Prepare the Crust
Bake the frozen pie crust according to the package instructions, typically around 10-12 minutes at 375°F or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool completely. The crust must be completely cooled before adding the strawberries.
Prepare the Strawberries
Rinse the fresh strawberries thoroughly under cool water. Remove the green tops and pat the berries dry with paper towels. If some berries are particularly large, you can cut them in half, but don't slice them too small. Keep most berries whole for the authentic look and texture of the pie.
Arrange the Strawberries
Place the prepared strawberries in the cooled pie crust, pointed sides up for an attractive presentation. Arrange them so they fit snugly together, filling the entire pie shell. You can place them in concentric circles starting from the outside and working your way in for the prettiest appearance.
Make the Glaze Base
In a small saucepan, combine the water, cornstarch, and sugar. Whisk together until the cornstarch is fully dissolved with no lumps. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Once the mixture comes to a full boil and has thickened slightly (about 1-2 minutes of boiling), remove from heat.
Finish the Glaze
Immediately add the strawberry gelatin to the hot cornstarch mixture and whisk until completely dissolved, about 1-2 minutes. Set the glaze aside and allow it to cool to room temperature. This cooling step is crucial - if the glaze is too hot when poured over the berries, they will cook slightly and lose their fresh appearance and texture.
Apply the Glaze
Once the glaze has cooled to room temperature (but before it starts to set), carefully pour it over the strawberries in the pie crust. Use a spoon to drizzle the glaze over any berries that weren't covered, ensuring all strawberries have at least a light coating of glaze. The glaze should fill in all the spaces between the berries.
Chill the Pie
Carefully transfer the pie to the refrigerator. Chill for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight, until the glaze is completely set and firm. The gelatin needs this time to fully set up for the perfect sliceable consistency.
Serve
When ready to serve, slice the pie into portions and top each slice with a dollop of whipped cream or whipped topping if desired. For the authentic experience, a generous amount of whipped cream is traditional. If using, add a small mint leaf for garnish.