If you grew up eyeing that shiny Shoney's strawberry pie like it was the crown jewel of the dessert case, this one's for you. Fresh berries, a sweet old-fashioned Jell-O glaze, and a buttery crust come together in a copycat pie that tastes like summer and small-town restaurants with sticky menus. It's simple, showy, and about as close to summer on a fork as you're gonna get.
🍓 Is this copycat Shoney's strawberry pie recipe for you?
This one's got your name on it if you:
- miss those old-school diner desserts that sat in the case looking shiny and smug
- want an easy strawberry pie that looks impressive without requiring a spiritual journey
- have fresh strawberries and a box of Jell-O giving you meaningful eye contact
- like old-fashioned desserts that don't require six bowls and a breakdown
- love retro recipes with Jell-O in them and refuse to apologize for it
- believe whipped cream belongs on pie in generous, borderline reckless amounts
This simple no-bake strawberry pie is just how I remember it from Shoney's Big Boy. Giant, ripe berries, sweet Jello glaze, and a buttery crust that created a shower of flakes with every bite.
🧾 Ingredients for the best Shoney's strawberry pie
The ingredient list is short, sweet, and blessedly free of nonsense. Fresh strawberries do the heavy lifting, and Jell-O steps in like the loud aunt who always makes the party better.
- Unbaked pastry crust: I usually use my easy, homemade food processor pie crust, because of course I do, but store-bought works just fine. Want this to be truly no-bake? Use a graham cracker or shortbread crust and call it a day.
- Fresh strawberries: Fresh is best here. Frozen will work if you're in a bind, but thaw them completely and drain them well unless you're in the mood for watery pie sadness.
- Sugar: Plain granulated sugar. This is not the moment for experiments, life coaching, or sugar substitutes.
- Strawberry Jell-O: This is what gives the pie that glossy red diner-case magic. I haven't tested sugar-free, so I can't promise it won't act up. You can swap in raspberry gelatin and berries if you want to stir the pot a little.
- Cornstarch: This thickens the glaze and keeps the whole thing from turning into strawberry soup in a crust. Don't skip it, and no, there's not a great substitute.
Be sure to download the free Shoney's Strawberry Pie kitchen cheat sheet with tips, faqs, storage, and more.
📖 Recipe
Shoney's Strawberry Pie Recipe
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 2 cups strawberries, washed, hulled, and sliced
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 ¼ cup water
- 3 ounce box strawberry gelatin
- 1 9-inch pie crust, store bought or homemade
Instructions
- Blind bake the crust with pie weights or according to instructions (usually 350F for 15 - 20 minutes).
- Let cool.
- Place berries in the pie crust. Set aside.
- Mix the sugar, cornstarch, and water in a heavy saucepan. Stir until all the cornstarch is dissolved.
- Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Cook until thick and clear.
- Remove from heat and stir in the gelatin until all the crystals are dissolved.
- Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Pour carefully over the berries in the pie crust.
- Refrigerate pie, covered, at least 4 hours or overnight.
Notes
- Wash the berries the day before and let them dry. That way you aren't adding extra liquid to the pie and making the filling watery.
- You can tell that the Jello is fully dissolved by putting some in a spoon, dipping your finger in and rubbing the glaze between your fingers. If you don't feel any crystals then you're good to go.
- Some people leave the berries whole and put them in the crust with the pointy end up. This makes it hard to eat, in my opinion, but you can try it and see if you like it that way.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
Love this recipe?
Subscribe to the free membership group and never miss another recipe!
🔪 How to make this easy strawberry pie
Prep the berries
- Stem and slice fresh strawberries.
- Place berries in the baked pie shell. Set aside.
- Refrigerate pie, covered, at least 4 hours or overnight.
Make the glaze
- Mix the sugar, cornstarch, and water in a heavy saucepan.
- Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Cook until thick and clear.
- You can leave a "track" on the back of a spoon with your finger when it's thick enough. That's your cue that the glaze is thick enough to set properly.
- Remove from heat and stir in the gelatin until all the crystals are dissolved.
Assemble and chill the pie
- Pour carefully over the berries in the baked pie crust.
- Refrigerate pie, covered, at least 4 hours or overnight
😱 What can go wrong (and how to fix it)
🍓 Runny glaze
If the glaze doesn't cook long enough, it won't set right. It should be thick and clear before you stir in the Jell-O.
🍓 Watery pie
Wet strawberries will water this down fast. Wash them ahead of time and let them dry well before using.
🍓 Soggy crust
If the crust isn't fully baked and cooled before you add the berries and glaze, things can get soft in a sad way.
🍓 Jell-O crystals in the glaze
Stir until every bit is dissolved. Gritty strawberry pie is not a vintage charm. It's a cry for help.
🍓 Cutting it too soon
This pie needs time to chill and set. Rush it, and you'll be serving strawberry slump instead of strawberry pie. Still delicious just not very pretty.
👩🏻🍳 FAQs
Yes. This copycat Shoney's strawberry pie uses strawberry Jell-O in the glaze, which gives it that glossy finish and old-fashioned flavor people remember.
Some older strawberry pie recipes use Sprite or 7-Up in the glaze, but this version uses water for a more reliable set. If you want that old soda-shop variation, it can work, but I haven't tested it for this recipe.
📚 More strawberry recipes
If you're still in a strawberry state of mind, Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream Cake brings all that old-school Good Humor bar energy in the best possible way. Fresh Strawberry and Cream Tart leans a little fancier, with a sweet crust, creamy filling, and enough pretty to make people think you had your life together. And Strawberry Chantilly Cake? Soft cake, fluffy frosting, and fresh strawberries stacked up like it knows it's the favorite.
If you want a whipped topping that holds up like a champ, give my copycat Cool Whip a try. It's got the texture of whipped cream, but it stays stable in the fridge for days. It goes great with strawberry rhubarb pie, too!
If this Shoney's strawberry pie took you back to your favorite Big Boy booth, give it five stars ★★★★★ and tell me your favorite thing on the menu. I bet it wasn't the salad bar. 😉
🎧 Press play for the shoney's strawberry pie recipe
Want the short and sweet version? Hit play and I'll talk you through this nostalgic no-bake dessert-plus a quick stopover in Picklefork, Texas, where the drama's as sticky as the glaze and the pie is even easier than you remember.
.
Helen Reynolds says
Marye
This recipe looks delicious! Can’t wait to make it. I have a lot of. Family members that would love it! Thank you for all your great recipes 💗
Shelia Hall says
this sounds so delicious and easy to make!