Get ready for a real treat with this easy Fruit Salad with Cool Whip and Pudding! Juicy, sweet fruit is combined with a creamy dressing made with vanilla pudding, Cool Whip, and pineapple juice. This salad comes together in minutes and will be a crowd-pleaser at your next barbecue or potluck! Your whole family will love it!
Well, friends, I'm super excited to share this recipe for this creamy salad, aka fruit fluff. This is a special side dish that I love to make all year long.
This salad is just as likely to appear on the holiday table at Christmas and Easter as it is for summer picnics and barbecues. I serve it at any family dinner; I don't wait for a special occasion.
This old-fashioned recipe is a family favorite and a real crowd-pleaser. Everyone loves the delicious combination of flavors, textures, and colors, and I never have leftovers.
The creamy whipped topping provides a richness that melds everything together with its light fluffiness. And the vanilla pudding mix gives it an extra sweetness that takes it over the top!
It makes the perfect side salad or light dessert.
The best part about this easy dessert salad recipe is that you can use whatever fruit you have on hand. I've made it with kiwi, blueberries, peaches, apples, and oranges.
You can even switch up the flavor of the pudding. Banana pudding and lemon pudding are especially delicious.
This is one of the quickest recipes you can make, and I guarantee your entire family will love it!
For another fruity treat, try my Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizza With Cream Cheese Frosting!
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😃 Why You Will Love This Recipe
- It is a super simple recipe. This vanilla pudding fruit salad requires no cooking or baking, it is just a no-fuss recipe. The hardest part is chopping up the fruit!
- It's sweet and creamy. The combination of Cool Whip, instant pudding, and pineapple juice creates a delicious dressing that pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the fruit.
- It comes together in minutes. With just a few ingredients, this salad is ready in no time! Perfect for when you need something quick and easy to bring to an event.
- It's a crowd-pleaser. Everyone loves the combination of fresh fruit and sweet flavors - it goes over especially well with kids! Plus, its presentation is sure to wow your guests!
- You can use different fruit. The best part of this recipe is you can use whichever fruit you have on hand. You can also use blueberries, kiwi, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, peaches, or apples.
- This is a versatile recipe. In addition to using different fruit, you can use different pudding flavors as well, or even top it with shredded coconut!
🍌 Ingredient Notes
The ingredients for this easy fruit salad recipe are very straightforward and can easily be found at your local grocery store. Remember, use any fruit you would like.
- Cool Whip: This prepared whipped topping adds a light and airy texture. I used regular Cool Whip, but you can also use reduced-fat Cool Whip.
- Vanilla Instant pudding powder: This gives richness and flavor and thickens the dressing. You can try different pudding flavors - some tasty ones are banana and lemon.
- Canned pineapple with juice: You will love the flavor of the pineapple, and the juice makes the dressing so delicious.
- Strawberries: Strawberries provide an extra dose of sweetness and juicy texture.
- Raspberries: Raspberries add a tartness that balances out the other flavors.
- Grapes: Grapes are an essential part of any fruit salad, bringing even more sweetness and interesting texture variations.
- Bananas: Bananas lend creaminess and thickness to this salad, making it even more delicious!
See the printable recipe card for exact measurements and a full list of ingredients.
🥣 How To Make This Delicious Fruit Salad
Drain the can of pineapple tidbits and pour the pineapple juice into a large bowl.
Add the vanilla instant pudding powder. Mix with a whisk until smooth and creamy.
Add the Cool Whip and mix with a whisk until smooth.
Slice the strawberries, raspberries, grapes, and bananas into bite-sized pieces and add them to the bowl.
Carefully fold everything together until combined, being careful not to mash up any of the fruit.
Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill for one hour before serving.
Enjoy!
🤩 Expert Tips
- Thaw the Cool Whip. Take the Cool Whip out of the freezer about an hour before you want to make the recipe.
- Drain the pineapple well. Draining off the juice first to make the dressing will help ensure your salad doesn't become watered down.
- Use ripe fruit: Ripe fruits have more flavor and sweetness. Use any of your favorite fruits you have on hand.
- Stir gently: Gently stirring the mix will help to combine the ingredients without mashing up the fruit, resulting in a light and fluffy salad.
- Chill before serving: Allowing the flavors to meld together will make for a more flavorful dish.
- Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon. If you love cinnamon, sprinkle a bit on the salad before serving.
❓ Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use whipped cream instead of cool whip for fruit salad. However, whipped cream is much lighter and can easily become watery if not eaten immediately after being mixed into the salad.
Fruit salad with Cool Whip is typically good for up to two days when stored in the refrigerator. However, some fruits oxidize quickly and can go bad even faster if left out at room temperature. To maintain freshness, store it in an airtight container or wrap it and refrigerate it as soon as possible.
No, you should not freeze fruit salad with Cool Whip. Some of the fruits may become mushy when thawed. The best option is to enjoy your fruit salad within two days of making it.
Yes, you can use sugar-free instant vanilla pudding instead of regular pudding in this fruit salad recipe. The sugar-free pudding will still create a creamy base, while also cutting out some extra sugar. However, the flavor may be slightly different, and the consistency might be slightly thinner than regular pudding.
No, this recipe is not the same as ambrosia salad. Ambrosia salad usually includes additional ingredients such as mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, and shredded coconut. Also, it is often served with whipped topping instead of Cool Whip.
Yes, you can make this recipe ahead of time. For best results, it is best to prepare the fruit ahead of time and keep it in an airtight container. Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl right before serving. This helps to keep the Cool Whip from getting too runny and prevents the fruit from turning brown or becoming mushy.
🍓 More Easy Fruit Recipes You'll Love
If you like this post on this easy Fruit Salad with Cool Whip and Pudding recipe, please take a moment to rate the recipe 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and leave a comment below with your thoughts!
📋 Recipe
Fruit Salad with Cool Whip and Pudding
Equipment
- Whisk
Ingredients
- 1 8 oz Cool Whip or 1 L
- 1 package Instant Vanilla Pudding 3.4 oz or 102 g
- 1 can pineapple chunks/tidbits with juice 20 oz or 540 mL
- 1 cup strawberries sliced in half
- 1 cup raspberries
- ½ cup green grapes sliced in half
- ½ cup red grapes sliced in half
- 2 medium bananas sliced
Instructions
- Pour the pineapple juice into a large mixing bowl. Add the instant pudding powder. Mix with a whisk until smooth and creamy. Add the Cool Whip and mix with a whisk until smooth.
- Next, add strawberries, raspberries, bananas, pineapple, and grapes to the bowl. Carefully mix with a large spoon until combined.
- Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill for one hour before serving.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Thaw the Cool Whip. Take the Cool Whip out of the freezer about an hour before you want to make the recipe.
- Drain the pineapple well. Draining off the juice first to make the dressing will help ensure your salad doesn't become watered down.
- Use ripe fruit: Ripe fruits have more flavor and sweetness. Use your favorite fruits
- Stir gently: Gently stirring the mix will help to combine the ingredients without mashing up the fruit, resulting in a light and fluffy salad.
- Chill before serving: Allowing the flavors to meld together will make for a more flavorful dish.
- Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon. If you love cinnamon, sprinkle a bit on the salad before serving.
Elizabeth Souder
I noticed that you didn't use the pineapple, just the juice?
Jeri Walker
Yes, you use the pineapple chunks as well. They are added with the rest of the fruit. 😊
Bradford
It was easy to make and the guests loved it and even asked for the recipe. I thought it needed a little more flavor. I had used the Lemon instant pudding. I added a part of a package of lemon jello. I just sprinkled it over it and stirred it in. It did add to the flavor.
Jeri Walker
Thank you for sharing your experience with the recipe, Bradford! I'm glad to hear you found it easy to make - and I'm so glad your guests enjoyed it! I appreciate your feedback regarding the flavor and your creative solution of adding lemon Jello to enhance it - that's definitely a great variation! Thank you again for trying the recipe and for taking the time to come back to comment! 🙂
Sally
New family favorite for Easter!
Jeri Walker
I'm so glad you liked it! 🙂
Tonna
Can this be made the day before?
Jeri Walker
Hi, Tonna. Great question! You can prepare the fruit the day before and store it separately in an airtight container (except for the banana - it will turn brown). However, for best results, I would mix the dressing on the day you plan to serve it - otherwise, it may get runny.
Barbara
Just the salad I’m looking for. Easy to make and tastes so good
Jeri Walker
I'm so glad you like the fruit salad, Barbara! It's one of my favorites! Thanks for taking the time to come back and comment! 🙂