Looking for a refreshing, healthy dessert that’s both delicious and easy to prepare? This homemade strawberry jello recipe, made with fresh fruit and natural ingredients, will satisfy your sweet tooth and become a favorite treat for any occasion!
Don’t miss my most viral recipe: Mexican Milk Jello.
Why I Love This Homemade Strawberry Jello Recipe
Making homemade strawberry jello is one of my favorite ways to enjoy a delicious, guilt-free treat! It isn’t just an easy recipe. It’s also a delightful treat that I can feel good about serving to my family.
Store-bought jello contains artificial flavors, colors, and a long list of hard-to-pronounce ingredients. This homemade jello recipe, however, uses real food ingredients. These include fresh berries and the option of sweetening the recipe with zero-calorie monk fruit or even raw honey.
Whether for a special occasion, a church potluck, or a simple dessert to enjoy at home, you’ll love this homemade jello recipe with real strawberries.
I love how versatile the recipe is. You can serve it as a stand-alone dessert, or pair it with a creamy layer so it recalls strawberry pie. You can even incorporate it into a poke cake for an extra burst of flavor. Plus, it’s so much easier to make than you’d think!
Popular now: Strawberry Milk Jello. If you haven’t tried it, strawberry jello tastes great with milk.
Ingredients in Homemade Strawberry Jello
- Fresh Strawberries or Frozen Strawberries: Fresh sliced strawberries, or whole frozen strawberries. I prefer making this with frozen strawberries, because they break down and get mushy more quickly.
- Fresh Lemon Juice (Optional): Or lime juice for extra twang.
- Sugar, Monk Fruit, or Honey: Use keto-friendly monk fruit allulose blend to make strawberry monk fruit jello.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a subtle, warm, and rich flavor that complements and enhances the natural sweetness and fruitiness of the strawberries.
- Unflavored Gelatin: I use Knox gelatin powder, grass-fed gelatin, or beef gelatin. Gelatin is packed with health benefits, including supporting gut health and providing collagen peptides for skin and joint wellness.
- Cold Water: To “bloom” the gelatin.
- Heavy Cream (Optional): Top with whipped cream or mix some of the jello with heavy cream to make a creamy, extra-rich layer.
- Fresh Berries for Garnish (Optional): Fresh strawberries make a beautiful garnish, whether sliced or placed whole on top of the jello.
- Baking Spray (Optional): You generally don’t need to spray a jello mold with baking spray, especially if you’re using a silicone mold, as the jello will easily release on its own once it’s set. However, if you’re using a metal or plastic mold or nonstick bundt cake pan, lightly spray it with baking spray to ensure it releases smoothly.
How to Make Homemade Strawberry Jello
Making homemade strawberry jello is a simple process, and the results are well worth it. Here you’ll find step-by-step photos to make this delightful dessert.
For the complete recipe with measurements, please see the Recipe Card below.
Step 1. Prepare the Strawberry Puree
Start by preparing your strawberry mixture. Put the strawberries in a saucepan on the stove.
Step 2: Cook the Strawberries
Cook strawberries for 5-7 minutes over medium heat until mushy.
Step 3: Puree the Strawberries
Puree the strawberries with an immersion blender, blender, or food processor until you achieve a smooth puree.
Step 4: Strain the Strawberry Puree
For the best results, strain the puree through a fine mesh strainer to remove seeds. This will give your jello a smooth, creamy texture.
Step 5: Add Remaining Ingredients
Return the strained puree to the saucepan. Stir in sweetener, vanilla, and optional lemon or lime juice. At this point, you can adjust the sweetness level. Keep in mind that less sugar will result in a more tangy flavor, while a little extra sweetness balances the tartness of fresh fruit.
Step 6: Put Water in a Small Bowl
Next, put cold water in a small bowl.
Step 7: Bloom Gelatin
Sprinkle the unflavored gelatin into the cold water and stir until fully dissolved. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to allow the gelatin to thicken or “bloom,” forming a soft, gelatinous texture that makes it easier to dissolve in hot water.
Step 8: Stir Bloomed Gelatin into Strawberry Puree
Re-heat the strawberry puree and stir in the gelatin until it dissolves.
Step 9: Pour into Mold
Pour the gelatin mixture into your serving dish, fun molds, or a nonstick bundt cake pan. If you’re using a cake pan: Spray the non-stick cake pan with baking spray to help ensure a smooth release.
Step 10: Chill the Homemade Strawberry Jello
Refrigerate your jello for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. The gelatin will firm up as it cools, creating that classic, wobbly jello texture.
How to Add a Creamy Layer
Set aside 1 cup of strawberry jello. Pour the remaining jello into the mold and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes, allowing it to set slightly. Once it’s somewhat firm, mix a quarter cup of heavy cream into the reserved jello. Then gently layer it on top of the set strawberry gelatin.
You might also like Healthy Strawberry Mousse.
FAQs about Homemade Strawberry Jello
Sugar free jello is keto friendly if it’s made with real fruit and a natural zero-calorie sugar replacement such as monk fruit.
If you no longer eat refined sugar, you can, for example, sweeten homemade sugar free jello with natural sugar substitutes such as monk fruit.
Yes, gelatin is keto. It is a healthy source of protein and amino acids.
You basically combine fruit, a sugar-free sweetener, and gelatin or plant-based agar-agar. Moreover, if you select a fruit that doesn’t contain seeds, the process is quicker since you don’t have to strain seeds.
Yes, you can pour jello into a cake mold to make a pretty jello cake. I recommend spraying a non-stick cake pan with spray-on baking spray to ensure a smooth release.
If the jello doesn’t release easily, place the mold or cake pan in hot (not boiling) water for 5 seconds. Then, gently flip the jello to release it.
You can actually make milk jello which is a yummy milk-based gelatin dessert. Or try delicious strawberry milk jello.
Kitchen Equipment You’ll Need to Make Homemade Strawberry Jello
For this recipe, you’ll need the following equipment:
- Medium Saucepan: To cook down the strawberries.
- An Immersion Hand Blender, Blender, or Food Processor: An immersion blender is easiest since you can put it directly in the saucepan.
- Small Bowl: To bloom the gelatin.
- Fine Mesh Strainer: To strain the strawberry puree.
- Plastic Wrap (Optional): It helps prevent the jello from absorbing odors from other foods in the fridge.
- Silicon Mold, Serving Dish, or Nonstick Bundt Cake Pan: It needs to hold at least 6 cups.
- Electric Mixer: If you plan to top the jello with whipped cream.
Serving Tips
Once your homemade strawberry jello is set and ready to go, here are a few serving tips to elevate the experience:
- For an extra burst of flavor, garnish the jello with sliced strawberries or fresh berries.
- Serve the jello with whipped cream to mimic a creamy strawberry pie filling.
- Serve it chilled for the best texture and flavor.
Storage Tips
It’s easy to store homemade strawberry jello.
Refrigerate Homemade Strawberry Jello
Jello cakes must be refrigerated and should not be left out for more than 30 minutes. However, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just cover them with plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container.
If you made your jello in fun molds, pop them out once they set. Then, store them individually in a sealed container for easy grab-and-go servings.
Do Not Freeze Homemade Strawberry Jello
Jello desserts do not freeze well. If you want to use it up quickly, put it in a blender and make a strawberry jello milkshake.
That’s all I can tell you about making homemade strawberry jello from scratch. Using fresh, ripe fruit and simple ingredients like gelatin is not only fun. It’s also healthier than boxed stuff. It’s a great way to enjoy a dessert that’s low in sugar and free from artificial colors and additives.
Whether you make it for a special occasion, a simple afternoon snack, or a family dessert, this easy recipe will become a go-to in your kitchen.
Want More Healthy Dessert Recipes?
- Dairy Free Lemon Curd Recipe
- Diabetic Keto Coconut Cake
- Japanese Strawberry Roll Cake
- No Bake Vegan Pumpkin Tart
- Orange Milk Jello Recipe
- Sugar free Pecan Pie
- Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake
- Vegan Gluten Free Pie Crust
Scroll Down for the Recipe Card
Homemade Strawberry Jello Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Medium Saucepan – To cook the strawberries.
- 1 Immersion Hand Blender, Blender, or Food Processor – To puree the fruit
- 1 Small Bowl – To bloom the gelatin.
- 1 Fine Mesh Strainer – To strain the seeds from the strawberry puree.
- 1 Silicon Mold, Serving Dish, or Nonstick Bundt Cake Pan – With at least a 6-cup capacity.
Ingredients
- 3 Pounds Frozen or Fresh Strawberries – It's easiest to make with thawed frozen strawberries but you can also use fresh strawberries.
- 1 Cup Sugar or Monk Fruit – I use Lakanto Classic Monk Fruit; adjust to taste. You can also use honey, but the quantity may vary.
- 1 Tablespoon Fresh Lemon or Lime Juice (Optional)
- 3 Tablespoons Unflavored Gelatin (3 Packets / 21 Grams)
- ½ Cup Cold Water
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- Baking Spray (for Cake Pans) – To coat a nonstick bundt cake pan if you're making this in a cake pan.
Decorate the cake
- Fresh Strawberries or Berries (Optional)
- Heavy Cream (Optional) – Top with whipped cream
Instructions
- Put strawberries in a saucepan on the stove.
- Cook strawberries for 5-7 minutes over medium heat until mushy.
- Puree the strawberries with an immersion blender, blender, or food processor until you achieve a smooth puree.
- Strain the puree with a fine- or medium-mesh sieve to remove seeds.
- Return the strained puree to the saucepan and heat it. Stir in sweetener, vanilla extract, and optional lemon or lime juice. Adjust the sweetness to taste.
- When sugar is dissolved, remove from heat.
- BLOOM THE GELATIN: Put ½ cup of cold water in a small bowl and add 3 packets of gelatin. Stir it in with a fork and make sure the gelatin is covered with water. Wait 5-10 minuntes for it to thicken and gel.
- Heat puree. Then turn off heat and stir in the gelatin until it dissolves.
- IF USING A CAKE PAN: Pour into a nonstick cake pan sprayed with baking spray so the cake releases easily. You need a cake pan that holds at least 6 cups.IF USING A SILICON JELLO MOLD: Just pour the jello into a mold that holds at least 6 cups or distribute it in several smaller molds.IF USING A BOWL: Pour into a bowl.
- Refrigerate until set. This takes upwards of 4 hours for gelatin. I recommend letting it set overnight.When you remove the jello from the refrigerator, use your fingers to gently pull the jello away from the sides of the pan or mold.Flip it to release the jello.If it doesn't release from a cake pan, put hot (not boiling) water in a large pot. Then, put cake pan in hot water for 5 seconds. Don't leave the cake pan in the hot water for more than 5 seconds, because you could melt your jello. Also be careful not to spill hot water into the cake pan.Flip the jello cake onto a serving platter. I would like to point out that you won’t be able to move the cake anymore so select the platter on which you would like to serve the strawberry jello cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Serve with strawberries or whipped cream, if desired.
Storage Tips
- Jello cakes must be refrigerated and should not be left out for more than 30 minutes. However, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just cover them with plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container.
- Jello desserts do not freeze well. If you want to use it up quickly, put it in a blender and make a strawberry jello milkshake.
Notes
Great recipe! Jello turned out great!
What’s the gelatin amount in grams? I don’t have packets
In grams, it’s 21 grams of gelatin.