Easy Strawberry Fluff Salad
Southern salads aren't always green and healthy. They are often sweet, creamy, and colorful desserts - just like my Classic Ambrosia and this delicious Strawberry Jello Salad recipe!
Growing up in Texas, I rarely remember attending a church potluck without a bowl full of this creamy pink stuff sitting on the serving table. I never knew what it was called, but I would always pile it up on my plate and go back for more - it was that good!
This classic pink salad is full of fresh strawberries, fluffy marshmallows, and sweet, creamy goodness! It's the perfect summertime treat for your backyard BBQs and family gatherings when light, cold desserts are so refreshing!
Speaking of cold desserts, you'll also want to try my homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream and minty Shamrock Shake. They're sure to cool you off on the hottest of summer days!
If you have a sweet tooth like me, be sure to check out my Moist Carrot Cake, Strawberry Linzer Cookies, and Lucky Charms Marshmallow Treats (kids LOVE these!)
What is Strawberry Jello Salad?
It's a pink, creamy dessert salad made with fresh strawberries, crushed pineapple, jello mix, instant pudding mix, cool whip, and marshmallows.
This old-fashioned, cloud-like treat has been around since at least the 1970s. Growing up, my mother would refer to it as "the pink stuff", but it's also known as strawberry fluff salad, pink lady salad, and pink fluff.
What is Pink Fluff Made Of?
This pink salad recipe uses simple ingredients you probably already have on hand or can easily find at your local grocery store. (For measurements, please scroll down to the recipe card below.)
- Strawberries - Try to use only fresh strawberries for this recipe since frozen ones tend to become mushy once thawed. You want them to add a crisp texture to your salad.
- Pineapples - for a sweet, tart flavor that compliments the strawberries
- Jell-O mix - adds structure and helps hold everything together
- Vanilla pudding mix - be sure to buy "instant" to make this recipe as simple as possible. Also, if you'd rather make strawberry cheesecake fluff, simply swap out the vanilla for a cheesecake pudding mix.
- Cool whip - the key ingredient for a fluff recipe. It makes this dessert extra sweet, creamy, and full of fluffy goodness.
- Marshmallows - try to find the mini variety since they tend to mix in better with the rest of the ingredients. Also, I used white marshmallows, but you can use the colorful ones instead for a fun pop of color kids go wild for.
How to Make Strawberry Jello Salad
Here are the steps and process images for how to make this strawberry marshmallow fluff salad. (More detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.)
Step 1: Start out by adding the strawberry jello mix and hot water to a large mixing bowl. Whisk them together until the powder has dissolved completely. (If not dissolved, you will have tiny red specks all throughout your salad - not good!)
Step 2: Then, whisk in the cold water and instant vanilla pudding mix until incorporated. Place in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to chill.
Step 3: After the jello mixture has chilled, fold in the Cool Whip with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon until combined.
Step 4: Add the sliced strawberries, crushed pineapple, and mini marshmallows. Gently fold it all together until combined.
Step 5: Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Step 6: Serve chilled and enjoy!
Storage Information
Place any leftovers in an airtight container (or simply cover your bowl with plastic wrap) and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If some liquid starts to form in the bowl, simply give the salad a good stir to make it pillowy and creamy again.
I don't recommend freezing this salad since the strawberries and marshmallows can become mushy once thawed.
Tips and Tricks
- Dissolve: Give the jello mix enough time to dissolve completely in the hot water. Otherwise, you will have little red specks throughout your salad - speaking from experience here, lol!
- Fresh: Try to use only fresh strawberries for this recipe since frozen ones tend to become mushy once thawed.
- Drain: Make sure to drain the crushed pineapple well before using. You don't want extra liquid since it can make the salad watery, less fluffy, and fall apart. (I like to pour my pineapple into a fine-mesh sieve and then press it with a wooden spoon to remove the excess juices.)
- Don't overmix: Be careful not to overmix the salad, as this can cause the marshmallows to break down and become mushy.
- Chill: Once prepared, store this strawberry jello salad in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving. This gives the cream time to firm up and for all the flavors to marry. Chilling overnight will make the flavor even better.
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Be sure to check out my how-to video in the recipe card below!
Strawberry Jello Salad Recipe
Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (3-ounce) box strawberry Jell-O mix
- ¾ cup hot water
- ½ cup cold water
- 1 (3.4-ounce) box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 8 ounces Cool Whip (thawed)
- 24 ounces fresh strawberries (hulled, halved, and sliced)
- 1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple (well drained)
- 1 (10-ounce) bag mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Start out by adding the strawberry jello mix and hot water to a large mixing bowl. Whisk together until the powder has dissolved completely. Then, whisk in the cold water and instant vanilla pudding mix until incorporated. Place in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to chill.
- In the meantime, prepare your strawberries by rinsing, hulling, and slicing them. Also, drain the can of crushed pineapple well. (I do this by pouring the pineapple into a fine-mesh strainer and then pressing it with a wooden spoon to remove the excess juices.)
- After the jello mixture has chilled, fold in the Cool Whip with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon until no streaks of white remain.
- Add the sliced strawberries, crushed pineapple, and mini marshmallows. Gently fold it all together until combined.
- Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. This will give the salad time to thicken and for the flavors to blend together.
- Serve chilled and enjoy!
Notes
- Storage: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Dissolve: Give the jello mix enough time to dissolve completely in the hot water. Otherwise, you will have little red specks throughout your salad.
- Fresh: Try to use only fresh strawberries for this recipe since frozen ones tend to become mushy once thawed.
- Drain: Make sure the crushed pineapple is well drained before using. Extra liquid will make the salad watery, less fluffy, and fall apart.
- Don't overmix: Be careful not to overmix the salad, as this can cause the marshmallows to break down and become mushy.
VIDEO
Nutrition
*Nutritional facts are calculated by third party sources and are not always accurate. If you are on a special diet, we highly recommend you calculate these values personally.
Sara
This was my favorite thing to eat at church functions growing up! My grandmother's was similar to this one and sooo good! Brings back so many memories! Thanks for sharing!
Ranch Style Kitchen
Mine too! I’m so glad it brings back sweet memories for you! Thank you so much for commenting!