Learn how to make this gelatina de fresas, a delicious and beautiful Mexican strawberry jello for birthday parties and potlucks.

What Is Gelatina de Fresas?

Gelatina de fresas or strawberry jello is very common and beloved in Mexico. This silky dessert is a staple in many different celebrations, so it’s never missing from birthdays, weddings, and graduations. 

Mexican strawberry jello contains real fruit, so it’s not only more visually appealing, but it is also more delicious and nutritious. It’s quite a healthy dessert and it can satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. 

When it comes to gelatina de fresas, there are many different recipes you can follow. Including gelatina de mosaico, which involves a variety of jello. However, today, I want to focus on the classic strawberry jello. 

This easy jello recipe can be made in a big mold so you can cut it in slices or in small, individual, and disposable molds, which is most common for celebrations. Jello is available in many different flavors and they’re incredibly common in all of Latin America. 

Gelatina de fresa in a plate.

It’s a refreshing dessert that doesn’t make you feel guilty, and it’s incredibly easy to make. It takes very little effort or preparation, so you don’t need any cooking skills to enjoy this delicious Mexican desert. 

Strawberries Nutritional Info

As mentioned earlier, gelatina de fresas contains real fruit, which is why it’s so much more delicious. It’s also a lot healthier because it allows you to enjoy all the nutritional properties of strawberries (fresas), such as: 

  • Strawberries have a high water content, so they’re low in carbs.
  • 26% of the carb content strawberries provide is fiber, which is important for digestive health. 
  • Strawberries are a great source of Vitamin C, which is beneficial for your immune system and the health of your skin. 
  • Strawberries also contain manganese and potassium. 
  • Strawberries are rich in folate, which is a B vitamin that’s fundamental for cell function and tissue growth. 
  • Additionally, strawberries contain iron, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, and vitamins E, K, and B6, though in lesser concentrations. 

Because this fruit contains so much good stuff, they offer many different health benefits. Strawberries can help reduce the risk of heart disease by improving vascular function, blood antioxidant status, and your blood lipid profile. 

Additionally, strawberries aid blood sugar regulation because they help slow down glucose digestion and reduce glucose and insulin spikes. Strawberries can also help you maintain a healthy vision, lower your cholesterol, regulate blood pressure, and reduce inflammation.

These delicious berries have no sodium, no fat, no cholesterol, and they’re low-calorie too, so they can help you stay on track with weight and fitness goals.

They can even help you maintain your beauty! Strawberries can improve skin resilience and elasticity, making your skin look healthier and keeping wrinkles at bay. 

Fresh strawberries scattered on a wooden surface.

Overall, this delicious and juicy berry has a lot to offer! If you’re bored of eating strawberries on their own, making gelatina de fresas is a great way to switch things up.

Not to mention you get to enjoy one of the most popular Mexican deserts. I promise it will quickly become one of your favorites and you’ll be sharing it with your loved ones in no time. 

How To Make It (step by step)

Wash the strawberries, remove the green part, and cut them into small pieces. You will need 2 cups, divided.

Place 3/4 cup of water in a bowl and add the unflavored gelatin (the sheets or powdered). Mix to hydrate it well while you continue with the recipe.

A collage with two photos of unflavored gelatin hydrating in a bowl.

Place 1 cup of water in a saucepan, bring to a boil and turn off the heat. Add the flavored gelatin and mix well to combine. Add one cup of cold water and mix well.

A collage with 4 photos of preparing gelatina de fresa.

Pour the jello mixture into a mold and allow it to cool down completely but not to the point where it gets firm.

Adding gelatina de fresa mixture into a mold.

Carefully, add 1 cup of strawberries to the mold distributing them well all over. Then pop the mold in the fridge and allow it to sit for 20-25 minutes.

Adding fresh strawberries diced to the gelatina de fresa mixture.

Meanwhile, make the strawberries and milk jello. Place 1 cup of strawberries cut into half in a saucepan.

Add 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup of water. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Fresh strawberries and sugar cooked in a saucepan.

Transfer to a blender and mix until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a large cup and allow it to cool down completely then pour in the milk and mix to combine.

Pouring in the milk into the cooked strawberries mixture.

Next, use the microwave or the method bain-marie to melt the hydrated gelatin and mix it into the milk and strawberries mixture.

Adding the melted unflavored gelatin into the milk and strawberries mixture.

Remove the mold with the first jello from the fridge and gently pour over the milk and strawberry gelatin.

Pouring in the milk and strawberry mixture over.

Place in the fridge for at least 4 hours or until firm, we recommend overnight for better results.

You can serve this Mexican strawberry milk jello sliced with some whipped cream and fresh strawberries on the side.

How To Unmold It

  • Fill a large bowl with warm water.
  • Carefully immerse the mold with the gelatin into the water. Do not fully submerge.
  • Leave it submerged for about 20 seconds.
  • Remove the mold and with your tips slightly moisten with water, carefully pull the edges of the jello to loosen it up.
  • Place a serving plate over the mold and then flip it upside down.
  • Slightly shake the mold and then gently pull it away.
A slice of gelatina de fresa served in a plate with whipped cream and fresh strawberries on the side.

Useful Notes

  • Milk needs to be at room temperature, to prevent it from curdling when adding it to the strawberries mixture.
  • The same thing with the strawberries mixture, allow reaching room temperature before adding the milk.
  • Make sure the first layer of strawberry jello is just set to the point it won’t mix with the milk mixture, don’t allow it to set completely or the milk jello will slip off when you unmold it.

How To Store It

This Mexican strawberry jello can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days, so you have plenty of time to make it ahead for your party.

You will need to cover it well to prevent it from absorbing the smells of the other foods in the fridge. We recommend either making it in a mold with a lid (like this one from Amazon) or covering it with cling film if your mold doesn’t have a cover.

As with any type of gelatin, freezing is not recommended.

Watch How To Make It

Similar Recipes

Gelatina de fresa recipe.

Gelatina De Fresa

6
This easy gelatina de fresa, is a fun, delicious and impressive dessert for special occasions.
prep 15 minutes
cook 10 minutes
chilling time 4 hours 25 minutes
total 4 hours 50 minutes

Equipment

  • 1 silicon gelatin pan for about 6 cups gelatin

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups strawberries (divided)
  • 1-3 oz package strawberry flavored gelatin
  • 2 Tbsp unflavored gelatin (or 6 sheets)
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3 ¼ cups water (divided)

Instructions
 

  • Wash and cut the strawberries. One cup into halves and the other cup quartered.
  • Place ¾ cup of water in a bowl and add the unflavored gelatin. Mix well.
  • Place 1 cup water in a saucepan, bring to a boil and turn off the heat.
  • Add the strawberry powdered gelatin and stir well to combine.
  • Add one cup of cold water and mix.
  • Pour the strawberry jello mixture in a mold and allow to cool down completely but not to the point where it gets firm.
  • Carefully, add 1 cup of strawberries to the mold distributing them well all over.
  • Place the mold in the fridge and allow to set for 20-25 minutes.

Make the strawberries and milk jello

  • Place 1 cup of strawberries in a saucepan.
  • Add ½ cup sugar and ½ cup of water.
  • Make everything simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Transfer to a blender and mix until smooth.
  • Place the mixture into a large cup or bowl and allow to cool down completely.
  • Pour in the milk and mix to combine.
  • Use the microwave or the method bain-marie to melt the unflavored gelatin and mix it into the milk and strawberries mixture.
  • Remove the mold with the first jello from the fridge and gentle pour over the milk and strawberry gelatin.
  • Place in the fridge for at least 4 hours or until firm, we recommend overnight.

Notes

  • Make sure the milk and strawberries mixture are at room temperature before mixing, to prevent the mixture from curdling.
  • Make sure the first layer of strawberry jello is just set to the point it won’t mix with the milk mixture, don’t allow it to set completely or the milk jello will slip off when you unmold it.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 54mg | Potassium: 136mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 72IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 0.3mg
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One Comment

  1. 5 stars
    I always had Mexican strawberry jello on my birthday back then! I tried making them myself last time and they didn’t turn out good. I followed your recipe this time and making sure the strawberry and milk are in room temperature before mixing them made it so much better! My kids loved it!