How to Make a JELL-O Aquarium With Swedish Fish

An inverted bowl of Jell-O becomes a fish bowl.

If you're having a child's birthday party, surprise the guests with an edible fish aquarium made from Jell-O. Add to the realism with edible Swedish fish, a chewy candy that is the shape of fish. Complete the scene with wave caps of whipped cream. Plan to start the aquarium the day before serving so it has time to completely set.

Things You'll Need

• 2-quart bowl
• Four 3-ounce packages Berry Blue Jell-O
• One 3-ounce package Lemon Jell-O
• Measuring cup
• Boiling water
• Spoon
• 1 can crushed pineapple
• 6 to 8 Swedish fish
• Skewer
• Knife
• Plate
• Whipped cream
• Spatula

Instructions

1. Combine four packages of Berry Blue Jell-O and one package of Lemon Jell-O with 4 cups boiling water. This is one less cup of water than the directions call for. The resulting Jell-O will be firmer and hold its shape better. Stir until the Jell-O dissolves.

2. Put in 4 cups of crushed ice. Stir until the ice is dissolved. Fill the bowl to the top with additional ice water if necessary. Stir.

3. Put in the refrigerator until the Jell-O is nearly set, about an hour or so. Exactly how long depends on the temperature of your refrigerator.

4. Push the Swedish fish candy into the Jell-O upside down at different heights. Use a skewer to push them down through the Jell-O. Keep in mind, the top of the bowl will become the bottom of the aquarium.

5. Drain the crushed pineapple and place on top of the Jell-O pushing it down into the Jell-O just enough so it's firmly in place. The pineapple becomes the gravel at the bottom of the aquarium.

6. Put the Jell-O back into the refrigerator to completely set. Right before serving, dip the bowl quickly into hot water. Slip a butter knife around the edges of the Jell-O to loosen the sides. Put a plate on top and invert the bowl. The Jell-O should slide out on top of the plate.

7. Frost the very top of the aquarium -- it was the bottom of the bowl -- with whipped cream to resemble waves. Use the spatula to spread the cream.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't want to bother with unmolding the Jell-O from the bowl, use a clean sterilized glass fish bowl. Measure how much Jell-O it will take to fill it. Do not invert over a plate. Serve the Jell-O and Swedish fish from the fish bowl.

• Only use canned pineapple for the bottom of the aquarium or the Jell-O will not set properly.

References

• "The Secret Life of Food"; Clare Crespo; April 2002