Grandma’s Cherry Fluff Frozen Salad Recipe
Grandma’s Cherry Fluff Frozen Salad is a delightful, no-cook dessert featuring cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple, and sweetened condensed milk blended with whipped topping for a light, fluffy texture. Enhanced with optional mini marshmallows and nuts, it’s a nostalgic, refreshing treat perfect for warm days or holiday gatherings, frozen to a creamy, scoopable consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes (including freezing time)
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling
- 1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, well drained
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 (8-ounce) tub frozen whipped topping, thawed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional but tasty)
- 1 cup mini marshmallows (optional, for extra fluff)
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional, for crunch)
- Pinch of salt (optional, to balance the sweetness)
For Preparation
- Nonstick cooking spray or a thin layer of softened butter for greasing the dish
Instructions
- Prepare the dish: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch glass casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray or a thin swipe of softened butter. This helps the frozen salad release more easily when you scoop or slice it later.
- Combine fruits: In a large mixing bowl, add the cherry pie filling and drained crushed pineapple. Stir gently until the fruit is evenly combined and you see pretty cherry swirls running through the pineapple.
- Add creamy base: Pour in the sweetened condensed milk and add the vanilla extract if using. Sprinkle in a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness if desired. Stir until well blended, resulting in a smooth and creamy mixture with streaks of cherry.
- Fold in whipped topping: Gently fold in the thawed whipped topping using a spatula and a gentle folding motion to retain air, keeping the mix light, fluffy, and cold instead of dense.
- Add extras: If using mini marshmallows and/or chopped nuts, fold them in now so they are evenly distributed throughout the mixture, adding fluff and crunch respectively.
- Transfer and smooth: Pour the cherry fluff mixture into the prepared casserole dish and smooth the top with a spatula. Don’t worry if cherry swirls remain visible — this adds to the charm.
- Freeze: Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and freeze flat for at least 4 hours or until firm. For best texture, freeze overnight.
- Soften before serving: About 10–15 minutes before serving, remove the dish from the freezer and let it soften slightly at room temperature to make scooping or cutting easier.
- Serve: Serve the frozen salad cold, straight from the dish using a spoon or small spatula. It’s a crowd-pleaser that tends to disappear quickly.
Notes
- Be sure to drain the crushed pineapple well to avoid excess moisture diluting the dessert.
- Gently folding in the whipped topping is essential to keep the texture light and fluffy.
- Freezing time can be extended if you want a firmer set, but allow extra time to soften before serving.
- You can substitute nuts or omit them to accommodate allergies.
- This dessert is no-bake and very easy to prepare ahead of time.
Keywords: Cherry Fluff, Frozen Salad, No-Bake Dessert, Cherry Pie Filling, Pineapple, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Whipped Topping, Easy Dessert, Retro Recipe
