This 2-ingredient no-bake strawberry dessert is as airy as a sponge and so light it’s like biting into a cloud. Just like the vintage Jello-O 1-2-3 with its dreamy chiffon-like top
If you’ve ever tried Aussie flummery, British jelly whip or enjoyed South American gelatina espumosa con leche evaporada (foamy gelatin with evaporated milk), you know you’re in for for a special treat!
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There’s a ton to love about this simple strawberry jello fluff!
- It’s an economical dessert that feeds a crowd on a budget! Easily double the recipe to make a large-batch pink dessert for potlucks and parties.
- It’s the perfect emergency dessert! It’s no-bake, prep takes just 5 minutes, and it’s the quickest setting jello recipe with only 20 minutes of chilling time!
- You can whip up a low-calorie strawberry mousse version in no time by swapping in sugar-free jello!
The only 2 ingredients
You’ll only need two affordable kitchen staples to make this creamy 5-minute strawberry dessert:
- Strawberry jello, 6 ounces
- Evaporated milk (e.g, Carnation), one can – frozen
Plus boiling water and cold water, to dissolve the jello powder. And that’s it!
Strawberry jello: You’ll need enough gelatin to set 4 cups of liquid, which means a large 6-ounce box.
If you can’t find the large box, just use 2 regular (small) 4-serving boxes. It’s exactly the same thing: 3 oz + 3 oz = 6 oz 🙂
Evaporated milk: This is a type of concentrated milk that comes in a can. Nestlé Carnation is a well-known brand. It’s rich, with a tasty hint of caramel.
You’ll use one whole can for this recipe. It must be chilled for (at least) one hour in the freezer until it’s partially frozen to make the best whipped evaporated milk, super thick and creamy!
How to make
Before starting, pick a serving dish that can hold at least 5-6 cups of liquid. Since this dessert is soft and fluffy and can’t be popped out of a mold, I recommend a clear bowl to show off its gorgeous pink color.
Or, if you prefer, you can divide the strawberry jello mousse into individual servings. Small mason jars or parfait glasses are perfect for this.
1. Dissolve the 6 oz (or 0.6 oz if sugar-free) of strawberry jello in 1 cup of boiling water. Stir until fully dissolved. Then, add 1/2 cup of cold water and mix well. Allow the jello to cool down to room temperature or at least lukewarm before proceeding with the recipe steps.
2. Add the frozen evaporated milk to a blender and blend on the highest speed until it’s thick, foamy, and has at least doubled in volume. This typically takes about 3 minutes. You can pause the blender every 30 seconds to prevent overheating.
3.With the blender running, very slowly pour the liquid jello into the whipped evaporated milk in a thin stream.
4. Immediately transfer the jello mousse to a serving dish. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes before serving.
Recipe variations
Pink fluff salad
Transform this easy strawberry dessert into a jello salad by adding fruit! After transferring the whipped jello into the serving dish, mix in 1 cup of drained pineapple tidbits or 1 cup of freshly chopped strawberries.
Sugar-free recipe
You can make this recipe low-calorie and low-carb. Just substitute the large 6-ounce package of strawberry jello for the 0.6-ounce package of zero-sugar jello.
Remember that:
1 large box of jello = 8 servings = 6 oz (regular) = 0.6 oz (sugar-free)
Or just use two 0.3 ounces (4-servings) boxes of zero-sugar strawberry jello.
Topping ideas
Crushed graham crackers: Sprinkle a handful of crushed graham crackers or digestive biscuits over the strawberry jello fluff for a sweet and crunchy topping.
Whipped topping: Add a generous layer of thawed Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream on top for a creamy and delightful finish.
Fresh strawberry slices: Take your simple jelly whip up a notch by topping it with some fresh sliced strawberries. They add a burst of strawberry flavor and make your dessert look extra fancy.
If you are serving it out of a transparent dish or glasses, try decorating by sticking heart-shaped strawberry slices onto the glass walls before pouring in the dessert (just like I did). It adds a special touch and is perfect for occasions like Valentine’s Day, Easter brunches or Mother’s Day parties.
Expert tips
Quick cooling method for jello
You can speed up the first step of the recipe by using 1/2 cup of icy water instead of cold water.
After dissolving the strawberry jello in boiling water, fill a half measuring cup with ice, then add water to complete the half cup. Add this icy water to the jello and mix until the ice melts, which will help cool it down faster.
Equipment needed for whipping evaporated milk
Unfortunately, you can’t whip evaporated milk by hand alone. You’ll need one of the following: a blender, an immersion (stick) blender, a hand mixer, or a standing mixer with the whisk attachment.
In my experience, using a blender is the easiest option for this recipe. It frees up your hands to pour the liquid strawberry jello, and the jar has a hole in the lid that you can pour through without splattering your kitchen.
A personal blender, or any type of “upside down blender” can’t be used, because you cannot incorporate the jello slowly while blending. It has to be a full sized blender.
Freezing evaporated milk
As I mentioned, you’ll need to chill the can of evaporated milk in the freezer to be able to whip it properly.
The partially frozen evaporated milk has the consistency of soft ice cream and is full of ice crystals. To achieve this texture, keep the can in the freezer for at least one hour.
If you place the can in the freezer and forget about it, that’s okay. Due to its fat content, it will not become a solid block of milk ice. However, even if it did, it’s not a problem. Just drop it in the blender and wait a few minutes until it’s soft enough to blend, if needed.
Jello mixed with icy cold evaporated milk sets REALLY FAST! So I keep a can of evaporated milk in my freezer at all times. This way I can quickly prepare this dessert and have it on the table in under 30 minutes from start to finish. It’s a great last-minute recipe to have up your sleeve!
Storage
This recipe can be kept covered in the fridge for up to one week until it’s time for serving, but it will keep well for a few hours at room temperature.
The jello and evaporated milk dessert is not freezer friendly. Like most gelatin-based dishes, freezing might cause the formation of ice crystals which compromises it’s delicate texture.
2-Ingredient Strawberry Fluff (Flummery)
This 2-ingredient strawberry jello mousse is a light, cloud-like treat that kids and adults will love! An affordable, quick and easy pink dessert that feeds a crowd!
- 6 ounces strawberry gelatin (1 8-serving box)
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1 can evaporated milk (chilled in the freezer for at least one hour)
Sprinkle the [wprm-ingredient text=”6 ounces strawberry gelatin” uid=”1″] over [wprm-ingredient text=”1 cup boiling water” uid=”2″] and mix until it's fully dissolved.
Add [wprm-ingredient text=”1/2 cup cold water” uid=”3″] water and mix. Set aside and let it cool down to room temperature.
Using a blender or mixer, blend or whisk the partially frozen [wprm-ingredient text=”1 can evaporated milk” uid=”0″] for about 3 minutes until it's frothy, creamy and doubled in volume.
With the blender or mixer still running, slowly pour in the cooled liquid strawberry gelatin in a thin stream.
Transfer the strawberry fluff to a serving dish or divide into glasses for individual servings. Refrigerate until set (at least 20 minutes). Enjoy!
Recipe variations
Make sugar-free fluff: use zero sugar strawberry jello (one family-sized 0.6-ounce package or 2 0.3-ounce packages) instead of the regular strawberry flavored gelatin which contains sugar.
Fruity jello salad: After transferring the fluff into the serving dish, mix in 1 cup of drained pineapple tidbits or 1 cup of freshly chopped strawberries.
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