A sweet fruit salad filled with miniature marshmallows and a creamy base, these vintage marshmallow salad recipes are perfect for any occasion!
Growing up, at any family gathering you could almost guarantee there was a fruit fluff salad. You know the type- a cream salad full of marshmallows and fruit, more like a dessert really.
Of course, that’s the big debate isn’t it? Is an easy ambrosia salad considered a side, salad or dessert? No matter how you classify them, they are downright delicious!
Old-fashioned marshmallow fruit salad recipes are often served for special occasions. Think things like holiday dinners like Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas dinner. An easy marshmallow fruit salad is always a great addition to a holiday table.
Not only is this American classic great for holidays, but it’s also the perfect side dish to bring along to picnics in the summer months. Always a crowd pleaser and super easy to make!
Popular Marshmallow Salad Ingredients
While of course each recipe is different, here is a list of popular ingredients easily found in grocery stores to have on hand to make make a fluffy fruit salad. You could even stir in some Nutella sauce to add a hint of chocolate.
Sour cream
Maraschino cherries
Pineapple tidbits or fresh pineapple
Canned fruit (like a can of fruit cocktail)
Coconut flakes
Fresh berries
Creamy Cool Whip
White mini marshmallows
The next time you’re looking for a simple side dish or sweet salad, think beyond a classic ambrosia salad recipe. These vintage marshmallow salad recipes are perfect! And you can even make them up ahead of time for your next event.
Say Aloha to this Hawaii-inspired Ambrosia Fruit Salad made with whipped topping, coconut, and tropical fruits. It’s THE classic recipe for creating the creamy dessert salad that everyone knows and loves!
Pistachio Fluff Salad is a delicious combination of rich creaminess and fruity sweetness. This dish is a family favorite and features pistachio pudding, whipped topping, pineapple, mandarin oranges and mini marshmallows!
This Tropical Fruit Marshmallow Fluff is a vibrant and delicious dessert salad recipe made with instant lemon pudding mix, Cool Whip, an assortment of tropical fruit, shredded coconut, and mini marshmallows!
This creamy cranberry salad recipe is a blend of fresh cranberries, pineapple, marshmallows, pecans, coconut and apples, all tossed in a creamy dressing. A unique and colorful salad that’s perfect for the holidays!
Need a quick and easy dessert that doesn’t lack on wow factor? Strawberry fluff is a no-bake recipe perfect for family gatherings. I’ve perfected this strawberry fluff recipe into just 3 easy steps you can do in 10 minutes!
This timeless recipe for Watergate Salad might just be even better than your grandma’s! Retro recipes are coming back in a major way, so show off to all of your friends with this classic 70’s dessert salad.
Our Berry Cheesecake Salad is a delicious mix of creamy cream cheese and vibrant, fresh summer berries, all complemented by a light, fluffy whipped topping. This sweet and refreshing salad is an absolute treat that makes any day feel a little more special!
Lemon Jello Salad deserves a spot on all your summer menus! Zesty lemon, juicy pineapple and coconut come together in an easy recipe that’s perfect as a sweet side dish or chilled dessert.
Blueberry fluff is a cool and creamy no-bake dessert salad packed with blueberry flavor. The simple recipe takes 5 minutes to make and is perfect for a potluck, party, or backyard BBQ!
Jessica the mom, wife and food lover behind Savory Experiments. She is obsessed with butter, salt and bacon and spends all her time in the kitchen and behind a camera. Jessica is a contributor to PopKitchen by Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal Food + Travel and more!
My family (all except my Male Siamese) dislike marshmallows. Too sweet. If you exchange cottage cheese (large or small curds by preference) it will cut the sweet and allow you to enjoy the other flavors in the fluff salad.
My family (all except my Male Siamese) dislike marshmallows. Too sweet. If you exchange cottage cheese (large or small curds by preference) it will cut the sweet and allow you to enjoy the other flavors in the fluff salad.
What a fabulous list of classic and new marshmallow salads. I’m really interested in trying the Lemon and Oreo ones.
So many awesome retro marshmallow salads to try!
Thank you for this post! I never thought there were so many different kinds of marshmallow salads!
Eeek! I’ve been searching for so many of these! THANK YOU!