Strawberry Cream Jello Salad

This vintage gelatin recipe layers strawberry gelatin with fruit and sour cream. It’s traditionally made for Christmas and Thanksgiving because it goes perfectly on the table with turkey or ham. My grandma always served it with the main course, even though it (probably) should be a dessert. We’re not sorry. Eat dessert whenever possible.

A mid-century delight, tried and tested for over 60 years. The salad itself is delicious, but the most important component is the glass bowl it’s presented in. If you don’t already have one, get down to your local thrift shop and pick up the prettiest one you can find at a reasonable price (mine was $8.)

My grandmother’s original recipe. She used to make it in a pan and cut it into squares, but eventually started making it in a glass bowl she received as a wedding present.

Strawberry Cream Jello Salad

This vintage jello recipe layers strawberry gelatin with fruit and sour cream. It's traditionally made for Thanksgiving and Christmas and served with the main course. It's a family heirloom that we've been making for over 60 years!
Put it in the prettiest glass bowl you can find.
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Servings 10

Equipment

  • Small bowl
  • Larger bowl, filled with ice and water
  • Glass bowl for presentation

Ingredients
  

  • 2 boxes strawberry gelatin
  • 20 ounces fresh or frozen strawberries, divided in half (if frozen, allow to thaw and drain extra liquid)
  • 1 1/2 cups crushed pineapple, some liquid removed.
  • 12 oz sour cream
  • 2 each bananas, fully ripe, and sliced

Instructions
 

  • Prepare first box of gelatin according to package instructions in small bowl. After all water has been incorporated, make and ice bath in larger bowl. Place smaller bowl into the ice bath, and stir with a spoon until gelatin is partially set. (Alternately, you can set bowl in fridge for a few hours until set)
  • Once jello is partially set, add half your strawberries and mix. Pour this mixture into pretty glass bowl, and place into fridge to fully set, about 2 hours.
  • When jello is set, pull glass bowl out of fridge. Spread sour cream over the jello, then spread crushed pineapple over sour cream. Return to fridge while you prepare next layer of jello.
  • Prepare the second box of gelatin same as the first, adding strawberries when partially set as before. Pour into glass bowl.
  • Top decoratively with sliced bananas.
  • Put jello into fridge, and allow to set for a few more hours, or ideally over-night, before eating.