Creamy Vanilla Pudding Fruit Salad Recipe

This creamy Vanilla Pudding Fruit Salad is the perfect summer side dish. This easy-to-make fruit salad with pudding is perfect for a summer dinner or potlucks. This pudding fruit salad is a simple fruit salad that is made with only a few ingredients. 

Vanilla Pudding Fruit Salad Recipe

Summer is here which in our house means bring on the fruit salads. Fruit salad is a simple-to-make dish that works as a side dish or a dessert. 

I have never received anything but compliments when I make this fruit salad with pudding recipe and brought it to a BBQ or get-together with friends. 

This simple recipe involves almost no work, cut up some fruit, mix it with some vanilla pudding mix and cool Whip and let it sit in the fridge to set. It is so easy that you can whip it up on a last minutes notice and have it ready to enjoy by the time your dinner starts. 

This no-cook dessert combines a creamy pudding sauce with fresh and canned fruit that is a tasty twist on the classic fruit salad. 

This easy dessert is a treat for your taste buds, with a medley of colorful fruits drenched in a smooth and creamy vanilla sauce. It’s like having a rainbow on your plate!

Easy Fruit Salad Recipes

• Fruit salad with marshmallows
• Orange Fluff Salad
• Watergate fluff Salad recipe
• Cherry Fluff Salad
• Pineapple fluff salad

Variations of this Recipe

Add more fruit. You can add other fruits, including raspberries, blackberries, diced peaches, bananas, maraschino cherries and apples. If you want to add more pineapple flavor you can use pineapple chunks instead of pineapple tidbits. 

Skip the nuts. If you are a fan of nuts then you can keep the nuts in this recipe. We use walnuts but you can also add pecans. If you are not a fan of nuts feel free to leave them out. 

Add coconut. If you want to add a bit of a tropical flavor then adding some shredded coconut is a great way to do so. 

How to Store Leftover Vanilla Pudding Fruit Salad

If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. This fruit salad will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you plan on making it in advance I do suggest you skip adding bananas as they will turn brown in the fridge. 

Do I have to chill the fruit salad?

While you can serve this fruit salad right after making it, it is best to have it chill in the fridge for a bit before serving so the flavors can blend together and the cool whip and pudding sauce can combine flavors. 

Can I use homemade whipped cream instead of Whipped topping?

Yes, you can. It will have a slightly different texture to the creamy sauce but it will work. I suggest using this homemade whipped cream recipe. 

Can I freeze this fruit salad?

While it’s technically possible to freeze Vanilla Pudding Fruit Salad, it’s not recommended as freezing can alter the texture and quality of the fruits and the pudding. 

Can I make this recipe Vegan?

If you are wanting to make this vegan then be sure to use a coconut milk-based whipped cream. 

Can I make this recipe sugar-free?

While you can cut down on the sugar by using sugar-free pudding mix and sugar-free cool whip it is important to keep in mind that many fruits have high amounts of carbohydrates and you will want to use lower carbohydrate fruits if you are wanting to cut down on the carbs and sugar. 

Do I need to drain the fruit juices?

Yes. I highly suggest draining the canned fruit juices, adding too much liquid will give the pudding dressing a liquid consistency instead of a creamy one.

What type of grapes should I use?

When you are making this fruit salad you can use green grapes, red grapes or, purple grapes. the only important thing is that they are seedless. You do not want to be biting into seeds when you are eating this fruit salad recipe. You can use grapes that have seeds in them if you want to but you will want to remove them and that is a lot of work I don’t like to do when making an easy recipe like this one.

Vanilla Pudding Fruit Salad Recipe Ingredients

• 8-ounce container of whipped topping thawed
• 3½ tablespoons Vanilla instant pudding mix
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 cups seedless green seedless grapes, red seedless grapes, or purple seedless grapes cut into quarters
• 1 cup chopped fresh strawberries
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 2 cups mini marshmallows
• 20-ounce canned pineapple tidbits
• 2 11-ounce cans of mandarin oranges (drained)

How to Make Vanilla Pudding Fruit Salad

Thaw the cool whip on the counter for 10-15 minutes until it is soft.

Wash the blueberries, strawberries, and grapes. Cut the grapes into 1/4ths and chop the strawberries into bite-sized pieces.

In a large mixing bowl add the thawed cool whip.

Add the instant vanilla pudding mix powder to the cool whip and stir with a whisk until it is all combined. 

Drain the canned pineapple and pour it into the cool whip mixture.

Drain the mandarin oranges and add them to the cool whip mixture. 

Add the fresh fruit to the cool whip mixture and mix everything gently with a spoon. 

Add in the mini marshmallows and the walnuts and mix again until everything is combined and coated with the cool whip pudding mixture. 

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for 1 hour to chill and set. 

Give a quick mix before serving. 

Easy Summer side dish recipes

• Tuna Pasta salad
• Italian Pasta Salad
• BLT Pasta Salad
• Dill pickle pasta salad
• Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad