Creamy Fruit Salad with Cool Whip is a side dish delight. Fresh and canned fruit, pudding, and Cool Whip (or fresh whipped cream) combine to create Grandma’s favorite fruit salad recipe.
Growing up, my Grandma always mixed fruit with whipped cream or Cool Whip. It takes 5 minutes of prep and is the perfect sweet side dish or dessert for weeknights!
Aimee’s Recipe Notes
Taste: Creamy whipped cream with fresh and canned fruit. Pudding creates a thicker texture.
Add protein: Puree 1/2 cup of cottage cheese and add it to the pudding mixture for extra protein.
Budget friendly: This side dish is perfect all year long because you incorporate more canned fruits which are available year round.
Prep Note: Assemble salad in the morning to serve at dinner. You can be make it up to 24 hours in advance.
Yield: Easily double the recipe for a group!
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make this fruit salad recipe with cool whip, you may already have many of these ingredients in your pantry. Use the list below as a guide, and scroll down to the recipe card for full measurements.
- Canned Fruit- I use a combination of mandarin oranges and fruit cocktail. Use YOUR favorite: canned peaches, pears, maraschino cherries, and pineapple tidbits are delicious options.
- Vanilla Pudding Mix- Use instant vanilla pudding with the liquid from the canned mandarin oranges. Mix it up to create a thick pudding. Be sure to avoid the cook and serve pudding mix.
- Fresh Fruit- I love strawberries and bananas, but adding in blueberries, grapes, and fresh melon is also wonderful. Use what is in season.
- Cool Whip Whipped Topping- my Grandma always used Cool Whip. Not a fan of Cool Whip? Swap it out with my stabilized whipped cream or classic homemade whipped cream.
More Options: Add mini marshmallows with coconut and you’ll get a similar taste like my Ambrosia Salad.
How to Make Fruit Salad with Cool Whip
Combine the Fruit.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the canned and fresh fruit. Be sure to save the liquid from the canned mandarin oranges.
- Whisk the reserved liquid from the oranges with Instant vanilla pudding mix. Pour over the fruit.
Add the Cool Whip.
- Whether you choose fruit salad with whipped cream or Cool Whip is up to you!
- Fold it into the fruit and pudding mixture gently.
Cool Whip Fruit Salad Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Be sure to drain the canned fruit well before adding to the bowl. The extra moisture can make the fruit salad recipe extra watery.
- Toast pecans to add to the cool whip fruit salad for extra crunch. Walnuts would also make a delicious addition.
- Storage: Keep the fruit salad with cool whip in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Easy Salads and Side Dishes
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Cool Whip Fruit Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 can 15 ounce, mandarin oranges, do not drain
- 3 ounce package Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
- 2 bananas, sliced
- 1 cup sliced (or diced) fresh strawberries
- 2 cans (15 ounce each) fruit cocktail, drained
- 8 ounce Cool Whip, thawed
Instructions
- In a small bowl, drain mandarin oranges, saving the juice. Add the package of vanilla pudding mix to the mandarin orange juice and whisk together. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
- In a bowl, combine the mandarin oranges, sliced bananas, diced (or sliced) strawberries, and two cans of drained fruit cocktail.
- Add the cold pudding mixture to the fruit, and fold gently until combined. Finally, fold in the Cool Whip.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Be sure to drain all the fruit well, extra juices make a difference.
- Puree 1/2 cup of cottage cheese and fold it into the fruit salad for protein and texture.
- Want a crunch? Add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or slivered almonds.
- Swap the fruit– make this your own with your favorite fruits. Today’s version is my grandma’s favorite, but using fresh pineapple, kiwi, berries, and mango instead of the canned fruit.
- Make ahead– you can prep the ingredients separately the night before, but this dessert salad is best served fresh.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The Cool Whip may get a little weepy, but it will still taste wonderful.
