Dessert salads tend to fall into two categories – fluff or fruit.
But these incredible recipes prove there’s so much more to this unique treat.
Yes, there’s plenty of fruit in this list of over 20 creative dishes, but I’ll bet you’ve never tasted these flavorful fruit fusions.
From the tropical flavors of pineapple and mango to the summery taste of fresh berries, these fruity combinations will have you drooling.
Light and fruity, or sinfully delicious, these dessert salads are the perfect way to round off a meal.
1. Ambrosia Salad
This creamy fruit salad has a bit of everything.
Chunks of fresh fruit are nestled amid tiny marshmallows and dressed up with yogurt, cherries, and pecans.
It’s crunchy, juicy, sweet, and refreshing all at once. Your tastebuds may not know what’s going on, but your belly will be very happy.
2. Fruit Salad
You can’t beat the classics. Especially this classic fruit salad, which plays with a variety of delicious tastes and textures.
It’s a bright bowlful, loaded with colorful kiwis, berries, mandarins, and more.
Add a swirl of peach pie filling and you’ll have a crave-worthy dessert the whole family will love.
3. Watergate Salad
Also known as pistachio fluff or Syracuse cake, this salad is a time-honored potluck favorite.
You’ll need pistachio pudding, canned pineapples, whipped topping, pecans, and marshmallows. It’s crazy good and comes together in minutes.
Simply dump all the ingredients into a bowl, stir, and chill!
4. Mandarin Orange Jello Salad
This dessert salad is like a little burst of sunshine! Add it to any gathering for a special treat.
The sweet and creamy orange jello base comes studded with juicy mandarin oranges and pineapple.
Take a bite and you can’t help but smile.
5. Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Crunchy, sweet, and creamy – I’m a little bit in love with this dreamy salad.
Made with bright red strawberries, it’s an ideal Valentine’s Day dessert.
A salty pretzel crust topped with cream cheese and strawberry Jell-O will soften even the hardest of hearts.
6. Grape Salad
Inspired by the queen of southern cooking, this Trisha Yearwood recipe is the real deal.
Creamy yet tart, it’s a juicy mix of plump grapes and crunchy nuts, tossed in a cream cheese-based dressing.
Perfect for a light side or a simple snack, this easy dish is the best thing you can do with a bunch of grapes.
7. Cherry Fluff
There are a lot of fluff recipes out there. But cherry fluff is my favorite!
Pillowy whipped topping gets folded with sweet cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple, marshmallows, and nuts.
Light, airy, and fruity, it’s a cherry-licious dream. Serve it at a summer barbecue, dinner party, or when you’re simply craving something sweet.
8. Cranberry Fluff
Come fall, I trade in that cherry fluff for cranberry. It’s the perfect sweet treat for the holiday season.
Sugared cranberries, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, and nuts meld with frozen whipped topping.
All it takes is 10 minutes and six ingredients. So you can easily whip it up for any gathering.
9. Better Than Sex Fruit Salad
A fruit salad that’s better than sex? It’s a bold name, but this dessert is sinfully delicious.
It pushes the boundaries with its tantalizing taste. The creamy base, cherry pie filling, fruit cocktail, and fresh fruits are irresistible.
You’ll never think of fruit salad the same.
10. Easy Pineapple Fluff
Pineapple fluff is a no-bake dessert perfect for summer parties. It’s light, sweet, creamy, and delightfully tropical.
Made with five simple ingredients, this creamy fluff comes together in minutes. Add chopped nuts to the mix for extra texture.
If you love the combo of pineapple and coconut, you’ll swoon over this treat.
11. Orange Creamsicle Salad
Transport yourself back to those carefree childhood summer days with this dessert salad!
It’s a whimsical delight packed with nostalgic flavors. Super citrusy and wonderfully creamy, it tastes like an Orange Creamsicle.
But there’s no need to wait for the ice cream truck. With just six ingredients, you can enjoy it today.
12. Frog Eye Salad
Don’t let the name fool you. This timeless dessert salad is downright delicious!
Acini de pepe pasta gets drenched in a sweet and creamy dressing. Plus, pineapple and mandarin oranges add a fruity touch.
Kids and adults will both love it!
13. Glorified Rice
If you happen to have extra rice from last night’s dinner, you have to try this recipe!
It’s a little like leftover rice pudding, but it’s served cold with pineapple, marshmallows, and cherries.
I love the creamy taste and chewy texture. And it’s so easy to jazz up! Just add colorful marshmallows, and the kids will go nuts.
14. Easy Banana Pudding Fluff
Airy and soft, this salad is like biting into banana-flavored clouds.
Made with vanilla pudding, Cool Whip, bananas, mini marshmallows, and Nilla wafers, it’s dreamy.
One bite and you’ll be floating on cloud nine.
15. Oreo Fluff
Made with four ingredients, this melt-in-the-mouth fluff is heaven in a dish.
It’s a creamy no-bake dessert loaded with crushed Oreo pieces and vanilla pudding.
Incredibly easy to make, it’s also very versatile. You can use different flavors of Oreos, add marshmallows, and use chocolate pudding. Anything goes!
16. Strawberry Fluff
With just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes of prep, this dessert salad is a breeze. Better yet, it’s bursting with strawberry goodness!
Strawberry pie filling melds with a sweetened creamy base dotted with crushed pineapple and marshmallows.
As my favorite out of all the berries, I can’t resist this treat. If it’s yours too, you need to try it today!
17. Creamy Cranberry Salad
Want to add a little sweetness to your big feast? Add this creamy cranberry salad to the spread.
It’s the perfect blend of tart and sweet. You get a heaping of ruby-red cranberries, crisp apples, mini marshmallows, and more.
All mixed with an indulgent creamy dressing.
18. Christmas Fruit Salad
This seasonal salad is a festive treat guaranteed to spread holiday cheer.
It features marshmallows, nuts, and a medley of fruits like green grapes and red cherries. All enveloped in an egg-based dressing.
Loaded with flavors and textures, this Christmas salad is a crowd-pleaser.
19. Pina Colada Fluff
If you like pina coladas, you’ll adore this fluff! Packed with pineapples and coconut, it’s got a big tropical flavor.
But I know what you’re wondering, is there rum? The answer is a resounding yes!
Creamy, sweet, fruity, nutty, and a little boozy, pina colada fluff is a party in a bowl. Perfect for any lively gathering.
20. 5 Cup Salad
Looking for an easy ambrosia salad? Look no further!
The recipe for this classic is insanely simple. You only need one cup of each of the five ingredients. Hence, the name!
Not only is it effortless, but the flavor and texture is divine. Fruity, sweet, creamy, and coconutty, it’s everything ambrosia should be.
21. Easy Pineapple Pretzel Fluff
Pineapples and cream are a winning combination. Just take it from this swoon-worthy dessert.
It’s got a big tropical creamy flavor with a sweet and salty pretzel crust. There’s even a crushed pretzel topping for a little extra crunch.
Now, this right here is worthy of a second helping.
22. Orange Fluff Salad
Light and zesty, summer desserts don’t get much better than this orange fluff salad.
It’s a vibrant combination of citrusy orange jello, canned fruit, cottage cheese, pudding, and more.
It’s incredibly easy to make, too. So skip the oven with this no-bake dessert. It’s ideal for parties during those dog days of summer.
23. Pioneer Woman Ambrosia Salad
Ambrosia salad is a classic. And nobody does it quite like the Pioneer Woman.
Sweet, creamy, and fluffy, it’s absolutely heavenly. It’s got all the classic ingredients, including marshmallows and pineapple tidbits.
But two secret ingredients send it over the top. Can you guess? It’s pink grapefruit and toasted coconut chips!
23 Easy Dessert Salads
8
servings15
minutes254
kcalThese dessert salads will change your opinion of salad forever! Like this light, creamy, and sweet classic ambrosia that is a divine treat.
Ingredients
1 can crushed pineapple (drained)
1 can mandarin oranges (drained)
1 container of Cool Whip (thawed)
1 container of sour cream
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut (or to taste)
Instructions
- Mix pineapple, mandarin oranges, Cool Whip, sour cream, marshmallows, and shredded coconut together in a bowl.
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until flavors blend. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Tastes even better when chilled overnight.
