A gelatin based substrate containing a milk based product and gelatin substrate mixture is chilled forming a first gelatin and milk based substrate layer which is paintable with oil and natural vegetable gum based edible paint or colorant. Additional layers can be prepared comprising a selected gelatin or gelatin containing flavored ingredients such as fruit or berries or combinations thereof forming a bi-layer or multi-layer low calorie dessert product. The multi-layered product is inverted leaving the first gel and milk based substrate as the top layer of the finished dessert product which may be painted with oil based edible coloring agent including an edible paint, edible dye, edible soluble ink, and combinations thereof. The gelatin and milk based substrate can also be used to prevent bleeding or migration of colors between different colored gelatin layers.