These adorable Aunt Lil’s Coconut Strawberries are a fun no-bake candy made with sweetened condensed milk, shredded coconut, and strawberry-flavored Jello powder. The mixture is shaped by hand to look like fresh strawberries, then coated in Jello powder and decorated with green icing and finished with a green toothpick. Sweet, chewy, and packed with fruity coconut flavor, they’re a beautiful addition to dessert tables, holiday platters, baby showers, Valentine’s Day, and spring celebrations.
If you love making fun candies, then also try our Homemade Salted Caramels or our Easy Chocolate Walnut Fudge.
Coconut Strawberries are bite-sized candies. Unlike chocolate-covered strawberries, these treats don’t contain fresh fruit. Instead, they’re made by combining sweetened condensed milk, shredded coconut, and strawberry gelatin powder into a soft dough that’s shaped into strawberries and decorated to resemble the real fruit.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Brings back fond memories for my husband
- Super cute
- Easy to make
- Great for many events like showers, summer gatherings, kids’ parties and more
- Nostalgic treat
HELPFUL ITEMS FOR THIS RECIPE
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Do you have a little hidden family recipe that a loved one used to make you? These Aunt Lil’s Coconut Strawberries were made by Ken’s aunt Lil, and he remembers them well. Sweet and delicious, fun and full of summer memories for him being out on the farm.
I love how he puts the little green tops on them and dyes the toothpicks green, too. These little delicacies would be great packed up for a picnic, a summer shower, BBQ, backyard gathering, potluck and more!! Kids will love them, and adults will be intrigued by them.
What Ingredients are in these Coconut Strawberries?
Ingredients
Strawberry jello – This gives the strawberries their color and flavor. You can use other flavors, but shaping them to look like that fruit may be more difficult.
Sweetened condensed milk – This is used to glue the coconut and gelatin together.
Fine coconut – You want to use fine coconut as anything larger won’t give you the results you want.
Icing
Confectioners’ sugar – This is also called icing or powdered sugar.
Cream – This makes the sugar into icing; you only need a very small amount.
Green food coloring – This is used to color the icing for “leaves” and the toothpicks for the “stems”.
Toothpicks – Dipped in green food coloring to create the stem.
How to Make Aunt Lil’s Coconut Strawberries
Reserve 2 Tbsp. jello powder. In a large bowl, mix together the coconut, Jello and condensed milk. Chill mixture for 1 hour. Dip 24 toothpicks into green food coloring, dipping in about 1/2 way. Let dry on wax paper.
Shape the mixture into 24 strawberries and then roll in the reserved jello powder.
Mix together the confectioners’ sugar, cream, and food coloring. Swipe with the back of a spoon a little green top onto the strawberries and insert the toothpick. Refrigerate in a sealed container until ready to serve.
This recipe is very easy, actually, and for the strawberries themselves, there are only 3 ingredients. Strawberry Jello powder, coconut and sweetened condensed milk. The taste of these is delicious, a sugary treat that is retro-cool. If you have a sweet tooth, these will be right up your alley!! Not only are they pretty for the summer months, but they would be gorgeous on a Christmas tray, too.
I am very happy to pass this recipe down to you all to enjoy!! Have fun with it, and maybe someone in your family made them too, and it brings back memories for you!!
Serving Suggestions
These sweet treats are perfect for:
- Baby showers
- Bridal showers
- Valentine’s Day
- Easter celebrations
- Birthday parties
- Holiday cookie trays
- Homemade edible gifts
Recipe Pro Tips
Storage
Store Coconut Strawberries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For the best texture and flavor, serve them chilled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do these contain real strawberries?
No. The strawberry flavor comes from strawberry-flavored Jello powder, while the texture comes from coconut and sweetened condensed milk.
Can I use a different Jello flavor?
Yes! Raspberry, cherry, or watermelon gelatin will also work, though the candies may have a different flavor and color.
Can I freeze Coconut Strawberries?
Yes. Freeze them in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
LOVE HOMEMADE CANDY AND WANT MORE?
We love making homemade candy, and here are some of our favorites to make.
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Aunt Lil’s Coconut Strawberries
Video
Ingredients
- 6 oz. strawberry jello
- 1 10 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
- 14 oz. fine coconut
Icing
- 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar also called icing or powdered sugar
- 1 scant tsp. cream
- 4 drops green food coloring
- Toothpicks dipped in green food coloring
Instructions
- Reserve 2 Tbsp. jello powder. In a large bowl, mix together the coconut, Jello and condensed milk. Chill mixture for 1 hour. Dip 24 toothpicks into green food coloring, dipping in about 1/2 way. Let dry on wax paper.
- Shape the mixture into 24 strawberries and then roll in the reserved jello powder. Mix together the confectioners' sugar, cream and food coloring. Swipe with the back of a spoon a little green top onto the strawberries and insert the toothpick. Refrigerate in a sealed container until ready to serve.
Comments & Reviews
Ann says
My Aunt made these for weddings .I always wanted the recipe and now I have it .Hope they are as great as hers .Thanks for making me remember her as she is now in Heaven
Tara Noland says
I hope they are exactly the same for you and bring back memories.
Robyn says
Can I use carnation light coconut cream for this recipe?, instead of sweetened condensed milk?
Tara Noland says
I have not tried this and I don’t think it would be thick enough to use.