Tropical Fruit Cocktail Salad has 5 ingredients and comes together in about 5 seconds. Best of all, everyone loves it!
Here is another one of those “save the day” recipes. Dump 5 ingredients together and in about 5 nanoseconds, and you have a Tropical Fruit Cocktail salad! Now I am sure you are wondering if I’ve forgotten how to cook, but I just had to share this salad. It’s quick, easy, and everyone loves it.
With the holidays, graduations, and nicer weather activities coming up, it’s nice to have a recipe that is fast so you can concentrate on the more important things.
If you grew up with canned fruit cocktail, you knew that the one who opened the can got the cherry. The rest of us just got a bunch of peaches, pears, and grapes. They were good, but who’s kidding who, the cherry was what you wanted. With this salad, you can just leave it as is or hey, go dump in enough cherries for everyone, and we have a fruit cocktail party salad. I used Dole Tropical Fruit instead of fruit cocktail. It has nice big pieces of fruit that aren’t mushy like some canned fruit. Enough gibberish, here’s your recipe.
Don’t have time to make it now? Pin it for later!
- 1 medium can crushed pineapple don't drain
- 1 can Dole Tropical Fruit Cocktail don't drain (chop in smaller pieces if desired)
- 1 box of instant lemon pudding can also use vanilla or coconut
- 2 cups marshmallows miniature
- 8 oz whipped topping I used Cool Whip Free
- Maraschino cherries coconut optional
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate. Chill at least 30 minutes.
Recipe adapted from The St. Robert Bellarmine cookbook, "Angel Foods"
If you need a couple more salad ideas, here are a few we love!
Easy Grape Clementine Salad
Mango Blueberry & Fennel Salad
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I make a few varieties of this fruit salad and my family loves it too. I often will serve it when the fresh fruit is not so tasty or I am in a hurry. Good salad to have any time of the year and you can have the ingredients always on hand!
Thanks Judi. These salads are just so handy, and a couple marshmallows make them a child’s favorite.
Beautiful salad Julie❤️
Thank you sweet girl! ❤️❤️
This look so simple to make and fresh. A very nicely presented salad too!
Thank you Alida
Yummy Julie! I’ve made this type of fruit salad before – the kids loved it! I loved how quickly it pulled together! Thanks for reminding me of this tasty treat!
Thank you Linda! I didn’t remember it myself until I started thinking about my Easter menu. Hope you have a wonderful Easter.
Julie, we have the same dessert in the Philippines and I haven’t made it in a long time. Now, I am craving for some. This looks very delicious! Happy FF! x
Thank you so much Jhuls! Happy FF!
This does bring back memories, although your version looks a lot better than the ones I’ve had in my past. Very kid friendly and festive for Easter. Have a lovely weekend
Thank you so much Hilda! Happy FF and Happy Easter to you too!
Oh, so many refreshing flavors! Perfect for any occasion and any time of the year.
Any easy peasy Ana! Happy Easter to you and your family!
Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said it was easy to whip up. It’s an absolutely perfect dessert for when you need something quick. Thanks for sharing another fabulous recipe.
Thank you so much Lily! I hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend!
Oh it was so fun to see this recipe, firstly it looks fabulous, and secondly we have something similar in Sweden called “Mimosasallad” but I have never seen it with lemon pudding and marshmallows. Instead we always have the cherries and the “sauce” is made of whipped cream and mayonnaise.
Thank you Petra! Your version sounds delicious too!
Omigosh, I would totally be the one rushing to grab the cherry! Haha. Anyway, love this tropical fruit salad, Julie. Just looking at your pics makes me hungry. Thanks for sharing such an awesome recipe. 🙂
Thank you so much Demeter!
What a lovely and easy salad!
Thank you Lynz! Kids love it too. Has you son had his baby yet?
I love this salad, I especially love how easy it, you can’t beat that – especially in the warmer weather. And who doesn’t love fruit cocktail?
I would have to swap the pineapple out for something else as I’m allergic, but I think I would love it all the same
Pinning and sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing Michelle! It’s easy and always a hit even though it doesn’t like it’s picture taken.
I was trying to find some fruit salads for the summer and this one looks perfect! Super easy to make and only 5 ingredients?! Can’t beat that! Thanks for the recipe <3
Thank you Aena! You are right that it is easy and we really enjoy it!
Julie~ I can’t wait to take this to our memorial day picnic… My niece is hosting it and she remembers my moms recipe, but none of us have a copy of that one. Im thinking this is a pretty close alternative! And she will especially love the pineapple! Its her favorite!
Thank you Michele! I think that there are a lot of versions. I’ve make it with vanilla and lemon pudding and different fruits too. Always easy and yummy.
Yes, I always wanted the cherry! Love that you can put as many as you want into this salad! And this is so perfect for warm summer days, especially for bringing to a picnic or BBQ!
Meghan you slipped into the spam. Stay out of there girl! Thank you. Love these dishes too and John and I can both make them our own.
I grew up eating a lot of fruit salad in India, basically chopped fruits with vanilla custard, so this post brought back happy memories 🙂 LOve the idea of making it with lemon pudding!
Thank you Naina! This was one of my children’s favorite salads, and it’s so easy that I still make it for John and I or when we go to potlucks.
This will definitely save my bum when I am cooking for church! The ladies love these types of salads and this is definitely going on the menu for next session!
Thank you Jennifer! It is so easy and I make it quite a bit in the summer.