Cherry Fluff Salad
Cherry fluff salad is a way to enjoy a similar experience to the cherry pie with a twist, and it’s much quicker to make than pie. If you’re craving something light and cherry-filled, this is a great option!
What is Cherry Fluff Salad?
If you’ve never heard of this dish, you’re not alone. Cherry fluff salad is known by a small region of people and hasn’t been widespread throughout its lifetime. You make cherry fluff salad by combining cherries, pineapple, mini marshmallows, and whipped cream. It is a sweet and fluffy treat.
Where Does This Come From?
Nobody is truly sure where this take on treats like ambrosia salad and the cherry pie came from originally, but it’s commonly enjoyed in much of the United States today. The main regions that make cherry fluff salad often are the Western and Midwestern areas of the U.S., so some folk have never heard of or tried it before.
Why Make It?
Making desserts for parties and events can be time-consuming and expensive, especially for bigger crowds. Cherry pie salad is a lighter option on your budget that can quickly come together. It also feels lighter to eat than things like heavy pies, brownies, and other treats we often think of, making it suitable for summertime.
Can I Make Pie Filling?
If you’re inclined to make this more homemade than just throwing ingredients together, you can buy cherries and make your pie filling substitute for the can of cherry pie filling this recipe calls for. A homemade filling can also have a better flavor or be more conscious of harmful ingredients some store-bought options have.
What Do I Need?
Those who have never made cherry fluff salad probably wonder what you will need for this recipe, and that’s a simple list, luckily. You need cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple, whipped cream, sweetened condensed milk, mini marshmallows, and shredded coconut for this particular recipe, but it can change.
Am I Allowed to Remove Items?
The base of this recipe is marshmallows, cherries, pineapple, sweetened condensed milk, and whipped cream. You can alter the base and remove coconut if you have any particular allergies or food intolerance. This is just one take on ambrosia salad; you can always customize it however you need or want to.
How Do I Serve Cherry Fluff Salad?
A dish like this is best served cold to keep its form since the whipped cream can get weird if it’s too warm. This works great for summertime events and potlucks since it can cool off guests while still being yummy. You could also put extra cherries, coconut, or pineapple on top as decoration and added flavor.
How to Store
Similarly to serving, you’ll want to properly store this treat to make it the most enjoyable when you serve. It can be stored easily in the fridge but must remain covered to prevent drying out. You probably want to mix it up before serving if you’ve stored your cherry fluff salad to redistribute any settled ingredients or dryness.
Can I Add More Items?
You can, of course, add to this recipe! Some ideas include chopped nuts or different fruits. If you feel like what you want to add will make it special for your event or improve the recipe in whatever way you wish. You can always adjust ingredient amounts if you want different flavors and textures to this.
Cherry fluff salad, a take on ambrosia salad, will truly make a difference at your next event or for at-home enjoyment! If you’re ready to make this follow the recipe below, and you can enjoy some cherry, marshmallow, and pineapple dessert goodness in just a few short minutes.
Cherry Fluff Salad
Ingredients
- 1 Can Cherry Pie Filling (21 ounces)
- 1 Can Crushed Pineapple, drained (20 ounces)
- 1 Tub Whipped Cream (8 ounces)
- 7 Ounces Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1 ½ Cups Mini Marshmallows
- 1 Cup Sweetened Shredded Coconut
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, starting with the whipped cream followed by the cherrypie filling.
- Mix well and serve immediately, or cover and store in the fridge until it’s ready to be served.
Notes
- This recipe has quite a few variations it’s obtained over the many years it’s been around. Some people like to use maraschino cherries instead of pie filling. Other add-ins often include sour cream, cottage cheese, chopped pecans, etc.
- Be sure to cover your salad with plastic wrap when storing it in the fridge so it doesn’t dry out. Store for up to a week. Do not freeze.
- When storing it in the fridge, you’ll want to give it a good fold over a few times, just to distribute the moisture that has usually gone to the top.
- After being stored a few days, the marshmallows will absorb the liquid and soften, so don’t be alarmed if this happens. It’s normal and actually results in a bolder flavor, in my opinion.