Strawberry Jello Cake is a deliciously fun treat that only requires 3 ingredients! Fruity Jello, creamy Cool Whip and fresh strawberries come together to make a cake that’s oh-so refreshing.
Jello Cakes are perfect for any occasion! They are great for summertime barbecues, office pot-lucks or on the 4th of July. Here at Momsdish, we are no stranger to a good, old-fashioned jello cake. Try out our Strawberry Jello Poke Cake and Jello Fruit Cake Dessert!
I know this cake screams summer, but don’t limit yourself to it only during the warmer months. My kids LOVE this cake. In fact, they often request that I make it for their birthdays and school parties. Since it only requires three ingredients, I often make it for them during the week when I am in a good enough mood (haha!).
How to Make Jello Cake
This cake couldn’t get any easier to make. First, you will mix up your Jello according to the package instructions. Then, you will allow the Jello to half-set in the refrigerator. Next, you will mix in your Cool Whip until your mixture is smooth and completely combined.
Grab a springform pan and fill it with your Jello and Cool Whip batter. Cut some fresh strawberries in half and place them in a ring alongside the inner edge of your pan on top of the cake. Allow the cake to set in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Tip: If you don’t have a springform pan, simply use a glass baking dish.
Does Jello Cake Need to be Refrigerated?
If Jello Cake is not refrigerated, it will turn into a mushy mess. It is important that you keep your cake in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve it. If you plan on taking it to a party, keep it in a cooler and transfer it into the fridge upon your arrival.
Tip: Make this cake the night before you plan to bring it to a party or pot-luck. Letting it set overnight will guarantee that it has the most stability for car travel!
How Long is Jello Cake Good for?
This cake will stay fresh for about a week when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Since Jello and Cool Whip have long shelf lives, all you really need to worry about is the freshness of the fruit. If your fruit looks and tastes yummy still, don’t hesitate to keep eating it past a week.
Fruits to Use in Jello Cake
You can get very creative with this dessert. Switch things up and use different fruits and Jello flavors! For my sons’ birthdays, I like to make this cake using their favorite colors. It’s hard to go wrong here, but I’ll list a couple of my go-to flavor combinations below:
- Pineapple flavored Jello with pineapple chunks
- Pineapple flavored Jello with mango chunks
- Lime flavored Jello with strawberry pieces
- Strawberry Jello with banana coins (be mindful that bananas brown faster, so plan to eat this cake within a day or two)
- Cherry Jello with Rainier or Bing cherries
- Orange Jello with canned mandarin oranges
Other Jello Desserts to Make
Still haven’t had your fill of wiggly, sweet Jello? Here are a couple more of my favorite Jello recipes:
- Espresso Jello Shots: Layers of sweet milk and coffee Jello make for a perfect treat that will brighten up even the most gloomy day!
- Panna Cotta Recipe: This is the perfect creamy dessert to make when you can’t fathom turning on the oven during a hot summer day.
- Birds Milk Jello Cake: A classic and refreshing Russian dessert made with sour cream and cocoa.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 oz Cool Whip (or True Whip)
- 9 oz strawberry Jello mix
- 1 lb fresh strawberries
Instructions
- Place 6oz of jello mix in a large bowl. Add in one cup of hot boiling water, followed by one cup of cold water.
- Stir everything until all jello mix is melted. Place the mixture into refrigerator and let the jello set lightly.
- To the jello mixture, add in cool whip. Stir to combine everything together until it's evenly mixed together.
- Spray a 9 inch springform pan with cooking oil. Place cool whip mixture. Cut strawberries in halves and place them on edges of the jello cake. Place it in a refrigerator to set, for about 30 minutes.
- Combine together 1 cup of boiled water with 3 oz of strawberry jello. Leave it to refrigerate until jello is at room temperature.
- Pour Jello mixture over the cool whip mixture and leave it to set completely.
- Remove springform pan from the jello cake. Keep it refrigerated until it's ready to serve.
I followed directions exactly as is on here and my jello cake is not firm at all it has been in the fridge since last night! What possibly could have gone wrong 🙈
Hey, jello typically requires a total of 4 cups of water, we only use 2 so it should be firm. I am not sure what could have gone wrong.
Howdy. Question about the Jello measurements: The recipe calls for 9 oz of strawberry Jello mix, but with each box being only 0.6 oz, that's 15 boxes, which seems like way too much.
For example, the first step calls for 6 oz and 2 cups of water, but since 6 oz is 10 full boxes, and each box calls for 4 cups of water, that's like 20x less water than the box recommends.
I'm confused. What am I missing? Thanks!
Hey rob, are you referring you gelatine or Jell-o its self? Because they typically come in 3oz boxes, you would only need 3.
Hmm, my Jello boxes are only 0.6 oz each, but I just noticed they're sugar-free. That must be the difference. I just followed your recipe by dividing all Jello amounts by 10 and it turned out great! (I.e., when the recipe called for 6 oz, I just used 0.6 oz.)
Hey Rob, that must be the case. I hope it turns out great for you.
Hi Natalya,
Great fan of all your recipes. I don’t get coolwhip where I live. Is there a substitute? Will the mousse set if I use 8 oz whipped cream instead?
Hey dear, I think it should. I know my friend combines sour cream and heavy whipped cream. It adds a bit of tart flavor to it.
Hey Natalya,
I tried with same about of heavy cream whipped to stiff peaks. It set well and was delicious. I added a biscuit base to it. We all loved it. Thank you so much😍
That sounds amazing, I'm so glad the recipe worked out well!
How long on last step does it usually take for “set completely “?
Hey, I would say around 3 hours but it would depend on your fridge temperature.
Both parts tasted delicious! I added cream cheese to the bottom portion.
When I make this next, I will put the jello portion in first, make sure it is fully set, then put the other section on top, then flip it over.
Hey Phil, I am so happy to hear this feedback. Thank you for sharing.
hi my is Tamara I love this idea only 3 ingredients. I was wondering though my sister wants cake as well so I was going to make a sponge cake for the bottom is it possible to put this on top and do I need to add any gelatin to help it set
I would build this on top of the sponge cake. I think its totally possible. Enjoy!
Can you make it without strawberries?
Hey, yes you can or you can always add other berries to the mix.
I made it yesterday and I'm giving it 5 stars! It's simple, easy, and delicious and I love it!
Lilli, thank you so much for coming back to tell us the turnout!
It's a great recipe! I wanted to upload a picture, but it says that it's disabled.
Oh no, send it to me on my Instagram @momsdish
Can this be made in a non-springform pan?
Yes, that's what I use as a mold.
Thanks! I've bought all the ingredients and I'm planning on making it this weekend (or next week)It looks delicious! 🙂
Yes! Keep me posted on the turnout! 🙂
Hi for the Frist step how long do you leave the jello set for in the fridge?
Hey, for about an hour or until you can see that jello has set.
just made it last night, looks beautiful and I bet its yummy
thank you Natasha
Hey Natasha, I am so glad you enjoyed the Jello Cake. Thank you for sharing.
Can I double all ingredients or maybe just bottom of the cake cool whip mixture and make it in 9 inch pan?
Yes for sure, just give it enough time for chilling in the fridge.
Why it doesnt say that after you mix jello with cool wheap and place it in 9 inch form for how long leave it to cool in the refrigerator bfore Pour Jello mixture over the cool whip mixture?
Hey Rina, I would suggest to refrigerate cool whip mixture for at least 30 minutes.
Hi! I was wondering, is the jello really sweet? I usually add 1 cup of boiling water and 1 cup of cold water for every 3 oz of jello mix (how it says on the jello box). Would it be ok to make the jello how I usually make it? Thanks!
I think sweetness is pretty similar, it has more firmness to the cake.
Loveee jello recipes, I am making it right now,waiting for jello in fridge 🙂
I hope you loved this recipe 🙂
Natashichka!!! Thank you for posting another recipe. All of your stuff always comes out great. Just made two batches of perfect crepes.
Hope your new job is coming good.Blessings my dear☺
Oh wow!!! You are so sweet! Thanks for saying this!