Homemade Strawberry Jello (no dyes, corn syrup, or additives)

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My homemade strawberry jello is so simple to make from scratch without all the junk! No corn syrup, additives, or artificial dyes here. I hope this recipe helps you replace store-bought jello packets in your house like it has in ours!

Every time I think of strawberry jello I think of my mom standing in the kitchen whisking together a jello packet and hot water. I can still smell that delicious sweet strawberry scent. It feels like home.

My brother and I would get so excited when Mom made jello. She always put it in fun molds, which I think made the jello taste even better. It just did something! Now each time I make my strawberry jello recipe, I think of my mom!

Inspiration Behind My Recipe for Strawberry Jello

Funny enough, my husband, Tyler, absolutely loves strawberry jello and has his own memories of his mom making it for him. So a few months ago, he asked me if I could make strawberry jello from scratch and, of course, I said I would try!

So I set out on the quest to do just that! I wanted to create a similar flavor and texture to the boxed mix in the grocery store, just without all the additives and dyes.

Why We Love This Homemade Strawberry Jello (And Think You Will Too!)

• Simple, easy to follow steps: Anyone can make this recipe, from beginners just starting out to home cooking pros! You don’t need anything fancy to make it.
• No artificial dyes: The fresh strawberries give the jello a beautiful pink hue. There’s no need for added dyes!
• Wholesome ingredients: There are only a few simple ingredients, no corn syrup, refined sugar, or nasty additives. Just real, whole foods!
• Naturally sweetened: You can use raw honey or pure cane sugar to sweeten your jello. Both are wholesome options!

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Homemade Strawberry Jello

Note: Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post for measurements

• Ripe strawberries: I like to use organic or locally grown for the best flavor.
• Cold water: You want to make sure it’s cold.
• Lemon juice: You can use fresh or pure bottled.
• Raw honey or pure cane sugar: Both are great wholesome options, you choose which one!
• Beef gelatin: I highly recommend Divided Sunset unflavored, grass-fed beef gelatin. I get it at Walmart.

Substitutions and Variations

• You can substitute fresh strawberries for frozen if desired.
• Leave out the lemon juice if you prefer. It just adds a little balance of flavor.
• Swap the beef gelatin for any unflavored, unsweetened gelatin. 

Helpful Kitchen Tools to Make this Recipe

This section contains affiliate links to items I use and love for this recipe. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• medium stainless steel saucepan
• 11-Cup Pyrex storage dish
• blender (similar to mine)
• whisk
• large mixing bowl

My Best Tips for Making Homemade Jello

• Read the entire recipe before you get started so you know what to expect.
• Follow the recipe exactly how I’ve written it the first time you make it. I’ve developed and tested it many times to ensure it’s successful. You can make adjustments the next time.
• Use organic or locally grown strawberries for the best flavor.
• Use beef gelatin to keep it wholesome.
• It’s best refrigerated for 24 hours before enjoying so it can set up.

How to Make Homemade Strawberry Jello with Fresh Strawberries

Note: Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post for the full written recipe.

Rinse strawberries, pat dry, and remove the green tops.

Place whole strawberries into a blender with 1 cup of water. Blend on high speed until smooth.

Pour blended mixture into a pot through a fine mesh strainer if desired to remove seeds, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

While strawberry mixture is heating, add 1 cup cold water, lemon juice, and cane sugar or honey to a mixing bowl. Sprinkle beef gelatin over the mixture. Stir just to moisten gelatin and let sit for 5 minutes to bloom. Set aside.

Once strawberry mixture comes to a boil, immediately take off heat and pour into cold gelatin mix when the 5 minutes are up. Whisk until everything is dissolved.

Keep in mixing bowl or pour into cups, molds, a container if desired (greasing is not needed). I use an 11-cup glass rectangle Pyrex dish and it fits perfectly!

Refrigerate until firm (minimum 5 hours for a softer jello or up to 24 hours for a firmer jello). Enjoy! 

Why didn’t my jello set up?

This could be for a few reasons: either you got extra water or lemon juice in the mixture by accident, or your fridge is a lot warmer than mine. Another thing that could have gone wrong is that the gelatin brand you’re using could make the results vary.

Can I use regular unflavored gelatin instead of beef gelatin?

Of course! Just use a 1:1 ratio, but I highly recommend using one without any added sugar.

How can I make homemade jello out of strawberry puree?

If your puree is thick, just use it in place of the fresh strawberries and add it to the blender with the water. If it’s thin, use it in place of the fresh strawberries and water. But please know that your end result may vary since you’re using a puree instead.

Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh?

Sure! Just let them thaw out before using them. You’ll want to drain off any liquid after they thaw, but you can measure it and use the juice in place of some of the water for this recipe.

How long does it take jello to set up?

After 5 hours in our refrigerator, mine sets just enough to enjoy with a spoon. But it’s best to wait 24 hours or overnight if you’re looking to cut it into cubes. If your fridge is colder than mine, it’ll take less time; and if it’s warmer, it’ll take a little longer.

My Favorite Way to Serve Strawberry Jello

My husband and I love strawberry jello on hot summer days, either as an afternoon treat or a dessert after supper. I highly recommend it for any summertime activity or event. Whether you’re going to the pool, a gathering, or just looking for a dessert, it’s refreshing!

Storage Instructions

I recommend storing homemade jello in an airtight glass container. It keeps the jello fresh and doesn’t give off any weird flavors. It’ll last in the fridge for about one week.

More Strawberry Recipes To Try

If you’re looking for more strawberry recipes made from scratch, try a few of these:

• Homemade Strawberry Glaze (for Angel Food Cake)
• Strawberry Sourdough Sweet Rolls
• Strawberry Filling (for cakes, sweet rolls, or jam)
• Sourdough Strawberry Chocolate Chip Scones

If you made this recipe, give it a 5-star rating below and share a photo on your social media stories! Be sure to tag me @plumbranchhome. You can find our community on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest (all @plumbranchhome)