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    Home » Recipes » Dessert Salads

    Fruit Salad with Cool Whip

    By: Jessica · Posted: Aug 5, 2021 · Updated: Dec 16, 2024 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

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    Jump to Recipe 10 comments
    5 from 33 votes
    Fruit Salad with Cool Whip

    This fruit salad with Cool Whip is not only an easy dessert salad to whip up for a potluck but it’s great to snack on during the week! Use canned fruits, Cool Whip, and marshmallows to create this dessert fluff salad in only 5 minutes!

    Looking for a dip to serve fruit with? This Cool Whip Fruit Dip may be more of what you’re looking for!

    Fruit Salad with Cool Whip

     

    The summer months tend to bring on a special occasion where you want to take a side dish or dessert recipe along with you! And things like BBQs, outdoor parties, birthday celebrations, church potlucks, and more, are usually events where guests are asked to bring their favorite recipes.

    This easy fruit salad (or dessert fluff or marshmallow fruit salad – whatever you want to call it!) would be the perfect fit for all of your easy recipe, “to-go”, needs, even for the holidays!

    This recipe is in a close running for our family favorite Snicker Salad, honey lime fruit salad and Pistachio Salad for any family gathering, so I’ll let you decide which one is best!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • Top Tips
    • Related Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Ingredients

    Although you can use all fresh fruits for this recipe, using some canned fruit is convenient, and much faster! (Save the fresh fruit for this fruit board with fruit dip!)

    You can take out what you may not want and you can add in other fruits! It’s a flexible creamy fruit salad recipe so you can change things up as you prefer!

    Ingredients for fruit salad with cool whip
    • Container of Cool Whip
    • jar Maraschino cherries
    • seedless green grapes
    • mini marshmallows
    • can mandarin oranges (we also use these in our Orange Fluff Salad)
    • can pineapple tidbits
    • Optional topping – shredded sweetened coconut flakes

    See the full recipe card below for quantities and full instructions for this old-fashioned recipe.

    Instructions

    1. Add the Cool Whip in to a large bowl.
    Cool whip in bowl
    1. Next, add reserved Maraschino cherry juice, then fold gently until combined.
    Cool whip and cherry juice in glass bowl.
    Reserved maraschino cherry juice.
    Cool Whip with cherry juice mixed, in glass mixing bowl.
    Stir to combine cherry juice.
    1. Next, add in fruit and marshmallows.
    Cherries added to Cool Whip mixture in mixing bowl.
    Add Cherries
    Remaining fruit and marshmallows added to mixing bowl.
    Add in other ingredients.
    Ingredients mixed together to make fruit salad with Cool Whip.
    Stir to combine.

    Once combined, you can serve right away or you can refrigerate for later!

    Fruit Salad with Cool Whip

    Substitutions

    If there are ingredients or different fruit that you’d like to take out or add, you can do so very easily! Here are some other suggestions that we love!

    • fresh strawberries (or other fresh berries)
    • cream cheese
    • pudding mix (like the vanilla pudding mix we used in this apple dessert salad)
    • crushed pineapple instead of wedges
    • canned fruit cocktail (make sure to drain if already using cherry juice)
    • pineapple juice instead of cherry juice (but I LOVE the color the cherry juice gives this recipe!)
    • sour cream (for a more tart flavor – you may want to add some other sweetness to help offset the “sour”.)
    • cottage cheese (it adds a great texture to a salad like this)
    • whipped topping or homemade whipped cream instead of Cool Whip
    • vanilla yogurt
    • flavored mini marshmallows
    Fruit Salad with Cool Whip on a spoon

    Variations

    Although this recipe is delicious without it, you can top it off with shredded sweetened coconut flakes for some added texture and flavor for summer!

    Storage

    If you have leftovers of this delicious fruit salad, you can store it in an airtight container or cover it with plastic wrap, and store in the refrigerator for up to three days.

    Shredded coconut on top of fruit salad

    Top Tips

    Is Fruit Salad with Cool Whip the same as Ambrosia Salad?

    Yes! Although there are different variations, the two are very similar and commonly called both.

    Can I use homemade whipped cream instead of Cool Whip for fruit salad?

    You can! You can use any kind of plain whipped topping from the store or you can make your own. However the texture of the Cool Whip tends to be more airy and not as heavy, which is what makes this salad so light and fluffy.

    Can I make fruit salad in advance?

    Yes! If planning to take this to a party or gathering, it’s easy to make this a day in advance if desired. Just chill until ready to serve!

    Related Recipes

    If you love easy, no-bake desserts, you’ll also love this Oreo Pudding Dessert, peanut butter yogurt dip and this No Bake Peanut Butter Pie that are crowd-pleasers!

    Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!

    Recipe

    fruit salad in gray bowl

    Fruit Salad with Cool Whip

    Jessica Burgess
    This Fruit Salad with Cool Whip (or Ambrosia Salad) is not only an easy dessert but you can use canned fruits to create this dessert fluff salad in only 5 minutes!
    5 from 33 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 0 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 246 kcal

    Ingredients

    • 8 ounces Cool Whip
    • 10 ounces maraschino cherries whole, reserve 3 tablespoons of juice, then drain
    • 1 cup seedless green grapes halved
    • 2 cups miniature marshmallows
    • 10.5 ounces can mandarin orange segments drained
    • 10 ounces can pineapple tidbits drained
    • ⅔ cup shredded sweetened coconut optional

    Instructions
     

    • Add Cool Whip and reserved Maraschino cherry juice to a large mixing bowl, then fold gently until combined.
    • Add cherries, grapes, marshmallows, orange segments, and pineapple tidbits to the bowl.
    • Toss gently until well mixed and coated.
    • Add optional topping then serve or refrigerate!

    Notes

    Is Fruit Salad with Cool Whip the same as Ambrosia Salad?
    Yes! Although there are different variations, the two are very similar and commonly called both.
    Can I use homemade whipped cream instead of cool whip?
    You can! You can use any kind of plain whipped topping from the store or you can make your own. However the texture of the Cool Whip tends to be more airy and not as heavy, which is what makes this salad so light and fluffy.
    Can I make fruit salad in advance?
    Yes! If planning to take this to a party or gathering, it’s easy to make this a day in advance if desired. Just chill until ready to serve!
    How do I store leftovers?
    If you have leftovers of this delicious fruit salad, you can store it in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap for up to 3-days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 36mg | Potassium: 223mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 349IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

    Keywords canned fruit salad, dessert fluff, fruit salad with cool whip
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Comments

      5 from 33 votes (29 ratings without comment)

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    1. Liz says

      April 20, 2023 at 3:52 pm

      5 stars
      I had the kids in our co-op class help make this salad and they loved it!! They couldn’t eat it fast enough!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        April 21, 2023 at 9:51 am

        What a great idea to make this for kids! I know my kids love it too. Thank you for sharing and for the review!

        Reply
    2. Mary says

      August 27, 2022 at 10:38 am

      Hi there I always use Dream Whip it holds up way better in this and the same in anything that call’s for anything that call’s for a whipped topping.

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        August 27, 2022 at 11:06 am

        Hi Mary! This is a great tip! Thank you so much for sharing. We’ll have to dry Dream Whip too!

        Reply
    3. Valentina says

      August 05, 2021 at 1:18 pm

      5 stars
      This creamy fruit salad recipe is such a delicious dessert to enjoy during the summer! Also, a great dessert to bring to parties! LOVE this recipe.

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        August 05, 2021 at 9:43 pm

        I totally agree! The perfect make-ahead party dessert for sure!

        Reply
    4. April says

      August 05, 2021 at 12:40 pm

      5 stars
      This is like ambrosia salad, which I love! Such a great recipe, definitely bringing it to our next party with friends.

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        August 05, 2021 at 9:44 pm

        YES!! I didn’t realize what ambrosia salad was until recently! We’ve always just called it fruit salad with cool whip! Haha!!

        Reply
    5. Natalie says

      August 05, 2021 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      Fruit dip is a must with a lot of our meals! My kids absolutely love it!! It’s a delicious way to get in a ton of fruit!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        August 05, 2021 at 9:45 pm

        This is such a great way to think about it and such a fun idea! It’s like dessert but getting their fruits in too!! Genius!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Jessica! - Owner and Creator of the blog and brand, Fantabulosity.

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