Cool Whip Fruit Salad
A quick and crowd-pleasing fruit salad with a mix of canned and fresh fruits, instant pudding, and Cool Whip for a light, fluffy texture.
Ingredients
Fruity base
- 20 oz can pineapple tidbits (with juice)
- 15 oz can fruit cocktail, drained
- 10.5 oz jar mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
- 6 oz jar stemless maraschino cherries, halved
- 2 cups mini white marshmallows
Creamy mixture
- 3.4 oz box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 8 oz tub Cool Whip, thawed Use sugar-free for a lighter version.
Instructions
Preparation
- In a large mixing bowl, pour in the canned pineapple with its juice. Sprinkle the instant vanilla pudding mix over the pineapple and stir until the pudding begins to thicken (about 1–2 minutes).
- Add the drained fruit cocktail and drained mandarin oranges. Gently fold to combine.
- Stir in the sliced strawberries and halved maraschino cherries carefully.
- Fold in the mini marshmallows for added texture.
- Gently fold in the thawed Cool Whip until evenly coated. Avoid overmixing.
Chill
- Cover and chill for at least 1 hour before serving to enhance flavors.
- Serve cold.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Best eaten within 48 hours for optimal texture.