This Pineapple Fluff is a classic retro salad recipe that our family grew up with! Served as a no-bake dessert, it's simple to make with only 7 ingredients. It's like a cloud of pineapple and coconut flavor that everyone loves.
When it comes to making a crowd-pleasing treat, this Pineapple Fluff is always guaranteed to impress. With a base of vanilla pudding and whipped topping infused with crushed pineapple and coconut, there's so much to love.
This is a recipe that's been passed down from my grandmother over generations. It's a retro salad that's been on our table for holidays, family gatherings, potlucks, and picnics. Even my daughter loves to make it for her friends!
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This pineapple fluff is also a great make-ahead dish for a party that stores well in the fridge. We mix it up in the morning just pull it out of the fridge when we are ready to serve. If you love a fluff recipe be sure to also try our viral Pistachio Fluff Salad and Cookie Salad.
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- 7 Ingredient Fluff. All of these ingredients are affordable and quick to find at the store. We love to keep them in our pantry too so we can make this fluff quickly when we are in a pinch for time.
- Fun treat for the whole family. With flavors of tropical pineapple, coconut, and nuts, there's so much that everyone will love about this dessert.
- Easy to make in advance. We love bringing this pineapple fluff to a party, it's simple to prepare in 15 minutes and then can store in the fridge until you're ready to serve.
Ingredients
Scroll Down to the Bottom of this Post for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Printable Recipe Card
- Canned crushed pineapple with its juices: The star ingredient of this retro salad, it adds tropical flavor and a hint of fruity sweetness.
- Instant vanilla pudding mix: The base of the salad, the custardy texture is essential to making the fluff melt in your mouth.
- Mini marshmallows: Adds a nice chew and sweet flavor to every bite.
- Shredded sweetened coconut: Our favorite ingredient in this salad, it pairs nicely with the pineapple.
- Chopped pecans or walnuts: Nuts are optional but we love them for the crunchy texture and their rich flavor.
- Maraschino cherries: A pop of red and burst of classic cherry flavor.
- Cool Whip or fresh whipped cream: The main ingredient responsible for making pineapple fluff salad so light and airy.
- Topping options: Halved maraschino cherries, shredded coconut and/or chopped pecans or walnuts all work great!
Tools You'll Need
How to Make Pineapple Fluff
- In a large mixing bowl, pour in the crushed pineapple along with its juices and instant vanilla pudding mix. Stir until the mixture is well blended.
- Stir in mini marshmallows, shredded coconut, chopped nuts, and maraschino cherries until evenly distributed.
- Gently fold in whipped topping until fully combined.
- Cover with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish as desired.
Expert Tips
- Be sure to add the pineapple with its juices from the can. This liquid is mixed into the vanilla pudding mix and infuses it with additional pineapple flavor making this salad extra delicious.
- Thaw the whipped topping prior to using. Be sure you place the frozen whipped topping in the fridge to thaw before making the fluff so that it can be the correct consistency.
- Nuts are optional, but highly recommended! We love chopped pecans or walnuts. Their nutty flavor compliments the sweetness of the salad so nicely.
- For a pineapple fluff that sets correctly, you'll want to refrigerate an hour before serving. This helps all the ingredients set and get that classic light and fluffy texture in each bite.
- Swap the whipped topping for homemade whipped cream. This is an option that's an easy substitution. Just whip together 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream or heavy cream, ¼ cup powered sugar, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract until stiff peaks form, about 1-2 minutes.
Storage
Store any leftover pineapple fluff salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 to 2 days. We don't recommend freezing this salad, when it thaws it usually changes texture and becomes watery.
This is a great fluff to make in advance. You can make it the morning of a party and just keep in the fridge until ready to serve. It also transports well too!
FAQs
You might have added too much liquid to the pudding mixture or it didn't set properly in the fridge. You can try whipping some extra vanilla pudding separately and folding it into the mixture to thicken. Refrigerate again until set.
No! Crushed pineapple is more finely chopped than pineapple chunks. Be sure to look at the labels in the canned foods aisle at the store.
Yes, if you want to make your whipped topping from scratch simply beat cold heavy cream with some powdered sugar until lightly sweetened and stiff peaks form.
More Easy Retro Salads
Pineapple Fluff Salad
Ingredients
- 20 ounce can crushed pineapple with its juices
- 3.4 ounce box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 ½ cups mini marshmallows
- 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts optional
- ½ cup chopped maraschino cherries
- 8 ounce container Cool Whip or fresh whipped cream
- Topping options: halved maraschino cherries, shredded coconut and/or chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, pour in the crushed pineapple along with its juices and instant vanilla pudding mix. Stir until the mixture is well blended.
- Stir in mini marshmallows, shredded coconut, chopped nuts, and maraschino cherries until evenly distributed.
- Gently fold in whipped topping until fully combined.
- Cover with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish as desired.
Video
Notes
- Be sure to add the pineapple with its juices from the can. This liquid is mixed into the vanilla pudding mix and infuses it with additional pineapple flavor making this salad extra delicious.
- Thaw the whipped topping prior to using. Be sure you place the frozen whipped topping in the fridge to thaw before making the fluff so that it can be the correct consistency.
- Nuts are optional, but highly recommended! We love chopped pecans or walnuts. Their nutty flavor compliments the sweetness of the salad so nicely.
- For a pineapple fluff that sets correctly, you'll want to refrigerate an hour before serving. This helps all the ingredients set and get that classic light and fluffy texture in each bite.
- Swap the whipped topping for homemade whipped cream. This is an option that's an easy substitution. Just whip together 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream or heavy cream, ¼ cup powered sugar, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract until stiff peaks form, about 1-2 minutes.
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