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Most special occasions and family gatherings wouldn’t be complete without this iconic Fresh Fruit Fluff Salad! It’s perfect for bridal showers, baby showers, birthdays, and holidays. Made with bright, fresh, and fun fruit that showcases the season’s best produce!
Table of Contents
- Fruit Fluff Salad Vs. Regular Fruit Salad
- Ingredients for Making Fluff Fruit Salad
- How to Make Fresh Fruit Fluff Salad
- Prep and Storage Tips for Fruit Fluff Salad
- Tips for Making the Best Fruit Fluff Salad Recipe
- What to Serve with Fresh Fruit Fluff Salad
- More Easy Fruit Salad Recipes
- Fresh Fruit Fluff Salad Recipe
When the weather warms up, and there’s fresh fruit abounds at the grocery store, there’s nothing I love more than tossing all of the tweet, juicy fresh fruits into a delicious and simple side dish that the whole family loves! Even if it’s just February, and even if it’s still FREEZING outside, a girl can dream…right?!
With acreamy lemon basethat is studded withfresh strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, pineapple,andmarshmallows,this fluffy fruit salad recipe is a perfect early-spring treat that pairs nicely with a holiday ham and looks beautiful on a party buffet. But even if it’s not springtime, I’ll show you how to make this simple recipeanytime of year.
Fruit Fluff Salad Vs. Regular Fruit Salad
Let’s be completely clear here: I use the term “salad”VERYloosely! In fact, I would really consider thisdish a dessertor asweet treat, but that’s why it’s so great for a holiday!
Regular fruit saladssimply consist of mixed fruit, sometimes with a little syrup or orange juice. This salad has been taken up a notch withwhipped topping and marshmallows. There are many different ways to make fruit salad fluff. You’ve got aclassic Ambrosia salad recipeandWatergate salad, both made with a variety of fresh fruits, whipped topping, and some crunchy, flavorful add-ins. Then you have the more single-fruit-focused fluffy salads, likecranberry fluff saladororange fluff salad.
If you’re a fan of creamy fruit salad, this is definitely the recipe for you! Anything goes when it’s time to celebrate, and nothing makes a child (or a kid-at-heart) more excited than seeing a salad on the table that’s chock-full of marshmallows! It’s fun, it’s absolutely delicious, and it couldn’t be easier to prepare!
Ingredients for Making Fluff Fruit Salad
Below is an overview of the simple ingredients needed to make this easy recipe. You can find the complete recipe with instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
- Fresh Fruit: I use fresh strawberries, blueberries, and kiwi in this fruit salad fluff.
- Crushed Pineapple: the only canned fruit I use; but you can easily sub in fresh pineapple if you choose. Just chop it up into small pieces.
- Lemon Juice: fresh-squeezed lemon juice brightens up the fresh fruit.
- Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix: adds the perfect touch of sweet vanilla flavor to the recipe.
- Mini-Marshmallows: light and fluffy bursts of sweetness in every bite.
- Pecans: adds texture, crunch, and a hint of salt to balance out all the sweetness.
- Whipped Topping: I use Cool Whip Free, but any variety of creamy Cool Whip will work.
What other fruits can I add to fruit fluff salad?
The sky’s the limit as far as fruits you can add to fruit fluff salad, but if you’re going with fresh fruit, you really want to pick fruit that’s in season. In the spring and summer months, that includes mangoes, pears, apples, and bananas. You could include fresh berries like blackberries and raspberries (also best in the summer), or stone fruits like peaches.
If you’re making this fruit fluff in the fall or winter months, look for fruits like pomegranate, grapes, and cranberries. Mandarin oranges and tangerines are also great in the cooler months.
How to Make Fresh Fruit Fluff Salad
This easy fruit salad could not be more simple to toss together. Aside from the (minimal) chopping involved, it takes about five minutes to toss everything together in a bowl.
- Mixthe sliced strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, and drained crushed pineapple chunks together in a large bowl.
- Addthe fresh lemon juice, instant vanilla pudding mix (justthe powdered mix), pecans, and mini marshmallows.
- Stiruntil all the ingredients are combined and coated with the pudding mix.
- Foldin the whipped topping.
- Chillthe fresh fruit fluff for at least 1 hour before serving.
Can I use canned fruit co*cktail in this fruit fluff recipe?
The reason this fruit fluff salad recipe is a family favorite is because it’s made with fresh fruit that’s bright, crisp, and sweet. However, if you’re craving fruit salad during a time of year when your favorite fruits aren’t in their prime, then yes, you can use classic fruit co*cktail mix! Just make sure to drain it well before adding it to the salad.
If you want a more fruity salad, you can add a can of fruit co*cktail in addition to all the fresh fruit as well. Classic fruit co*cktail contains pears, peaches, grapes, and maraschino cherries.
How do you keep fruit salad from getting watery?
When cut and mixed with other ingredients, the fruit will naturally release juices. It’s okay if your fruit salad gets a little watery after a day or so. However, if you want to prevent excessively watery fruit salad, make sure to rinse, drain, and dry the fresh fruit well before mixing with the other ingredients. Make sure to drain all the juice from the crushed pineapple (use a strainer for best results).
Should fruit fluff salad be served cold or at room temperature?
While this fruit salad recipe can be served immediately, it’s much better after it’s been chilled for at least an hour. The integrity and flavor of the salad will last much longer when served chilled, especially if you plan on serving it outdoors or indoors on a warm day.
Prep and Storage Tips for Fruit Fluff Salad
- Make Ahead: You can make this fruit fluff salad recipe up to a day ahead of time, and it will taste just as great the next day.
- Storage: Fruit salad fluff should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days for the best taste.
- Freezing: I wouldnotrecommend freezing fruit fluff. Even though whipped topping comes frozen, once you add the fruit mixture, the texture will change, and it won’t be appetizing.
Tips for Making the Best Fruit Fluff Salad Recipe
- If you’re using Cool Whip, make sure to thaw it in advance. I loveCool Whip Free– the fat free version – but any variety will work in this recipe.
- You can omit the mini marshmallows if you’re not a fan. I’d recommend adding more of one of the fruits to make up for the missing ingredient.
- If you don’t like pecans, you can swap them out for another chopped nut – try walnuts or pistachios!
- Add extra texture with additional mix-ins like coconut flakes, cottage cheese, or chopped maraschino cherries.
What to Serve with Fresh Fruit Fluff Salad
This tasty treat is perfect as a side dish or sweet dessert after a meal.The fun mini marshmallows, sweet fresh fruit, and smooth creamy base make for the perfect mixture of flavors and textures. It’s always a crowd favorite when served at our house! Here are some dishes to pair easy fruit fluff salad with:
- Grilled Hamburgers
- Cheeseburger Casserole
- 3-Ingredient Grilled Beer Brats
- Grilled BBQ Pork Chops
- BBQ Chicken Wrap
- BLT Sandwich with Basil Mayo
More Easy Fruit Salad Recipes
Honey Lemon Fruit Salad Recipe
Cranberry Fluff {Just 5 Minutes!}
Mint Julep Fruit Salad
Pink Ambrosia Salad
Prep: 10 minutes minutes
Cook: 0 minutes minutes
Refrigeration Time 1 hour hour
Total: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
Servings 8 (1/2-cup servings)
Calories 191 kcal
This fresh fruit fluff salad recipe is made with sweet, juicy fruit and a creamy vanilla whipped topping. It's simple, classic, and perfect for just about any special occasion!
Ingredients
- ½ cup sliced strawberries
- ½ cup blueberries
- 2 kiwi, peeled and sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple in juice, drained
- 1 pkg (3.4 oz) vanilla instant pudding mix
- 1 cup mini-marshmallows
- ½ cup (2.25 ounces) chopped pecans
- 1 ½ cups thawed whipped topping (I used Cool Whip Free)
Instructions
Mix first 8 ingredients (strawberries through pecans) in large bowl until well blended.
Gently fold in whipped topping. Refrigerate 1 hour.
Notes
- Make Ahead: You can make this fruit fluff salad recipe up to a day ahead of time, and it will taste just as great the next day.
- Storage: Fruit salad fluff should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days for the best taste.
- Freezing: I wouldnotrecommend freezing fruit fluff. Even though whipped topping comes frozen, once you add the fruit mixture, the texture will change, and it won’t be appetizing.
- If you’re using Cool Whip, make sure to thaw it in advance. I loveCool Whip Free– the fat free version – but any variety will work in this recipe.
- You can omit the mini marshmallows if you’re not a fan. I’d recommend adding more of one of the fruits to make up for the missing ingredient.
- If you don’t like pecans, you can swap them out for another chopped nut – try walnuts or pistachios!
- Add extra texture with additional mix-ins like coconut flakes, cottage cheese, or chopped maraschino cherries.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 191kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 1gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 92mgPotassium: 173mgFiber: 2gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 45IUVitamin C: 30.7mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 0.4mg
Keyword: fruit fluff, fruit salad
Course: Appetizer, Dessert, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Author: Blair Lonergan
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