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This easy strawberry jello salad recipe with Cool Whip makes a vintage pink dessert salad perfect for spring, summer and any holiday gathering.
Strawberry Jello Fruit Salad
I found this fun retro recipe for strawberry Jello salad among my grandmother’s old recipes a few years ago. Like most vintage dessert salads, it’s more of a dessert than a salad. It’s pink, sweet and kind of fluffy. And it’s loaded with strawberries, which is always a good thing! Plus it’s also super easy to make. But it is super popular, especially around holidays and potluck season and especially with those of you who grew up with this classic side dish.
I first published this easy recipe in 2017, and I just recently updated the instructions to help make the Jello set better. Be sure to watch the video to see how it’s made.
If you like fluffy Jell-O salads, try this strawberry pretzel salad and lime Jello salad from my husband’s mom or this orange Jello salad next!
Ingredient Notes
Here’s what you need to make it. Full amounts are in the printable recipe card below.
- Strawberry Jell-O — the large family size box or 2 smaller boxes.
- Hot water and cold water — to dissolve the gelatin. No need to boil water — it just needs to be very hot.
- Cool Whip — or any non dairy whipped topping. Real whipped cream does not work in this type of recipe.
- Frozen strawberries — helps the Jello set faster
How to Make Strawberry Jello Salad
Basically, you just start out like you’re making regular Jello. You mix the gelatin with hot, then cold water, and then you put it into the fridge to thicken up a little bit. It takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour for the Jello to start to thicken up — at least in my fridge! It’s not supposed to be completely set — just thicker.
Now, take a whisk or use an electric mixer, and whisk the Jello mixture until it turns foamy. This takes just a couple of minutes, especially if you use a mixer. Then, you stir in your thawed Cool Whip. You can use the mixer until it gets blended. It’ll look very pink and foamy. Now, gently fold in the strawberries, and pop the dish into the fridge to firm up.
It takes about 3-4 hours for the Jello salad to set and be firm enough to eat. You can serve it in slices, like a cake or scoop it out with a spoon. You can also get creative and add some sliced strawberries for decoration!
Recipe Tips
Make sure you are using the regular large 6-ounce box of Jello. The sugar free variety comes in different sizes.
Use a long casserole dish to help the Jello set faster. If you’re using a large bowl, it takes longer to set. I usually mix everything in the casserole dish, but you can use a bowl and pour the mixture into a separate dish to serve.
Use plain frozen strawberries, not strawberries in syrup or sugar.
Fresh strawberries are fine, but slice them and refrigerate until ready to use so they’re not too warm.
You can also freeze fresh sliced strawberries instead of buying frozen ones.
Using an electric mixer helps whip the Jello up before adding the whipped topping.
Thaw the Cool Whip in the fridge before adding it to the Jello.
Storage
Store the salad in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap. It lasts about 3 days before it starts to get runny. It does not freeze well.
Strawberry Jello Salad
Ingredients
- 1 6-ounce package Strawberry Jello gelatin not sugar free
- 2 cups very hot water
- ¾ cup cold water
- 8 oz Tub Cool Whip thawed
- 1 pound frozen strawberries sliced
Instructions
- In a large casserole dish, mix the Jello with hot water and cold water until completely dissolved
- Refrigerate for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until Jello starts to thicken. It will still be a little runny
- Use a whisk or electric mixer to mix Jello until foamy and thick.
- Stir in whipped topping, then gently fold in strawberries, and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or until firm and ready to serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I know it’s not a healthy salad recipe, but hey, it does have fruit! And besides, I’m a sucker for vintage recipes — when you make them and taste them, it’s like stepping back in time. Who’s with me on that?!
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. And if you grew up with this retro salad, let me know. Sign up for the weekly newsletter to receive more free recipes by email.
Happy Cooking,
I made this as part of my daughter’s “berry” first birthday, and it was such a hit! Everyone enjoyed it, and it was such an easy recipe to make. Plan on making it again next week for my church group! Thanks for the great recipe!
What a cute idea! I’m glad everyone liked it!
This reminded me of my childhood so I made it for my kids. They loved it. Looks like we will be having this all summer.
Will a 2 quart dish work for the Strawberry fruit jello salad ?
I haven’t tried it, but it probably would. The layers would be thicker, though, and may take more time to set.
This recipe became a staple in the house! My husband LOVES this jello. We prefer to use freshly frozen strawberries! But the rest is exactly as the recipe states. He will sometimes add whipped topping if serving as a dessert. Wonderful recipe! Thank you!!!
Can you use marshmallow fluff instead of cool whip? I remember my god-mother making this for every family gathering we had and everyone loved it.
I haven’t done this, but I believe there is a variation of the recipe that uses marshmallow fluff.
Hi, I was wondering if this would work with frozen mixed berries, instead of just strawberry?
Yes, mixed berries should work here.
I love this recipe reminiscent of my mom’s “Strawberry Yummy Dessert” from the 70s. I could not find her particular recipe anywhere on my internet searches. Fortunately I have her copy. Have you ever made this as that dessert with the buttery nut crust and topping? The filling is exactly the same as your recipe. It is so fabulous and you cannot make too much of the crust, and it really elevates this salad to ideal spring and summer dessert status!
I haven’t tried the salad with a crust, but it sounds delicious!
I remember this from my childhood! Easy to make and lots of fun! Went over well with my kid too!