and Great Lakes Wellness, offer unflavored gelatin powders that are free of any additives, allowing full control over flavor.

The Shift Towards Natural Ingredients

For decades, many consumers have grown accustomed to brightly colored, artificially flavored gel desserts. However, a growing awareness of food additives has fueled a movement towards cleaner eating and more natural ingredient lists. This trend has influenced manufacturers to reformulate products and has opened the market for alternative brands that prioritize transparency and simple ingredients. For those aiming to reduce their intake of synthetic colors and flavors, understanding the landscape of the gelatin and dessert market is key to making informed choices.

The Jell-O Brand and Its Natural Endeavors

As of recent years, the Jell-O brand has not offered a product line without artificial flavors. However, it is noteworthy that in the mid-2010s, Kraft did release a product called Jell-O Simply Good, which used natural flavors and dyes.

Jell-O Simply Good: This specific line featured flavors like strawberry made with real strawberry juice and without artificial flavors, dyes, or preservatives.
Discontinuation: Despite its promising premise, the Simply Good line was discontinued a few years after its launch due to market factors.
Future Possibility: A spokesperson for Kraft Heinz noted a potential reintroduction of the Simply Good line in 2026, though details remain sparse.

For now, the traditional Jell-O products on the market are not the answer to the question of what jello has no artificial flavors.

Branded Alternatives to Artificial Gelatin

Fortunately, a number of other companies have stepped in to fill the market demand for gelatin and jelly desserts made with natural ingredients. These products are found in health food sections, specialty stores, and online.

Simple Mixes: This brand offers natural gelatin mixes that are dye-free, gluten-free, and use colors derived from fruits and vegetables.
Simply Delish: A brand offering sugar-free jel desserts, including flavors like black cherry. These products are often vegan and rely on natural sweeteners and flavors.
Bakol: Offers all-natural vegan jel dessert mixes, providing a reliable option for those who avoid animal-based ingredients for health or ethical reasons.
Unflavored Gelatin Powders: Brands like NuNaturals and Great Lakes Wellness sell unflavored, grass-fed beef gelatin powder, containing no additives, sugar, or carbohydrates. This provides a clean slate for creating your own flavored desserts.

The Homemade Route: Creating Natural Gelatin

For maximum control over ingredients, making gelatin at home is the best solution. The process is straightforward, allowing for endless customization with natural fruit juices and sweeteners.

How to make homemade gelatin with natural juice:

Bloom the gelatin: Sprinkle unflavored gelatin powder over a small amount of cold juice and let it stand for about 5 minutes until it thickens.
Heat the juice: Gently heat the rest of the juice in a saucepan. Do not boil, but ensure it is warm enough to dissolve the bloomed gelatin.
Combine and sweeten: Whisk the bloomed gelatin into the warm juice until fully dissolved. Add a natural sweetener like honey, maple syrup, or stevia to taste, if desired.
Chill: Pour the mixture into molds or a serving dish and refrigerate until firm, typically around 4 hours.

Plant-Based Gelling Agents and Their Uses

For vegetarians, vegans, or those simply preferring a plant-based option, several effective alternatives to animal-derived gelatin exist. These substitutes can create desserts with textures that range from firm and brittle to soft and creamy.


Feature	Agar-Agar	Pectin	Animal Gelatin
Source	Red algae/seaweed	Fruits (apples, citrus)	Animal collagen (bones, skin)
Dietary	Vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher	Vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher	Not vegan/vegetarian
Setting Time	Sets at room temperature (around 1 hour)	Requires sugar and acid to set properly	Requires refrigeration to set
Texture	Firmer, brittle, and more transparent	Softer, less firm, and more fruit-like	Softer, creamy, and melts at body temperature
Usage	Jellies, mousses, vegan cheese	Jams, fruit jellies, preserves	Jello, marshmallows, gummy candies
Heating	Requires boiling to activate gelling	Requires boiling to dissolve	Dissolves in hot water

The Nutritional Context of Natural Gelatin Desserts

From a nutritional perspective, gelatin itself is a protein, containing various amino acids, though it is not a complete protein. The overall nutritional value of a gelatin dessert depends heavily on what it is combined with. A dessert made with natural, grass-fed gelatin and unsweetened fruit juice offers a cleaner, higher-protein snack than one laden with artificial flavors, colors, and high fructose corn syrup. Plant-based options like agar-agar and pectin also provide a different nutritional profile, with agar-agar being a good source of fiber.

By choosing unflavored powders and natural juices, you eliminate the need for artificial additives and can control the sugar content, making for a significantly healthier dessert. For those following special dietary regimens like keto, using sugar-free juices or natural sweeteners provides a safe and compliant option.

Conclusion

While the popular brand Jell-O no longer offers a widely available product without artificial flavors, numerous brands and homemade recipes provide excellent alternatives. By opting for natural brands like Simple Mixes and Simply Delish or choosing pure, unflavored gelatin from brands like NuNaturals or Great Lakes, you can create delicious and cleaner treats. Furthermore, plant-based gelling agents like agar-agar offer fantastic vegan alternatives for a variety of textures. The key is to read labels carefully or take the DIY route to ensure your dessert aligns with a natural and healthy diet.

For more information on the safety of food additives, consider consulting the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Food Scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the Jell-O Simply Good line that was made without artificial flavors was discontinued. As of now, traditional Jell-O products contain artificial flavors and dyes.

There are several alternatives, including natural gelatin mix brands like Simple Mixes, vegan jel dessert mixes like Bakol, and plant-based gelling agents such as agar-agar and pectin.

You can make homemade gelatin by combining an unflavored, unadulterated gelatin powder with 100% real fruit juice and a natural sweetener of your choice.

Agar-agar is a vegan gelling agent derived from seaweed. It creates a firmer, more brittle gel that sets at room temperature, unlike animal-derived gelatin, which is softer and requires refrigeration.

Yes, common vegan substitutes include agar-agar, pectin (from fruits), and other thickeners like carrageenan or konjac powder.

Yes, unflavored gelatin powders from reputable brands like NuNaturals and Great Lakes are typically made from a single ingredient (bovine gelatin) and contain no artificial colors, sweeteners, or preservatives.

Almost any fruit juice works, but avoid fresh pineapple and papaya, as their enzymes can break down the gelatin and prevent it from setting. Using cooked fruit or pasteurized juice will resolve this issue.