• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Meatloaf and Melodrama logo
  • Home
  • About
  • Collaborate
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About
    • Collaborate
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About
      • Collaborate
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Recipes » Recipes

    Strawberry Jello Fruit Salad

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Jun 30, 2020 · Modified: Mar 31, 2021 by Dee

    Easy Strawberry Jello Fruit Salad is a retro side dish recipe made with Jello and Cool Whip that's perfect for spring and summer holidays, parties and potlucks.  You'll love this foamy pink treat! via @meamel

    Easy Strawberry Jello Fruit Salad is a retro recipe that's perfect for spring and summer holidays, parties and potlucks.  You'll love this foamy pink treat!

    Jump to Recipe -
    easy strawberry jello fruit salad retro recipe

    Strawberry Jello Salad is super popular, especially around holidays and especially with those of you who grew up with this classic side dish. It was first published in 2017, and I updated the instructions as of June 2020 for clarity and added tips for making the Jello set.

    I found this fun retro strawberry Jello salad among my grandmother's old recipes, although it was actually in my mom's writing. The weird thing is that I don't ever remember her making this. I know I've had a similar Jello salad before -- probably at a church potluck or something like that. So, I asked my parents about it, and they both agreed that my mom probably got the recipe from my grandma but never made it herself.

    slice of strawberry jello salad with strawberries on a plate

    It's not that we never had Jello -- We definitely did. But it was usually served plain, without fruit. I've never been a big fan of fruit in Jello, so plain was fine with me!

    But last year, I made strawberry pretzel salad and a lime Jello salad that was one of the Hubs' favorite dessert salads when he was growing up, and I actually liked it. So, I knew this strawberry Jello salad would be just as good. And actually, it's even better!

    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.

    mix jello with whisk

    Now, take a whisk or use an electric mixer, and beat the Jello until it turns foamy. This takes just a couple of seconds, especially if you use a mixer.

    whisk jello until foamy

    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 add the strawberries, and pop it into the fridge to firm up.

    It takes about 2 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!

    strawberry jello salad topped with strawberries in a white casserole dish

    This strawberry Jello fruit salad is definitely more of a dessert salad. It's pink, sweet and kind of foamy. And it's loaded with strawberries, which is always a good thing! It's also super easy to make.

    I have never had trouble getting the Jello to set, but some of you have written in asking for help. I reread my mom's old notes and changed the instructions slightly for clarity.

    Tips for Success

    • 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.
    • 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.
    strawberry jello fruit salad with whipped topping

    Strawberry Jello Fruit Salad Recipe

    easy strawberry jello fruit salad on plate

    Strawberry Jello Fruit Salad

    Published by Dee
    Strawberry Jello Fruit Salad is a light, foamy pink retro recipe made with strawberries, Cool Whip whipped topping and Jello. It's perfect for spring and summer holidays, parties and potlucks!
    4.97 from 28 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    refrigeration resting time 4 hrs 30 mins
    Total Time 4 hrs 50 mins
    Course Dessert, Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12
    Calories 12 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 6-ounce package Strawberry Jello not sugar free
    • 2 cups hot water
    • 1 ¾ cups cold water
    • 1 8-ounce package whipped topping like Cool Whip, thawed
    • 1 pound frozen strawberries, sliced or fresh

    Instructions
     

    • In a large casserole dish, mix the Jello with hot water and cold water until completely dissolved
      mix strawberry jello gelatin with hot and cold water
    • Refrigerate for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until Jello starts to thicken. It will still be runny
      mix jello with whisk
    • Use a whisk or electric mixer to mix Jello until foamy and thick.
      whisk jello until foamy
    • Stir in whipped topping, then gently add strawberries, and refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm and ready to serve.

    Video

    Notes

    Make sure you are using the large 6-ounce size of regular Jello -- not sugar free, which comes in different sizes.
    Use frozen berries without sauce or sugar in this recipe, or save money, and make your own frozen strawberries by slicing fresh strawberries, transferring to a large zip-top freezer bag and placing in freezer until frozen!
    There is no cooking involved in this recipe, but there are refrigeration times, so it takes about 3 to 4 hours for it to be ready to eat.
    Fresh strawberries can be used, but keep them refrigerated until ready to use

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 12kcalCarbohydrates: 2gPotassium: 57mgSugar: 1gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 22.2mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 0.2mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    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?!

    Want something different? Try Orange Jello Salad or Ambrosia Fruit Salad.

    jello salad promo image for pinterest

    My family scarfed this strawberry Jello fruit salad down like there was no tomorrow -- they loved it! It's perfect for Easter, Mother's Day, potlucks or any spring or summer gathering.

    I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. And if you grew up with this retro salad, let me know.

    Happy Cooking,

    dee signature
    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
    « Easy Baked S'mores
    Cheeseburger Hot Dogs »

    You May Also Like

    slice of Jello orange creamsicle pie topped with whipped cream on a plate
    Easy Orange Creamsicle Pie
    slice of no bake strawberry jello pie with cool whip, fresh strawberries and whipped cream
    No Bake Strawberry Jello Pie
    creamy cucumber salad with sour cream in a white serving bowl
    Creamy Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Luke says

      September 27, 2021 at 8:09 pm

      Made this jello salad over the weekend and it was gone the next day. Tastes like my grandma used to make!5 stars

      Reply
    2. Brenda Lee says

      September 23, 2021 at 6:01 pm

      We had strawberry jello salad during the holidays growing up. Just made this and it tasted just like my grandma's recipe, which I lost. Can't wait to serve this at Thanksgiving and Christmas this year!5 stars

      Reply
    3. Val says

      August 20, 2021 at 9:33 pm

      I have made this but after mixing in the cool whip, I turned it into a Graham cracker pie crust and put it in the fridge to set. Top with fresh sliced strawberries and whipped topping before serving.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        August 20, 2021 at 11:12 pm

        Sounds good. Thank you for sharing!

    4. Matt says

      August 11, 2021 at 9:26 pm

      My kids found this recipe while looking through the blog. WE made it last night and had it for dinner today! Boy will we be making this a lot!5 stars

      Reply
    5. Sharon says

      June 05, 2021 at 9:53 am

      I used whipped topping that was still mostly frozen and strawberries that were still partially frozen. My fluff started firming up before I was finished using the mixer. I also used a mixer to fluff the jello in the first step, but blended untill the jello had increased in size and was quite bubbly. Grandchildren love it!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        June 06, 2021 at 8:19 pm

        Thanks so much for sharing this, Sharon!

    6. Carla Hartje Johnson says

      April 03, 2021 at 11:09 am

      Will this set up if you put on a cookie crust or pretzel crust?

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 03, 2021 at 12:32 pm

        I'm not sure since it's not as firm as regular jello. I have a recipe for strawberry pretzel salad you can try.

    7. Mary S says

      April 03, 2021 at 9:32 am

      Today I made this successfully with SUGAR FREE geletin. I used 2 packages, which say 4 servings each*. Package said when using in a mold, decrease the cold water by 1/4 cup, PER PACKAGE, so I used 2 cups of hot water total and only 1 1/2 cups of cold. I spread the jello into a 9x13 pan because I wanted to make sure it set properly. Once it was semi-firm, I transferred to a bowl for the whipping (with mixer). I'm glad I did, because on high, little red jello drops were flying around, and that stuff can stain. Sadly, only frozen strawberries I could find were 10 oz whole, but I tried to slice them while still frozen (a challenge). But I combined the whipped topping in first, then added the strawberries, then transferred it back to the clear glass 9x13 pan -- I was serving for Easter dinner (with the meal) & wanted the festive pink to be visible - & thought I could get nicer square slices out of a square or rectangular pan. I was going to go with 9x9, then use a second pan if needed, but I was worried about it getting firm, as some others had, so I went with the bigger pan. Let set overnight and today it looks great! Cut a piece and it was firm as expected. Next time I will use a smaller container to end up with thicker slices AND make sure the strawberry pieces are smaller, since first piece I cut was right on a berry and serving piece looked gnarly when I didn't fully cut through it. Personally, I think I'd prefer it with a graham cracker or pretzel base, but that would be WAY more work (& make it more like a dessert). This was VERY easy.

      *and the sugar free jello package IS just .44 oz when you buy it -- I think it only comes in a 4-serving package, & the sugar free weighs a LOT less then the full sugar5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 03, 2021 at 12:33 pm

        Thank you so much for sharing your tips, Mary!

      • C G says

        September 08, 2021 at 7:41 am

        Thanks! Will try the sugar free today

    8. Sheri says

      March 12, 2021 at 3:39 am

      I made this recipe a lot as a kid in the 1970s, but we called it Strawberry Bavarian. I would put it in my Mom’s Jell-O mold and create a ring of it! It’s still a recipe I make today, as my husband loves it!🍓

      Reply
    9. Kim says

      January 25, 2021 at 3:57 pm

      This is such a pretty salad. I love the beautiful pink color. 5 stars

      Reply
    10. Terri says

      January 19, 2021 at 11:21 am

      Can you use this as a frosting for a cake

      Reply
      • Dee says

        January 20, 2021 at 9:09 pm

        I don't think it would work well as frosting.

    11. brooklyn says

      December 26, 2020 at 8:06 am

      Thank you for sharing. It is so yummy!5 stars

      Reply
    12. Ashlee says

      December 19, 2020 at 3:49 pm

      How far ahead in advance could I make this?

      Reply
      • Dee says

        December 19, 2020 at 9:32 pm

        You can make it a day or 2 ahead of time.

    13. K. Mathisen says

      December 08, 2020 at 9:16 pm

      I made this tonight, but as is the American way, I had to make two changes. I used apricot Jell-O and raspberries for a riff on Peach Melba. The only thing I will do differently is reserve some of the whipped topping and use it as a garnish, perhaps. Too much of the apricot flavor was lost through dilution. A stronger flavored Jell-O might not be diminished that way. Taste as you go -- then you know!

      In any event, thank you. The molds turned out beautifully and it tasted great.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        December 09, 2020 at 12:15 pm

        Thanks for sharing -- your changes sound delicious!

    14. Bea says

      December 04, 2020 at 5:48 pm

      It's yummy! Thank you so much. I love it.5 stars

      Reply
    15. Lasesana says

      October 07, 2020 at 7:37 pm

      This is my favorite dish. So good and yet so simple. Whole family loved it. Will definitely be making it again! So delicious and great.5 stars

      Reply
    16. Susan says

      August 26, 2020 at 5:48 pm

      I am trying frozen peaches with orange jello because that's all I have got it's good

      Reply
      • Dee says

        August 27, 2020 at 9:04 pm

        Thanks for sharing, Susan. That sounds great!

    17. Katie says

      July 26, 2020 at 7:34 pm

      Thank you for this recipe! I absolutely love it. It reminds me of my childhood days😃5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 28, 2020 at 1:24 pm

        Thank you so much, Katie! I'm so happy you liked it!

    18. Lisa says

      July 22, 2020 at 8:49 pm

      This is a very tasty recipe. I made it for dessert last night and loved it. There’s barely any leftover because I’ve eaten so much. I’ll definitely be making this again👍5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 22, 2020 at 10:36 pm

        That's wonderful! Thank you so much, Lisa!

    19. Alexis says

      July 17, 2020 at 1:00 am

      I absolutely love this recipe! It tastes like I’m eating pink fluff! My kids are also obsessed with and ask me to make almost every week!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 17, 2020 at 1:03 pm

        Awesome, Alexis! So glad you like it!

    20. Alexandra says

      July 02, 2020 at 3:59 pm

      I am obsessed with this recipe! I made it a week ago and it was a complete hit-the kiddos especially loved it. Because it was so good, I had to make it again. I can’t wait to be able to have cookouts and potlucks so I can serve this!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 20, 2020 at 1:51 pm

        Thanks, Alexandra! So happy your family likes it!

    « Older Comments
    Newer Comments »

    Leave a Review Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

    Trending Recipes

    • Strawberry Jello Fruit Salad
    • Red White and Blue Poke Cake
    • Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage
    • Easy Microwave Baked Potato
    • Red White and Blue Bark
    • Blackstone Griddle Smash Burger Recipe
    • Grilled Corn on the Cob in Foil
    • Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • All About Dee
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As Seen On

    as seen on buzzfeed delish country living forbes southern living

    Copyright © 2022 Meatloaf and Melodrama