Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

Church Jello

Teresa Ambra

Gluten Free Living – 2023

Church Jello is an absolutely delectable 4-ingredient recipe! That’s right. Four ingredients. Why is it called “Church Jello?” The friend who gave me this recipe two decades ago said it was what her grandmother always called it. I suppose because they used to take it to a lot of church picnics back in the day. Whatever the reason for the name, this is a fantastic Jell-O recipe.

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Our friend, Mylia, used to bring this delicious Jell-O recipe to a lot of church functions about 20 years ago when we were in the same Sunday school class. I loved it and asked for the recipe. I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve made this tasty congealed salad dish.

A friend at our current church had foot surgery, so I signed up to bring her a meal. I made an easy Ravioli Lasagna, homemade bread, Church Jello and Almond Fudge Shortbread. They loved everything. Because this recipe makes a full 9×13″ glass dish, I poured half of the mixture into a smaller pan for them and kept the other half for company we had a few days later. Our company loved this recipe too.

Church Jello is made with strawberry jello, crushed pineapple, mashed bananas and a container of thawed, frozen strawberries (plus boiling water). It’s one of those “dump and go” recipes. This congealed salad does not set up like some gelatin recipes with a really firm texture. It’s NOT supposed to. It does set up but it’s just not exceptionally firm. That’s because you use all of the pineapple juice in the can. So don’t except to cut the recipe with a knife. This is a salad that you serve with a spoon. Don’t worry. Everyone will love the softer texture and delicious flavors of this Jell-O.

This fruity salad is great for picnics, potlucks and backyard barbecues. Don’t be surprised if everyone prefers Church Jello for dessert! It’s THAT good. 🙂

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

Church Jello is a delightful fruit salad recipe.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

Church Jello is a little softer than some congealed salads. It’s very fruity and delicious.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

You can serve Church Jello plain or garnished with additional fruit.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

When I served Church Jello for company, I included it with Grilled Ribs, Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Mexican Street Corn Salad. Yum.

Here’s what I did.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

I used these ingredients plus boiling water.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

Pour strawberry Jell-O into a mixing bowl.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

Add boiling water.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

Stir ingredients until Jell-O is completely dissolved.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

Mash bananas on a plate with a fork.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

Add bananas, undrained pineapple and thawed, frozen strawberries to the Jell-O mixture.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

Stir ingredients really well to combine.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

Pour ingredients into one 9×13″ glass pyrex dish or two smaller dishes (which is what I did).

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

Cover carefully with foil or plastic wrap. (Be careful that the plastic wrap doesn’t sink into the Jell-O). Place the dishes into the refrigerator to refrigerate overnight.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

Allow the congealed salad to set up overnight in refrigerator before serving.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

If desired, garnish Church Jello with pineapple rings, strawberries or bananas.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

You can also garnish individual servings with whipped cream.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

Church Jello does set up but it’s not a hard Jell-O like some gelatin mixtures.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

One of the guys who ate this salad had two servings and preferred Church Jello for dessert that night!

Here’s the recipe.

CHURCH JELLO

(Recipe adapted from Mylia Roan, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Cedar Hill, TX)

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

Church Jello

Teresa Ambra
Church Jello is a scrumptious four-ingredient Congealed Salad recipe. This one includes frozen strawberries, pineapple and bananas and is the perfect accompaniment for picnics, potlucks and backyard barbecues. This lovely fruit salad is so easy it can be tossed together in about five minutes! Gluten free.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 15
Calories 267 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 9×13" glass pyrex dish
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • measuring cups
  • 1 plate to mash bananas on
  • 1 fork to mash bananas

Ingredients
  

  • 6 oz. pkg. strawberry gelatin or two 3-ounce packages
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 3 large ripe bananas mashed with a fork
  • 20 oz. can crushed pineapple undrained
  • 24 oz. container sweetened, frozen strawberries thawed

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl, pour out dry Jell-O mix.
  • Dissolve the Strawberry Jell-O in 2 cups of boiling water.
  • Mash the bananas on a plate with a fork.
  • Combine the thawed strawberries, pineapple, bananas and dissolved Jell-O in a large mixing bowl.
  • Pour into a 9×13”glass pyrex dish and refrigerate.

Notes

NOTE: I poured the Jell-O into two smaller dishes and gave one away to friends.
 
NOTE: I usually put the container of frozen strawberries in the refrigerator a day or two ahead of time to thaw ingredients before using in this recipe.
 
NOTE: Be careful about putting plastic wrap on the container before refrigerating the Jell-O. If it sinks into the mixture it will not come off easily and will take off the beautiful glaze. I’ve found that using aluminum foil prevents this from happening.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 267kcalCarbohydrates: 63gProtein: 1gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.03gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.04gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 55mgPotassium: 750mgFiber: 6gSugar: 49gVitamin A: 36IUVitamin C: 560mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 10mg
Keyword bananas, church jello, jello, pineapple, salad, side dish, strawberries
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

I served Church Jello with Grilled Ribs, Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Mexican Street Corn Salad.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

Our company loved this recipe. It’s so light and refreshing.

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

Church Jello is a vintage recipe that will knock your socks off!

Church Jello | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this lovely #CongealedSalad uses only 4 ingredients! It's so easy to toss together and everyone always loves it. Great for #holiday picnics, potlucks & #BackyardBarbecues. #strawberries #bananas #pineapple #JellO #GlutenFree #StrawberryJello #FruitSalad #ChurchJello

This simple recipe can be tossed together in about 5 minutes. For best results, refrigerate overnight before serving.

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2 Comments

  • space waves

    July 21, 2024 at 9:20 pm

    5 stars
    Look so good! Any easy. Love church cookbooks! Memories of the ones in it…not always women… and their favorite recipes. Thank u for sharing.

    1. Teresa Ambra

      July 22, 2024 at 3:34 pm

      Your welcome. It’s been a favorite for decades. 🙂

5 from 1 vote

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