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Today, I’m as pleased as a great big bowl of pretty pink punch to be participating in a virtual baby shower for Melanie from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe. Several food bloggers and I will be sharing a recipe today that would be perfect to serve at a pink baby shower. We wanted to honor Melanie, her soon to be arriving daughter…and her wonderful blog. And it really is wonderful, I’m not going to lie. Her blog has a nice clean look, with beautiful pictures, great commentary and scrumptious recipes. It’s always a pleasure to visit her site.
Now, let’s talk Fluffy Strawberry Salad, shall we? This recipe is always a hit this time of year as strawberries are so easily accessible. It makes a great side dish for a baby or wedding shower because it comes together quickly, feeds a crowd and is so light and pretty. However, light and pretty are not its only features. I have seen many a male family member scarf this pretty number up on any given occasion. It’s great to take to a BBQ, Day At The Park, Come And Hike In The Mountains, Splash In A River, Eat Out In The Open or Church Potluck Of Wonder. It’s versatile, is what I’m trying to say here.
This salad can also be made into a Fluffy Orange Salad by trading the strawberry jello for orange jello, omitting the fresh strawberries and adding mandarin oranges. Versatile as can be, isn’t it?
1. Get yourself a large package of strawberry or raspberry jello and pour the contents of the box into a medium sized bowl.
2. Heat one cup of water up in the microwave until it boils. Should take about 2 minutes. Pour it over the top of the jello.
3. Stir it well, until all of the little jello granules have dissolved.
4. Pour 1 cup crushed ice into the bowl. If you don’t have crushed ice easily accessible (like in the door to your fridge) then just use 1 C cold water. It will just take a little bit longer to set up.
Stir the ice (or cold water) around until the ice has melted. Pop the bowl into the fridge for about 10 minutes
or until the jello is slightly set up. It should be as thick as pudding, but will still work well if the jello is totally set up.
5. While the jello is setting up pour one can crushed pineapple and it’s juices into a large mixing bowl. Pour 1 large box of vanilla pudding over the top of the pineapple and stir to combine.
6. Add 4 cups mini marshmallows,
and one 12 ounce container of thawed cool whip.
Stir it all together with a wooden spoon.
7. Pop a spoon into your pretty red jello and stir it all up. Pour it into the cool whip/marshmallow mixture and stir it in to combine.
8. Wash your strawberries, cut off the green tops and slice the berries. Add them to the big mixing bowl and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving. You can make this recipe up to 24 hours in advance.
I wonder if you might know of a substitute for the canned pineapple? I've wanted to try this salad so many times at parties, showers, potlucks, etc…but I'm allergic to pineapple so I never have.
Anonymous, I think you would be fine to omit the pineapple all together. In fact, I think my sister makes it that way and it's still really, really good. If you are worried about it serving less people without the pineapple, just take about 1 C of strawberries and mash them with a fork or potato masher. Use this to replace the the pineapple. Good luck! Hope it turns out well for you. ~Jamie
oh my goodness, Cole is a hsmadone boy! He is going to have the girls trailing after him with their hearts throbbing when he gets older! Love the layered jello, very pretty dessert! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina 🙂
Hi, please know that I bake and love to use your strawberry salad as a cake filling an then cover the whole cake in coolwhip…so yummy! The cake will be similar to your orange cake. Perfect cake for Spring and Summer… I also add berries.
I had to pop you an e-mail to tell you…I love you! This Jello was the HIT of our Memorial Day picnic. Everyone kept calling it “the pink stuff”. The only bad part was that our guests ate so much of it, there was hardly any leftovers to enjoy. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, and for all of the hard work you do on your blog. As one who loves to cook, I LOVE to poke around your site, and drool.
My mom has been making this with orange jello for (wow) over 30 years! Strawberry would be VERY yummy, I may have to try it this weekend. I am in a cooking mood.
I know this must be good…I make one similar…but using fresh cranberries, real whipped cream, and it is awesome..this would be wonderful for Summer. The Cranberry salad is just for Holidays. Keeps it special.
I wonder if you might know of a substitute for the canned pineapple? I've wanted to try this salad so many times at parties, showers, potlucks, etc…but I'm allergic to pineapple so I never have.
Anonymous,
I think you would be fine to omit the pineapple all together. In fact, I think my sister makes it that way and it's still really, really good. If you are worried about it serving less people without the pineapple, just take about 1 C of strawberries and mash them with a fork or potato masher. Use this to replace the the pineapple. Good luck! Hope it turns out well for you.
~Jamie
Sounds great – thank you! I always thought that was an essential ingredient. Good to know it isn't. 🙂
oh my goodness, Cole is a hsmadone boy! He is going to have the girls trailing after him with their hearts throbbing when he gets older! Love the layered jello, very pretty dessert! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina 🙂
Would pears work for a substitute?
Pears most likely won't be your best bet here. Little bit too mild of a flavor.
~Jamie
Hi, please know that I bake and love to use your strawberry salad as a cake filling an then cover the whole cake in coolwhip…so yummy! The cake will be similar to your orange cake. Perfect cake for Spring and Summer… I also add berries.
Hi Jamie,
I had to pop you an e-mail to tell you…I love you! This Jello was the HIT of our Memorial Day picnic. Everyone kept calling it “the pink stuff”. The only bad part was that our guests ate so much of it, there was hardly any leftovers to enjoy. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, and for all of the hard work you do on your blog. As one who loves to cook, I LOVE to poke around your site, and drool.
Blessings,
Linda
My mom has been making this with orange jello for (wow) over 30 years! Strawberry would be VERY yummy, I may have to try it this weekend. I am in a cooking mood.
I know this must be good…I make one similar…but using fresh cranberries, real whipped cream, and it is awesome..this would be wonderful for Summer. The Cranberry salad is just for Holidays. Keeps it special.
Where so ever did you get that cute bowl from? Jen told me about your site. I teach Foods and we love your recipes!!
Oh boy … I’m definitely going to give this one a try, it looks yummy.