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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 or cranberry 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
Video
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.
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,
Thank you for sharing. It is so yummy!
How far ahead in advance could I make this?
You can make it a day or 2 ahead of time.
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.
Thanks for sharing — your changes sound delicious!
It’s yummy! Thank you so much. I love it.
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.
I am trying frozen peaches with orange jello because that’s all I have got it’s good
Thanks for sharing, Susan. That sounds great!
Thank you for this recipe! I absolutely love it. It reminds me of my childhood days😃
Thank you so much, Katie! I’m so happy you liked it!
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👍
That’s wonderful! Thank you so much, Lisa!
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!
Awesome, Alexis! So glad you like it!
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!
Thanks, Alexandra! So happy your family likes it!