There’s a funny story about this layered strawberry jello salad with banana and pineapple… When I was growing up, this strawberry jello was at every family gathering that I can remember. Christmas with the aunts, uncles, cousins, and Grandma and Grandpa? Strawberry jello. Easter dinner? Grandma brought the strawberry jello there, too. It was a staple at big family dinners. And then one year, Grandma didn’t make it and there was an outcry. Where’s the strawberry jello salad?! Her response was something along the lines of “That old stuff? I had no idea anyone cared about that!”
I’ve been making the same strawberry jello salad from my childhood since I got married over 20 years ago, with one change – at the request/suggestion of my husband, I reduced the amount of sour cream by half this year. The sour cream layer is a huge surprise to anyone who tastes it for the first time. No one guesses that it’s sour cream. But….the sour cream can be a little thick (these pictures show the original amount of sour cream – the old family recipe calls for 2 cups) but I LOVE the way that it tastes with the jello. Just in case you’re considering trying this jello out with a layer of whipped cream in the middle…it would NOT be the same. Too sweet! There’s something SO delicious about that slightly sour and not sweet burst if sour cream in the middle of the fruit and jello. It sounds odd, I know, but it totally works!
Note: I almost ALWAYS use reduced fat sour cream. That’s just my personal preference. Either regular or reduced fat sour cream works just the same.
Ingredients
- 2 small boxes strawberry Jello (or one large)
- 2 cups water, boiling
- 1 pkg (16 oz) presweetened frozen strawberries
- 3 bananas, mashed
- 1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple, undrained
- 1 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Dissolve jello in boiling water. Add pineapple, bananas, and thawed strawberries. Mix all together and pour ½ jello mixture in 9×13 pan.
- Let first layer set (this usually takes 30-60 minutes. You can leave the other half of the jello/fruit mixture on the table at room temperature while you wait).
- Once set, spread sour cream over 1st layer. Carefully add remaining jello mixture.
- Let set 3-4 hours before serving.
Do you have an old family recipe like this – something that you’ve been making for generations that might sound a little odd to people who have never tried it before? Or have you ever had a jello salad like my grandma used to make? If you’ve never tried it before, you should totally give it a try! We love it around here.
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I love jello desserts and often make them this one is new and I so love it with all the great fruit
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Hi! Visiting from Denise Designed Sunday Features. I have to admit, I LOVE jello! I can’t wait to make this for my family, I know everyone will love it! Following you and pinning for later, thanks for sharing!
My grandmother made this every holiday when I was growing up. It was and still is my favorite! She recently gave me the recipe and now I have made it every holiday since. I love the sweet from the fruit and the tang from the sour cream.