This Strawberry Rhubarb Jello is such an easy dessert that I hesitated posting it and also because it’s jello. 🙂 However, since I have made it several times and we love it, why not? About once every 2 to 3 months I get a craving for jello ( I guess it takes me back to my childhood), and this is the one I’ve been making for a couple of years now.
There is not a whole lot to say about it…all it takes is a box of your favorite strawberry gelatin dessert powder and some fresh or frozen rhubarb to cook down for rhubarb juice. As with most gelatin desserts, a hot liquid is required. Therefore, just cook down 2 cups rhubarb in 3 cups liquid, strain and use the strained rhubarb juice as your hot liquid.
For the powder, I’ve used both the 6 ounce Strawberry Jello and the 3 ounce Natural Desserts Strawberry Jel Dessert. The Natural Desserts only requires 2 cups hot liquid and makes 4 servings, while the Jello brand requires 2 cups hot and 2 cups cold liquid and makes 8 servings. With both brands, the rhubarb juice adds its flavor to the strawberry for a delicious little strawberry-rhubarb flavored dessert. And if you want, you can always stir in fresh strawberries to fancy it up a bit.
An easy dessert made with a box of strawberry Jello and rhubarb juice. A 3 ounce Jello yields 2 cups and a 6 ounce box yields 4 cups.
- 2 cups rhubarb, chopped (fresh or frozen)
- 3 cups water
- 1 box strawberry gelatin dessert (3 oz. or 6 oz.)
- 1 – 2 cups cold water (3 oz vs. 6 oz respectively)
- 4 fresh strawberries, chopped (optional)
- In a sauce pan, add the rhubarb and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a measuring cup.
For 3 ounce box – Pour the strawberry powdered gelatin into a glass container. Add 1 cups of the hot rhubarb juice + 1 cup cold water. Stir until the gelatin powder has dissolved.
For 6 ounce box, add 2 cups of the hot rhubarb liquid and 2 cups cold water. Add to the liquid gelatin and stir. (If you don't have 2 cups of hot rhubarb liquid, just make the difference up with cold water.)
- Stir in fresh strawberries if desired.
- Let cool then transfer to the refrigerator for 4 hours or until set.
That’s it! See how easy that was. 🙂
Parting Shots
Since there are no Kitchen Notes for this recipe, I’m sharing a couple of pictures of the 50+ year old wisteria bush in our front yard. Due to late freezes in previous years, this is the first time it has bloomed since 2008. Isn’t it gorgeous? I wish the pictures were scratch and sniff because it smells wonderful and the bees love it.
Here are a few other refreshing desserts you’ll enjoy:
MJ,
This is truly an “OMG” recipe! It’s got everything that we love in it: strawberries, rhubarb, jello and sweetness! I’ve got fresh rhubarb ready to pick in my garden too! What a fun treat. I’ll let you know how it turns out!
Thanks!!!
Wow! Love anything with rhubarb and this recipe is really something I’ve never seen before. I think my kids would go crazy for it as well. The
Lovely flavour combo. Thanks
Λαχταριστό το ζελέ ,αλλά πραγματικό στολίδι είναι ο πανέμορφος θάμνος που έχετε στην αυλή σας! (Delicious jelly, but the real gem is the beautiful shrub that you have in your yard!)
Thanks so much Kalliope!
I wasn’t a big jelly fan for a long time (I like crunchy, crispy texture in general) but for the past several years, oh I can’t live without gelatin/agar agar desserts especially in summer! It was a “lighter” dessert option, but soon I started to experiment more and it’s been fun. Love your GORGEOUS color of jello, MJ! This is a popular dessert in summer party!
Thanks Nami! I agree, that other than ice cream, a jelly dessert makes a wonderful summer treat!! I served this at a dinner party the other night and it was a big hit!
Mmm, it’s getting to that season! I love jello (or jelly as we call it in England). Everyone shuns it because they say it’s “kid’s food” but I disagree. Sure, the luminous green junk you make from a packet is just bad, but homemade jelly from fresh, beautiful ingredients can be just wonderful. This looks delightful MJ. Have you ever made a wine jelly? I usually use a blackcurrant jelly as the base and then use wine, or wine and water to make it up… depending on how alcoholic you want it to be 😀
Thanks Charles! No, I have never made a wine jelly but it sounds quite interesting especially with the blackcurrant base. I saw a coffee jelly at Nami’s the other day and it looked interesting as well. Sounds like I have more jellies to try out. 🙂
I’ve a wisteria in my yard, too, MJ. It took 7 years for it to bloom and now it is just fantastic. Love the scent!
Sorry to say, I’m not at all a fan of rhubarb but I know of a certain Lady in Michigan who is wild about it. This recipe is right up her alley, as she would say. I’ll be forwarding your recipe to her. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
The scent is hypnotic isn’t it? Thank you for forwarding my link to your friend! 🙂
Greetings! I’ve been following your weblog for some time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Lubbock Tx! Just wanted to tell you keep up the great job!|
thanks so much!
This is a nice idea, never had thought of using rhubarb on jellos
Wow, your wisteria bush is incredible! Isn’t it remarkable to think that it hasn’t flowered in 6 years and yet… there it is, right in front of you today. That just has to be good fortune :). I love how you’ve incorporated fresh, seasonal fruit into this dessert MJ. The rhubarb must be positively gorgeous in this. I’m thinking agar-agar could also work beautifully here (or unflavored/coloured gelatin) in place of jello 😉 together with your delightful fruit. Lovely!
Thanks Kelly! And yes, it was good fortune this year. There were some nights that came really close to freezing the buds, but @ 32 F, the buds and blooms just survived. The rhubarb did work great with the strawberry. I do plan to try it with the agar agar. Sissi made a Rhubarb wobbly last year that I’ve been wanting to try. Oh there are SO many dishes I want to try. 🙂 Thank goodness for Pinterest. At least I can store them all in one place. 🙂
I’m glad you shared the recipe MJ! Hubby has been craving jello and now I know which to prepare for him. Your wisteria is gorgeous!
The color is very attractive! I actually love jello…so soothing to my belly. Adding rhubarb in jellos is interesting twist.
Beautiful wisteria!
Thanks Darlin! The rhubarb does make it a very interesting jello.
Lovely! Love the bright red color too!
What a fun recipe… everyone has room for jello. 🙂 Love the flowers too. 🙂
Who doesn’t get a craving for Jell-O?? We always get a craving for it, however since I rarely see rhubarb here, it’s something we don’t mix in our jell-o. I hope I ssee rhubarb in the supermarket so i can try this.
Good to hear that others get the same craving. I would think that your girls love it. 🙂 Sorry that rhubarb isn’t available in your area. We love it so much that we bought 3 plants to put in the garden this year. Thanks for stopping by Darlin!
Haven’t had Jello in years. It is such a fun childhood food memory.
That wisteria vine is just gorgeous this spring. We had a wisteria vine in the backyard as kids. I still remember the wonderful scents the blooms offered. Lots of honeybees and bumble bees enjoyed it as well.
Very much a ‘childhood memories’ food post for me. Thank you for the outstanding photos and enjoy your day.
So glad to be able to stir up some fun childhood memories John!! I remember having jello a few times at your house, but I don’t remember the wisteria. I’m going to have to show B your comments because he gave me a very hard time about posting a Jello post, 🙂 Thanks so much for the comments Darlin! Hugs, MJ
I too love jello but never tried rhubarb in it. As always, amazing photos MJ…
Thanks so much Darlin! The rhubarb definitely adds another dimension to boring jello. 🙂
I have never tried rhubarb jello. I bet it is delicious. It certainly looks beautiful!
Thanks Adri!
It sounds FABULOUS!!! I love the idea of adding tart rhubarb to the sweet strawberries. And your photos are exquisite!
Thanks so much Liz!! I was actually surprised at how hard Jello is to photograph! 🙂
Well they both look lovely Peach lady! I am not a jello fan, but the Rhubarb juice could change that. 🙂
Thanks so much Zsuzsa!
First off, I love the photo of that gorgeous splendid wisteria. We are having a wonderful spring here in the Pacific NW. But is not wisteria time yet. You’re funny about your jello blog. However you jello is waaaaaaaaay beyond any regular jello.
Isn’t it too a beautiful color in its special serving dish.
Thanks so much Carol!!! The jello certainly isn’t boring. 🙂 I wasn’t sure if wisteria could even grown in the Pacific NW. I guess that bloom in May instead of March/April. I wish ours would bloom later, but I can’t control nature. 🙂
Awesome my kids will love this. I am going to make it what a nice color MJ
Thanks Swathi! I hope they enjoy it!
What a gorgeous wisteria bush! Too funny, a friend did the jello experiment while I did my liver experiment. She hates(d) jello. But we have a deal that at the end she would cook me liver and I would make a jello dessert recipe. Just found it lol!
Thanks Evelyne! Wish you could smell it. 🙂 That is funny about you and your friend, I know I’ve been following your liver experiment. I’d love the check our your friend’s jello experiment. Would you send me the link?
Spring flowers!! Beautiful!! And beautiful shots to celebrate it with too!!
Thanks Minnie! 🙂
I love wisteria! Ours is only about 15 years old, but I love it just the same. So, ironically I had jello in the cafeteria for lunch. I am certain it was not as good as yours!!!!!!!!!
Wisteria is gorgeous not matter how old it is. I’m amazed ours has lasted this long and still does so well. Make me wonder how long they normally live. Thanks for your nice comments Debra!
I love the wisteria. It was my father’s favorite but he could never grow it in Maine. In his honor I planted wisteria all over the arbor covering the walkway around our old house. It blossomed beautifully every year.
I’ve never had strawberry rhubarb jello but I’m quite sure I’ll love it.
Oh I could definitely see how they don’t do well in Maine. 🙂 What a sweet daughter to plant one in his honor. I bet your arbor is gorgeous when it’s in bloom and afterwards as well. It’s a gorgeous plant even without the blooms.
I love the strawberry rhubarb combo! This might be my excuse to FINALLY buy some rhubarb
It’s a great excuse!!! Thanks!
I think that school lunches put me off Jello for life, but maybe I should try it again. The only place I encounter it much these days is at church suppers, when, as a friend is indicating that they made a certain dish, I am obligated to take a spoonful. Which is how I found two jello-things that I did like, one being pina-colada [though sans the rum I imagine] and one that was a rhubarb-strawberry concoction. They didn’t stain out the fruit though. Anyway – I might have to give this one a try! And totally jealous of the wisteria – they will survive here, but rarely [never?] bloom because of frost. They smell like heaven!
Donalyn – I know what you mean. It was always the dessert in the school lunch line and after eating some of the “interesting” desserts that the church would bring to potlucks, it’s amazing that I still love it. But to be honest, I like the simple jello with no fruit pieces. That’s probably because I love swishing it through my teeth. 🙂
I’m so glad you did share this recipe, MJ, it sounds fantastic! What a lovely way to make jello extra special. And your wisteria is amazing!!
Thanks so much April!! It doesn’t make Jello special. 🙂
I have never had rhubarb jello! It looks so refreshing, MJ.
Thanks Angie! Rhubarb is not something you can buy, but it’s so easy to make.
please pass me that glass …looks so delish…
Thanks Gloria!
Jello is always a great snack. I sometimes add fruit cocktails in it or just pineapple tidbits. Very nice shot of the glass of jello there my friend. 🙂
Thanks for much Ray!! My mother always added fruit cocktail to jello as well. It was great!
Oh I adore Wisteria, love Springtime, and all the flowers!!! Easy or not, everyone loves delicious recipes:-) This sounds fabulous, perfect snack! Hugs, Terra
Thanks Terra! Spring has really hit here and because we didn’t have that late freeze, the flowers and fruit trees are loaded with blooms! It’s beautiful!
Oh, I have forgotten to add that I have never seen a wisteria and only now I see how beautiful it is! I have Japanese incense (several different scents) and there is a wisteria one. It’s amazing! One of my favourite. Though I suppose it must smell 100 x better in nature. I imagine you smelling the wisteria every time you pass by…
The bush is right in front of the living room window where I work in the mornings, so the smell flows into the house filling the whole house. It’s wonderful!
MJ, you read my mind… Today I have almost bought my first rhubarb to make rhubarb drink but decided it was not red enough (you know, some varieties are mostly green… but I prefer the deep red ones). Your jelly (is “jello” something different or is it the same?) looks so beautifully refreshing! I must say I used to hate jelly as a child, but now I love slightly trembling, wobbly ones and I do one very similar with rhubarb juice too! I prepare it with agar actually (I posted it last year I think). Your photograph makes me dream of hot summer days…
Thanks so much Sissi! Jello is actually a brand name, so “jelly” or gelatin dessert is the more correct terminology. However, here in the states “Jello” is pretty much the term for any gelatin dessert or wobbly. 🙂 I do remember your rhubarb wobbly from last year. It’s on my list to make next. In fact, today we went to the nursery and bought 3 Rhubarb plants. Next year we’ll be able to pick it right out of the back yard. YAY!
I love jello. It’s really so refreshing and light and perfect to have when you’re not feeling too great either. How creative to add the Rhubarb to it. Great idea and so versatile for so many other creative jello dishes.
Thanks Vicki! I agree about it being a cure for an ailment. Jello and chicken noodle soup are my old standbys for sickness comfort food.
NiceJello shots! (Sorry.) That’s such a fun subject to photograph (and you did it so well) — I’ve sometimes thought of doing something Jello-related just for the photo op. 😉 Anyway, this looks great! We have Jello from time-to-time too (that childhood thing). Fun post — thanks.
Thanks John! I wish I could say that the photo shoot was fun. It was actually quite challenging and somewhat frustrating, so I greatly appreciate your nice comments. I’d love to see what you do with jello. I’m sure it would blow me away!