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If you ask me, marshmallow fruit salad is one of those perfect potluck dishes.
This sweet and simple salad brings back memories of summer picnics and family gatherings. Soft mini marshmallows mix with juicy fruit pieces and a light, creamy dressing that ties it all together.
It’s the kind of recipe that gets passed down at church socials and neighborhood cookouts, with everyone adding their own little twist along the way. The combination of textures – from fluffy marshmallows to crisp fruit – makes every spoonful interesting.
It’s a crowd-favorite that’s especially welcome on warm days, when you want something cool and refreshing for dessert.
Why You’ll Love This Fruit Salad
- Quick preparation – This fruit salad comes together in just 10-15 minutes – perfect for last-minute gatherings or when you need a fast side dish.
- No cooking required – All you need to do is mix the ingredients together – there’s no heating, baking, or complicated techniques involved.
- Kid-friendly recipe – The combination of sweet fruits and fluffy marshmallows makes this a hit with children, while the creamy dressing adds a grown-up touch.
- Perfect for potlucks – This recipe uses simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store, travels well, and always gets compliments at gatherings.
What Kind of Marshmallows Should I Use?
Mini marshmallows are definitely the way to go for fruit salad – they’re perfectly bite-sized and blend more easily with the fruit than their larger counterparts. White mini marshmallows are the traditional choice, though you could use colored ones if you’re making this for a holiday or special occasion. Regular marshmallows cut into pieces aren’t recommended since they tend to stick together and create clumps in your salad. For the freshest texture, make sure to check the package date and give the bag a gentle squeeze at the store – if the marshmallows feel hard or overly compressed, pick a different bag since they might be stale.
Options for Substitutions
This creamy fruit salad is pretty adaptable – here’s how you can mix things up:
- Canned fruits: If you can’t find canned pineapple or mandarin oranges, you can use fresh pineapple chunks or fresh orange segments. You can also try canned peaches or fruit cocktail as alternatives.
- Bananas: Not a fan of bananas or don’t have any ripe ones? Try using sliced apples or pears instead. Just toss them in a bit of lemon juice to prevent browning.
- Strawberries: Feel free to swap strawberries with any berries you have on hand – raspberries, blueberries, or even halved grapes work great in this salad.
- Mini marshmallows: Regular marshmallows cut into quarters will work, though mini ones are easier. You can also leave them out if you prefer, but they do add that classic sweet, fluffy texture.
- Sour cream: You can replace sour cream with Greek yogurt, whipped cream, or even vanilla yogurt. If using vanilla yogurt, the salad will be a bit sweeter, so you might want to adjust your fruit choices accordingly.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making
The biggest challenge when preparing marshmallow fruit salad is timing – making it too far in advance can lead to mushy bananas and strawberries that release too much juice, so it’s best to add these fresh fruits no more than 2 hours before serving. Another common mistake is not draining the canned fruits thoroughly, which can make your salad watery and dilute the creamy dressing – let them sit in a colander for at least 5 minutes, giving them a gentle shake to remove excess liquid. To keep your bananas from browning too quickly, toss them in a bit of the drained pineapple juice before adding them to the mix. For the best texture and flavor, chill your salad for at least 30 minutes before serving, allowing the marshmallows to slightly soften and the flavors to blend together perfectly.
What to Serve With Marshmallow Fruit Salad?
This sweet and creamy fruit salad is perfect for summer cookouts and potlucks, where it pairs really well with grilled meats like hamburgers, hot dogs, or barbecue chicken. Since it’s on the sweeter side, it makes a great addition to a brunch spread alongside savory dishes like breakfast casseroles, quiche, or ham and cheese sliders. You can also serve it as part of a dessert buffet – it fits right in with other casual sweets like cookies and brownies. If you’re bringing it to a picnic, pack it in a cooler and serve it nice and cold alongside sandwich platters or fried chicken.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: This fruity marshmallow salad stays best in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days. After that, the bananas might start to brown and the marshmallows can get a bit mushy. If you’re making it for a party, try to prepare it no more than 4-6 hours before serving for the best taste and texture.
Make Ahead Tips: Want to prep this ahead? Mix the sour cream with the canned fruits (drained well!) and keep them in the fridge. Add the fresh strawberries, bananas, and marshmallows just before serving. This way, everything stays fresh and maintains the perfect texture when it’s time to dig in.
Serving: Take the fruit salad out of the fridge about 10 minutes before serving to take the chill off – the flavors come through better when it’s not super cold. Give it a gentle stir before serving to redistribute the sour cream coating.
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 0-0 minutes |
| Total Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 800-900
- Protein: 10-15 g
- Fat: 15-20 g
- Carbohydrates: 150-180 g
Ingredients
- 1 large can of pineapple pieces, drained
- 2 small cans of mandarin orange segments, drained
- 2 large bananas, sliced
- 1 pint of strawberries, sliced
- 1 package of mini marshmallows
- 1 small tub of sour cream (8 oz)
Step 1: Combine Ingredients
Start by mixing all the chosen ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl.
Ensure everything is well combined for a uniform flavor profile.
Use a spatula or spoon to blend the ingredients until they are fully integrated.
Step 2: Let Flavors Develop
Place the bowl in the refrigerator.
Allow it to sit for a short while to enable the flavors to meld together and develop more depth.
This resting period enhances the overall taste of the dish.
Step 3: Serve and Enjoy
Once the mixture has had time to rest and the flavors are well-developed, remove it from the fridge.
Give it a quick stir to make sure everything is well distributed.
Serve as desired and savor the enhanced flavors!