If you’re trying to find the recipe for that pink fluff salad with strawberries and cool whip you’ve come to the right place.
Strawberry Jello fluff is a sweet and creamy fruit salad that gets its fluffy texture from the combination of strawberry jello, instant vanilla pudding and cool whip.
And if that seems to not be enough. Pineapple tidbits and mini marshmallows join the party, too!
So is this sweet concoction a salad or a dessert? I’ll leave that up to you.
What I will say is Strawberry Fluff “salad” is the thing summers are made of, especially since strawberries are in peak season and are seemingly sweet.
This decadent side dish is delicious anytime of the year, and is also popular for holiday dinners like; Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and especially on Valentine’s day.
Since pink is the color of love….I mean, what’s not to love about strawberry fluff salad?
It’s easy to make, perfect for pot-lucks, parties, and always disappears.
Why You’ll Love Strawberry Jello Fluff
Light and Refreshing – the sweetness of strawberries and the tangy, tropical flavor of pineapple create a harmonious balance and strawberry jello, pudding mix, and cool whip add a light fluffy texture.
Make Ahead – this recipe can be made ahead of time and actually tastes better the longer it marinates. That way all those delicious flavors meld together.
Quick and Easy – This pink fluff salad takes less than 30 minutes to make and uses simple ingredients.
Kid Friendly – My three boys devoured this strawberry salad. Of course, I had to help as well and there are surely no regrets here. It was delicious and I can see why this fluff salad is kid approved.
Versatile – If you can’t get enough of easy recipes Orange Fluff Salad is another dish perfect for just about any occasion.
Want another fruity dessert-style salad? Five-Cup Salad is another popular recipe that’s as simple to make as Strawberry Jello Fluff.
Strawberry Fluff Salad Recipe
Ingredients Needed
- Strawberry Jello Mix (plus water)
- Instant Vanilla Pudding
- Cool Whip
- Mini Marshmallows
- Fresh Strawberries
- Pineapple Tidbits
Strawberry Jello Mix – strawberry gelatin gives this salad it’s super sweet strawberry taste. I use jello brand, you may use any brand you like.
Instant Vanilla Pudding – pudding gives this dessert salad its signature fluffy texture. Be sure to get instant vanilla pudding.
Cool Whip – makes the fluff salad nice and creamy.
Mini Marshmallows – you can use regular white mini marshmallows or pastel colored ones for spring.
Fresh Strawberries – Look for ripe and red strawberries they will be the sweetest.
Pineapple Tidbits – pineapple tidbits will be drained very well so it doesn’t matter if they are packed in heavy or light syrup.
You can also use pineapple chunks or a can of crushed pineapples I just prefer pineapple tidbits.
How to Make Strawberry Jello Fluff
- Wash, rinse, and slice strawberries into quarters and drain the pineapple tidbits, removing as much liquid as possible (see tips below).
- In a large bowl, whisk jello and boiling water until dissolved. Then whisk in cold water.
- Chill bowl of strawberry jello in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to set. Remove from refrigerator and whisk in the vanilla pudding. Chill mixture in the fridge for another 15 minutes.
- Fold cool whip into pudding/jello mixture and stir until well combined.
- Gently fold in strawberries, drained pineapple, and mini marshmallows. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Recipe Tips
Here are a few helpful tips so you make this salad just right!
Thaw cool whip entirely – Thaw cool whip in the fridge overnight or thaw just before making strawberry fluff salad.
Drained canned pineapple well – Drain canned pineapple very well. Drain pineapples in a colander lined with paper towels on the bottom and the top and pat dry.
If paper towels are soaked with juice, use another set of paper towels. You want to get as much moisture out as possible to prevent a runny salad.
Wash and rinse strawberries well and pat dry with paper towels – Make sure to wash and rinse your strawberries very well and pat them dry with paper towels. You can also place strawberries on paper towels so all moisture is soaked up.
Leave enough time to chill the fluff salad – Make sure to chill pink salad for at least an hour or so so all the flavors meld together.
Leave marshmallows out if making hours ahead of time or plan on making the day before your event – If you would like to make this pink fluff salad the night before or many hours in advance leave the marshmallows out to avoid soggy marshmallows.
Add marshmallows to the dessert salad 20 minutes before serving to guests.
If you have any leftovers – Store fluff salad in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Can I freeze Strawberry Fluff? I do not recommend that you freeze this recipe because marshmallows and cool whip will become soggy after defrosting.
Recipe Variations
One thing I love about fluff salads is how versatile they are. Here are some variations.
Make a different flavor. Blueberry Fluff Salad, Cherry Fluff Salad and Banana Split Fluff Salad are all delicious and so easy to make.
Reduce the sugar. For the least amount of added sugar, use sugar-free Jello, pudding, and Cool Whip, and canned pineapple packed in their own juices.
Want more crunch? Add nuts, like sliced almonds, walnuts, pecans, or pistachios. Shredded coconut is delicious, too.
Serving Suggestions Fruit Fluff Salad
For a fancier look, Serve pink ambrosia salad into individual glasses or bowls. Or serve family-style in a large serving bowl.
If you’d like strawberry fluff to look more appealing to guests, Top fluff with extra fresh sliced strawberries just before serving and garnish with sliced almonds or any nut you prefer.
Want to make this strawberry fluff a dessert style dip? Skip the spoon and dip Vanilla Wafers, Graham Crackers, Golden Oreos, or Shortbread Cookies.
For an even sweeter treat, Top a slice of angel food cake with this delicious strawberry salad for an extra sweet treat.
More Recipes with Fruit
- Blueberry Cobbler
- Cherry Cheesecake Dip
- Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips
- Five-Cup Fruit Salad Recipe (Ambrosia Salad)
Strawberry Jello Fluff
Easy recipe for strawberry jello salad that makes a sweet and creamy fruit salad filled with fresh strawberries, pineapple tidbits and fluffy marshmallows. This pink ambrosia salad is a real treat, perfect for summer parties and holiday dinners.
Ingredients
- 1 (3 ounce) box strawberry Jello
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1 (3.4 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding
- 8 ounces Cool Whip
- 16 ounces fresh strawberries, quartered, (about 2 cups)
- 20 ounces pineapple tidbits, drained well
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Wash, rinse, and slice strawberries into quarters and drain the canned crushed pineapple, removing as much liquid as possible (see tips below).
- In a large bowl, whisk jello and boiling water until dissolved. Then whisk in cold water.
- Chill bowl of strawberry jello in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to set. Remove from refrigerator and whisk in the vanilla pudding. Chill mixture in the fridge for another 15 minutes.
- Fold cool whip into pudding/jello mixture and stir until well combined.
- Gently fold in strawberries, drained pineapple, and mini marshmallows. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Notes
- Thaw cool whip entirely - Thaw cool whip in the fridge overnight or thaw just before making strawberry fluff salad.
- Drained canned pineapple well - Drain canned pineapple very well. Drain pineapples in a colander lined with paper towels on the bottom and the top and pat dry.
- If paper towels are soaked with juice, use another set of paper towels. You want to get as much moisture out as possible to prevent a runny salad.
- Wash and rinse strawberries well and pat dry with paper towels - Make sure to wash and rinse your strawberries very well and pat them dry with paper towels. You can also place strawberries on paper towels so all moisture is soaked up.
- Leave enough time to chill the fluff salad - Make sure to chill pink salad for at least an hour or so so all the flavors meld together.
- Leave marshmallows out if making hours ahead of time or plan on making the day before your event - If you would like to make this pink fluff salad the night before or many hours in advance leave the marshmallows out to avoid soggy marshmallows.
- Add marshmallows to the dessert salad 20 minutes before serving to guests.
- If you have any leftovers - Store fluff salad in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Can I freeze Strawberry Fluff? I do not recommend that you freeze this recipe because marshmallows and cool whip will become soggy after defrosting.