Jello Salad is an old-fashioned treat that combines gelatin, cool whip, cottage cheese, and fruit into one fluffy, sweet creamy dessert!
This classic budget-friendly Dessert Recipe is full of nostalgia and sweet, creamy goodness, plus it takes only minutes to prep! Try my Ambrosia Salad and Watergate Salad for more sweet, creamy old-fashioned dessert salads.
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Sabrina’s Jello Salad Recipe
Many of you will remember this dish from childhood with fond memories. The pink fluff salad is perfect for serving with family dinners or as a shareable dessert for family gatherings, potlucks, or parties. This family favorite perfectly captures that nostalgic dish and makes it so easy to prepare.
Traditional Jello Salad is a delightfully sweet, fluffy, simple treat popular throughout the Midwest and Southern United States. It was invented in the early 1900s but is still a part of many family traditions to this day. Although there are several different takes on this delicious salad, I make my version with a rich combination of Cool Whip, jello mix, cottage cheese, and pineapple bits for a creamy, sweet, and tangy blend that everyone is sure to love!
Ingredients
- 16-ounce small curd cottage cheese: Cottage cheese adds a mild, lightly tangy flavor and wonderfully rich texture to the Jello recipe.
- 16 ounces Cool Whip: Cool Whip gives the salad its signature fluffy texture. The sweet, airy mixture gives the salad the consistency of a beautiful pink cloud. Try this recipe with my Homemade Cool Whip that tastes even better than the frozen stuff!
- 16 ounces crushed pineapple: Mix in crushed pineapple to give the jello and cool whip mixture a little more substance. Pineapple’s sweet and tart flavors also pair perfectly with the flavored gelatin mix. Be sure to drain the pineapple before adding it to the recipe.
- 3 ounces strawberry gelatin mix: Strawberry Jello mix gives the salad a sweet, fruity flavor and beautiful pink color.
- Fresh fruit: Top the salad with fresh fruit for amazing color and extra flavor. I opted for sliced strawberries and mandarin orange segments, but you can opt for other fresh berries and fruit based on what you have and your taste.
Kitchen Tools & Equipment
- Mixing bowl: Add all your Jello Salad ingredients to one large mixing bowl to combine the mixture.
- Spatula: Use a rubber spatula to mix the ingredients until combined into a fluffy gelatin salad.
- Plastic wrap: Select a mixing bowl with a fitted lid or cover it in plastic wrap as you let the salad cool in the fridge.
How to Make
Time needed: 3 hours and 5 minutes.
- Combine ingredients:
Add cottage cheese, Cool Whip, crushed pineapple, and jello mix to a large mixing bowl. Mix the ingredients together.
- Refrigerate:
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the jello mixture for 3 hours. You want to leave it to chill until the mixture thickens.
- Finish:
Take the mixing bowl from the fridge and transfer the Jello Salad to a large serving bowl. Top the recipe with an additional dollop of Cool Whip, sliced strawberries, and orange slices, and serve.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 16 ounces small curd cottage cheese
- 16 ounces Cool Whip
- 16 ounces crushed pineapple , drained well
- 3 ounces strawberry Jello mix.
- 1 cup slices strawberries
- 1 cup mandarin orange segments , drained well
Instructions
- In a large bowl add the cottage cheese, Cool Whip, crushed pineapple and jello mix.
- Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours.
- Remove from mixing bowl to a large serving bowl and top with a dollop of cool whip or whipped cream, sliced strawberries and mandarin orange segments.
- Serve in small cups topped with cool whip, strawberries and mandarin orange segments.
Nutrition
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Chef’s Note: What is Jello Salad?
If you’re less familiar with it, you may be confused about what exactly Jello Salad is. After all, jello and salad aren’t two things that you expect to see together. Well, this traditional recipe is more like a chilled dessert than it is like the vegetable dish you might think of when you hear the word “salad.” It’s called salad because, like a salad, it’s made with a quick mixture of ingredients. However, in this case, it’s more of a dessert salad.
Can this be made ahead?
You can make Jello Salad in advance, but it’s best to serve it within a day or two of combining the ingredients. If you try to store the recipe for much longer, the cool whip will deflate, leaving the mixture runny. But prepping it the day before a party or cookout is a great way to get ahead on your desserts. Seal the premade Jello Salad in an airtight container in the fridge. Then top with extra whipped cream and fruit when ready to serve.
Nutritional Facts
Making Jello Salad Tips & Tricks
- Setting Time: Allow enough time for the jello salad to chill and set in the refrigerator. The longer it chills, the firmer it will be.
- Garnish: Before serving, garnish the jello salad with additional fruit, whipped cream, or a sprinkle of chopped nuts for added flavor and texture.
- Choose Your Flavors: Start by choosing the flavor of gelatin that complements your ingredients. Popular choices include strawberry, raspberry, lime, and orange. Consider the colors and flavors that pair well with the fruits or vegetables you plan to use.
- Drain Fruit Well: Crushed pineapple adds an amazing sweet and tangy flavor to your Jello Salad. But too much pineapple juice will make the mixture runny. To avoid this, be sure to carefully strain the canned pineapple in a fine mesh strainer before adding it to the mixing bowl.
- Jello Salad for a Crowd: This recipe makes plenty to share, but if you’re making Jello Salad for a potluck or another larger event and want to double the recipe, you absolutely can. You may want to do two batches in separate bowls, as mixing double the ingredients in one bowl can be a little more difficult. After combining and letting the salad chill, transfer it to a large, tall-sided, glass baking dish and top with fresh fruit and cream to serve.
- Blend ingredients: If you don’t like the cottage cheese’s slightly chunky texture, you can blend the cheese and jello mix in a food processor or high-power blender until smooth. Then, fold the cool whip and crushed pineapple into the creamy mixture.
How to Store
- Store: To keep this delicious dish fresh, transfer leftovers to an airtight container and keep the recipe chilled in the fridge for up to 48 hours.
- Serve: Serve leftovers cold from the fridge with fresh toppings to dress it up.
- Freeze: Unfortunately, freezing will ruin the texture of the Cool Whip and cottage cheese mixture. You’re much better off serving this recipe as fresh as you can.
Ideas to Serve Strawberry Jello Salad
- Small Bowls: Serve the salad in individual glass cups or small dessert bowls. This allows guests to enjoy their portion without needing to cut slices.
- Layered Parfaits: Create layered jello parfaits by alternating Spoonfuls of jello salad with layers of whipped cream or yogurt. Top with fresh berries or a sprinkle of granola for added texture.
- Layered Desserts: Create layered desserts by alternating jello salad with layers of cake, sponge fingers, or creamy fillings like custard or whipped cream.
Frequent Questions
Yes, if you’re looking for a lower-calorie and sugar option, you can absolutely use a sugar-free jello mix in this recipe.
Both! This makes a perfect kid-friendly side dish that you can serve with a holiday meal or another special occasion dinner. It’s also a delicious sweet treat that you can enjoy as a dessert after dinner.
First, thaw the frozen strawberries. You can do this by leaving them in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight, or by using the defrost function on your microwave. Avoid thawing them at room temperature to prevent them from becoming too mushy.
Jello salad is a popular dish for Easter and other springtime gatherings. Its colorful appearance and playful textures make it a festive choice for holiday tables and potlucks.
Variations
- Holiday Jello Salad: To make this a more festive dish to serve around the holidays, you can add fresh cranberries, apples, and chopped orange pieces to the delicious dessert or salad. You can also add more fresh cranberries and maraschino cherries to the topping. This makes an excellent sweet side dish to serve with a holiday meal.
- Nuts: Folding nuts into your creamy Jello salad can add some crunchy texture. Try mixing in pecans, walnuts, or almonds. During the holidays, it’s a great way to use up leftover Candied Pecans.
- Low-fat Jello Salad: Just because you’re sticking to diet goals doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy this delightful dish. For a lightened version of the recipe, use fat-free cottage cheese and swap out the regular jello mix for sugar-free jello.
- Jello flavors: You can make Jello Salad with any flavor you like. Try using a lemon, raspberry, cherry, orange, or lime gelatin package. Use the same basic ingredients with a different gelatin flavor for a new spin on the classic dessert.
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