Name: Five-Cup Fruit Salad
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 2 h 5 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup pineapple tidbits chunks; 1 cup mandarin oranges; 1 cup miniature marshmallows; 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut flakes; 1 cup sour cream

This easy Five-Cup Salad is a sweet side dish that combines fruit, marshmallows and coconut in a creamy base. This quick, 5-ingredient recipe is bursting with pineapple and mandarin oranges, and is perfect for any occasion.

Five cub fruit salad in a glass goblet garnished with a piece of mandarin orange and a cherry. The serving of salad is next to a fork, small bowl of coconut flakes and a large bowl of the fruit salad.

Jump to Recipe

Five-Cup Salad is a creamy pineapple mandarin orange fruit salad that’s super simple to make with one cup each of the five ingredients: pineapple tidbits, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, sweetened coconut flakes, and sour cream.

I know you may be thinking, sour cream…that sounds kind of wacky. Why not make it with cool whip?

The answer is simple. The tangy sour cream balances the sweetness from the fruits, shredded coconut, and marshmallows.

And trust me, the result is a delicious fluffy dessert salad, perfect for any occasion.

This classic ambrosia-style salad is practically a must for potlucks and holiday dinners.

A goblet filled with creamy five-cup fruit salad with a cherry on top, and a dish full of the fruit salad. The image has text overlay that says, 5-Cup Fruit Salad, You only need 5 ingredients.

Why You’ll Love 5-Cup Salad

Quick recipe. With just 5 ingredients and one cup of each, this creamy fruit salad recipe is known for its simplicity.

All you have to do is drain the canned fruit, toss everything together in a bowl, and refrigerate.

Vintage recipe that has stood the test of time – There’s a reason this fruit salad is a classic. It’s simple, delicious and everyone always wants seconds!

Would you believe this recipe has been trending since the 1800’s? If TikTok and Instagram were a thing back in the day, it definitely would’ve gone viral.

A holiday favorite – If holidays are for indulging, then this nostalgic sweet treat is the perfect addition to your holiday feast, from Easter to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Orange Fluff Salad is a similar recipe you should try.

Looking for an easy side dish or dessert recipe that can be prepared ahead of time? Five-Cup Fruit Salad has just 5 ingredients and only takes 5 minutes to prep!

A serving of classic five cup fruit salad full of mandarin oranges and pineapple in a serving dish with a cherry on top and a mandarin orange slice. The salad is in front of a small bowl of shredded coconut and a bowl of cherries.

Five Cup Fruit Salad Recipe

Ingredients

With just 5 ingredients (one cup each) this is a recipe you’ll never forget. For some extra fruity flavor and color, toss in some maraschino cherries, too.

Pineapple Tidbits
Mandarin Oranges
Mini Marshmallows
Shredded Coconut
Sour Cream

Overhead picture showing five bowls containing the 5 ingredients needed to make five-cup fruit salad. The bowls contain sour cream, pineapple tidbits, mini marshamallows, mandarin oranges and shredded coconut.

Pineapple Tidbits – I prefer to use pineapple tidbits because they are a tad smaller than chunks.

Steer clear of crushed pineapple because it could make fruit salad too watery.

Mandarin Oranges – Use canned mandarin oranges. You will need to drain them.

Miniature Marshmallows – When I make this five-cup salad for Easter I grab Easter colored miniature marshmallows.

Christmas you could purchase some holiday Christmas tree marshmallows if you’d like.

For all other party events I make ambrosia fruit salad with plain mini marshmallows.

Sweetened Shredded Coconut- Not everyone likes shredded coconut, so depending on the crowd I may skip this ingredient and use maraschino cherries instead.

Feel free to do the same depending on whom you are serving.

Sour Cream – mixed with fruits make the tastiest fruit salad ever! The tangy sour cream balances all the other sweetness going on.

A bowl of creamy fruit salad next that has coconut, pineapple and mandarin oranges in it. There's a maraschino cherry on top.

Instructions

Drain the canned mandarin oranges and pineapple using a strainer. Place drained fruit on a paper towel-lined dish to absorb any remaining liquid.
Place all five ingredients (oranges, pineapple, coconut flakes, mini marshmallows and sour cream) in a medium bowl and gently stir to combine.
Transfer fruit salad to a serving dish if using, then cover and chill for at least 2 hours in refrigerator.

A mixing bowl showing each of the five ingredients that go into the salad before stirring together.

Stirring the creamy fruit salad together in a mixing bowl with a green rubber spatula.

Recipe Tips

It’s best to refrigerate the fruit salad for at least 2 hours. This way all the flavors have a chance to meld together.
Make sure the canned fruit is well drained so the salad isn’t watered down. I like to take the extra step and place the fruit on paper towels to absorb any remaining liquid.
If making this salad many hours in advance, leave the marshmallows out and add closer to serving time.

A single serving of a creamy mandarin orange, pineapple, coconut and marshmallow fruit salad that has a red cherry and segment of orange on top. There's a big dish of the salad in the background, as well as a bowl of cherries and another bowl with mandarin oranges.

Five Cup Salad Recipe Variations

Cool Whip – Substitute thawed cool whipped topping for the sour cream for an even sweeter five cup salad.

Maraschino Cherries – Some versions of this nostalgic recipe use cherries in place of the coconut. To do so, remove the stems and slice each cherry in half.

Colored Marshmallows – Serving five cup salad for Easter? Make it with seasonal pastel-colored mini marshmallows for a touch of spring.

Combine half sour cream & half yogurt – Make marshmallow fruit salad with a half cup sour cream and a half cup yogurt.

Yogurt – To make Five-Cup Salad healthier, use yogurt in place of sour cream.

Greek yogurt and vanilla yogurt are good options. My personal favorite, Pina Colada yogurt, gives this salad a tropical twist!

More Fruit Recipes