Jump to Recipe My easy fruit cocktail salad features a rainbow of different fruit and a sauce made with pineapple and vanilla pudding that is incredible! This is a fabulous summer side dish or dessert that can be made using fresh or canned fruit, it’s delicious either way! Try a refreshing fruit cocktail salad at your next get together! Easy Fruit Cocktail Salad Fruit cocktail salad is an all-around summer classic. It always makes an appearance at BBQs, cookouts, potlucks, you name it! This easy fruit cocktail salad with vanilla pudding sauce can be thrown together in no time and then left to chill until you’re ready to serve! It truly is the ultimate quick summertime side dish or dessert! Chilled fruit salad in a citrus vanilla sauce is always refreshing!

Jump to:Easy Fruit Cocktail Salad 🥘 Ingredients 🔪 How To Make A Fruit Cocktail Salad 💭 Angela’s Tips & Recipe Notes 🥭 More Delicious Fruit Recipes! 📋 Recipe

🥘 Ingredients You can use fresh or canned fruit for this recipe! I used fresh this go around, but either will be delicious. Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix – 1 3.4-ounce box.Pineapple – 2 ½ cups fresh pineapple cut into chunks or use 15-16 ounces of canned pineapple. Reserve the juices from the fresh or canned pineapple.Mandarin Oranges – 2 cups peeled mandarin orange slices. 8 ounces of mandarin orange slices = 1 cup. Use around 15-16 ounces of canned mandarin oranges.Strawberries – 2 cups, fresh, cleaned, stem removed, and sliced.Red Seedless Grapes – 5 cups.Apples – 2 large apples, washed, cored, and cut into bite-sized chunks.Bananas – 2 large bananas, sliced. Peaches or nectarines, pears, and cherries are also perfect additions to your fruit cocktail salad. Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions! 🔪 How To Make A Fruit Cocktail Salad It doesn’t get much simpler than this easy fruit cocktail salad. You will need a knife and cutting board for cutting fruit, of course, then a small bowl, a large bowl, and a silicone spatula for mixing. Make sauce. In a small mixing bowl, combine ½ a cup of pineapple juice (reserved from your fresh or canned pineapple) with 3.4 ounces of vanilla pudding mix (*see note). Stir until the pudding mix is completely dissolved and set aside.Combine the fruit. Slice and prepare your fruit. Then, combine all the fruit (2 ½ cups fresh pineapple, 2 cups mandarin oranges, 2 cups strawberries, 5 cups red seedless grapes, 2 large apples, and 2 large bananas) in a very large mixing bowl. Pour the prepared pudding mixture over all of the fruit and mix gently to combine.Chill. Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving. Serve this fruit cocktail salad any time you need to feed a crowd! Offer it up with some air fryer BBQ Little Smokies and loaded baked potato salad for an easy summer-worth spread that everyone will enjoy! 💭 Angela’s Tips & Recipe Notes Always wash fruit prior to use to remove pesticide residue, dirt, and other germs or bacteria.If making in advance, wait to add bananas until right before serving. They won’t refrigerate well for more than a day to my tastes.The pineapple juice can be supplemented with orange or lemon juice if desired. Mix some mini marshmallows in just before serving for an extra sweet treat!Storing: Store fruit salad cocktail covered or in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 2-3 days. 

🥭 More Delicious Fruit Recipes! Blueberry TartRaspberry CrepesStrawberry Pineapple LemonadePineapple Sunshine CakeRoasted BerriesNo Bake Strawberry Cream Pie

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

📋 Recipe

Print Recipe Leave A Comment Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It! 5 from 17 reviews

Fruit Cocktail Salad

My easy fruit cocktail salad features a rainbow of different fruit and a sauce made with pineapple and vanilla pudding that is incredible! This is a fabulous summer side dish or dessert that can be made using fresh or canned fruit, it’s delicious either way! Try a refreshing fruit cocktail salad at your next get-together!

Author | Angela

Servings: 12 servings Calories: 155kcal Prep 15 minutes Chill 1 hour Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Pin Recipe Share on Facebook Ingredients US CustomaryMetric1x2x3x▢ 3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding mix (1 3.4-ounce box)▢ 2 ½ cups fresh pineapple (cut into chunks, reserve the juice from cutting your fresh pineapple or draining the canned chunks)▢ 2 cups mandarin oranges (peeled and sliced)▢ 2 cups strawberries (fresh, cleaned, stem removed, and sliced)▢ 5 cups red seedless grapes▢ 2 large apples (washed, cored, and cut into bite-sized chunks)▢ 2 large bananas (sliced - *see note)

InstructionsIn a small mixing bowl, combine ½ a cup of pineapple juice reserved from your fresh or canned pineapple with the vanilla pudding mix (*see note). Stir until the pudding mix is completely dissolved, set aside.3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding mixSlice and prepare your fruit. Then, combine all the fruit in a very large mixing bowl. Pour the prepared pudding mixture over all of the fruit and mix gently to combine. 2 ½ cups fresh pineapple, 2 cups mandarin oranges, 2 cups strawberries, 5 cups red seedless grapes, 2 large apples, 2 large bananasCover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Equipment You May NeedLarge mixing bowlSmall mixing bowlSilicone Spatula Set Notes Always wash fruit prior to use to remove pesticide residue, dirt, and other germs or bacteria. If making in advance, always wait to add bananas until right before serving. They won’t refrigerate well for more than a day to my tastes. The pineapple juice can be supplemented with orange or lemon juice if desired.  Mix some mini marshmallows in just before serving for an extra sweet treat! Store fruit salad cocktail covered or in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 2-3 days.  Each 6 ounces of pineapple chunks = 1 cup, and every 8 ounces of mandarin orange slices = 1 cup.

NutritionCalories: 155kcal (8%) | Carbohydrates: 40g (13%) | Protein: 1g (2%) | Fat: 1g (2%) | Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 54mg (2%) | Potassium: 371mg (11%) | Fiber: 4g (17%) | Sugar: 31g (34%) | Vitamin A: 320IU (6%) | Vitamin C: 45mg (55%) | Calcium: 30mg (3%) | Iron: 1mg (6%) Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love! easy dessert, Fruit Cocktail Salad Course Fruit Desserts, Side DishCuisine AmericanDiet VegetarianAngela @ BakeItWithLove.comAngela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma’s kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love! bakeitwithlove.com/about/

My easy fruit cocktail salad features a rainbow of different fruit and a sauce made with pineapple and vanilla pudding that is incredible! This is a fabulous summer side dish or dessert that can be made using fresh or canned fruit, it’s delicious either way! Try a refreshing fruit cocktail salad at your next get together!

Easy Fruit Cocktail Salad

Fruit cocktail salad is an all-around summer classic. It always makes an appearance at BBQs, cookouts, potlucks, you name it!

This easy fruit cocktail salad with vanilla pudding sauce can be thrown together in no time and then left to chill until you’re ready to serve! It truly is the ultimate quick summertime side dish or dessert!

🥘 Ingredients

You can use fresh or canned fruit for this recipe! I used fresh this go around, but either will be delicious.

  • Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix – 1 3.4-ounce box.Pineapple – 2 ½ cups fresh pineapple cut into chunks or use 15-16 ounces of canned pineapple. Reserve the juices from the fresh or canned pineapple.Mandarin Oranges – 2 cups peeled mandarin orange slices. 8 ounces of mandarin orange slices = 1 cup. Use around 15-16 ounces of canned mandarin oranges.Strawberries – 2 cups, fresh, cleaned, stem removed, and sliced.Red Seedless Grapes – 5 cups.Apples – 2 large apples, washed, cored, and cut into bite-sized chunks.Bananas – 2 large bananas, sliced.

Peaches or nectarines, pears, and cherries are also perfect additions to your fruit cocktail salad.

Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!

🔪 How To Make A Fruit Cocktail Salad

It doesn’t get much simpler than this easy fruit cocktail salad. You will need a knife and cutting board for cutting fruit, of course, then a small bowl, a large bowl, and a silicone spatula for mixing.

  • Make sauce. In a small mixing bowl, combine ½ a cup of pineapple juice (reserved from your fresh or canned pineapple) with 3.4 ounces of vanilla pudding mix (*see note). Stir until the pudding mix is completely dissolved and set aside.Combine the fruit. Slice and prepare your fruit. Then, combine all the fruit (2 ½ cups fresh pineapple, 2 cups mandarin oranges, 2 cups strawberries, 5 cups red seedless grapes, 2 large apples, and 2 large bananas) in a very large mixing bowl. Pour the prepared pudding mixture over all of the fruit and mix gently to combine.Chill. Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.

Serve this fruit cocktail salad any time you need to feed a crowd! Offer it up with some air fryer BBQ Little Smokies and loaded baked potato salad for an easy summer-worth spread that everyone will enjoy!

💭 Angela’s Tips & Recipe Notes

  • Always wash fruit prior to use to remove pesticide residue, dirt, and other germs or bacteria.If making in advance, wait to add bananas until right before serving. They won’t refrigerate well for more than a day to my tastes.The pineapple juice can be supplemented with orange or lemon juice if desired. Mix some mini marshmallows in just before serving for an extra sweet treat!Storing: Store fruit salad cocktail covered or in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 2-3 days.

🥭 More Delicious Fruit Recipes!

  • Blueberry TartRaspberry CrepesStrawberry Pineapple LemonadePineapple Sunshine CakeRoasted BerriesNo Bake Strawberry Cream Pie

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

📋 Recipe

Print Recipe Leave A Comment Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It! 5 from 17 reviews

Fruit Cocktail Salad

My easy fruit cocktail salad features a rainbow of different fruit and a sauce made with pineapple and vanilla pudding that is incredible! This is a fabulous summer side dish or dessert that can be made using fresh or canned fruit, it’s delicious either way! Try a refreshing fruit cocktail salad at your next get-together!

Author | Angela

Servings: 12 servings Calories: 155kcal Prep 15 minutes Chill 1 hour Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Pin Recipe Share on Facebook Ingredients US CustomaryMetric1x2x3x▢ 3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding mix (1 3.4-ounce box)▢ 2 ½ cups fresh pineapple (cut into chunks, reserve the juice from cutting your fresh pineapple or draining the canned chunks)▢ 2 cups mandarin oranges (peeled and sliced)▢ 2 cups strawberries (fresh, cleaned, stem removed, and sliced)▢ 5 cups red seedless grapes▢ 2 large apples (washed, cored, and cut into bite-sized chunks)▢ 2 large bananas (sliced - *see note)

InstructionsIn a small mixing bowl, combine ½ a cup of pineapple juice reserved from your fresh or canned pineapple with the vanilla pudding mix (*see note). Stir until the pudding mix is completely dissolved, set aside.3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding mixSlice and prepare your fruit. Then, combine all the fruit in a very large mixing bowl. Pour the prepared pudding mixture over all of the fruit and mix gently to combine. 2 ½ cups fresh pineapple, 2 cups mandarin oranges, 2 cups strawberries, 5 cups red seedless grapes, 2 large apples, 2 large bananasCover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Equipment You May NeedLarge mixing bowlSmall mixing bowlSilicone Spatula Set Notes Always wash fruit prior to use to remove pesticide residue, dirt, and other germs or bacteria. If making in advance, always wait to add bananas until right before serving. They won’t refrigerate well for more than a day to my tastes. The pineapple juice can be supplemented with orange or lemon juice if desired.  Mix some mini marshmallows in just before serving for an extra sweet treat! Store fruit salad cocktail covered or in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 2-3 days.  Each 6 ounces of pineapple chunks = 1 cup, and every 8 ounces of mandarin orange slices = 1 cup.

NutritionCalories: 155kcal (8%) | Carbohydrates: 40g (13%) | Protein: 1g (2%) | Fat: 1g (2%) | Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 54mg (2%) | Potassium: 371mg (11%) | Fiber: 4g (17%) | Sugar: 31g (34%) | Vitamin A: 320IU (6%) | Vitamin C: 45mg (55%) | Calcium: 30mg (3%) | Iron: 1mg (6%) Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love! easy dessert, Fruit Cocktail Salad Course Fruit Desserts, Side DishCuisine AmericanDiet Vegetarian

Angela @ BakeItWithLove.comAngela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma’s kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love! bakeitwithlove.com/about/

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!

5 from 17 reviews

Fruit Cocktail Salad

My easy fruit cocktail salad features a rainbow of different fruit and a sauce made with pineapple and vanilla pudding that is incredible! This is a fabulous summer side dish or dessert that can be made using fresh or canned fruit, it’s delicious either way! Try a refreshing fruit cocktail salad at your next get-together!

Author | Angela

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 155kcal

Prep 15 minutes

Chill 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients US CustomaryMetric1x2x3x▢ 3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding mix (1 3.4-ounce box)▢ 2 ½ cups fresh pineapple (cut into chunks, reserve the juice from cutting your fresh pineapple or draining the canned chunks)▢ 2 cups mandarin oranges (peeled and sliced)▢ 2 cups strawberries (fresh, cleaned, stem removed, and sliced)▢ 5 cups red seedless grapes▢ 2 large apples (washed, cored, and cut into bite-sized chunks)▢ 2 large bananas (sliced - *see note)

InstructionsIn a small mixing bowl, combine ½ a cup of pineapple juice reserved from your fresh or canned pineapple with the vanilla pudding mix (*see note). Stir until the pudding mix is completely dissolved, set aside.3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding mixSlice and prepare your fruit. Then, combine all the fruit in a very large mixing bowl. Pour the prepared pudding mixture over all of the fruit and mix gently to combine. 2 ½ cups fresh pineapple, 2 cups mandarin oranges, 2 cups strawberries, 5 cups red seedless grapes, 2 large apples, 2 large bananasCover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Equipment You May NeedLarge mixing bowlSmall mixing bowlSilicone Spatula Set

Notes Always wash fruit prior to use to remove pesticide residue, dirt, and other germs or bacteria. If making in advance, always wait to add bananas until right before serving. They won’t refrigerate well for more than a day to my tastes. The pineapple juice can be supplemented with orange or lemon juice if desired.  Mix some mini marshmallows in just before serving for an extra sweet treat! Store fruit salad cocktail covered or in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 2-3 days.  Each 6 ounces of pineapple chunks = 1 cup, and every 8 ounces of mandarin orange slices = 1 cup.

Nutrition

Calories: 155kcal (8%) | Carbohydrates: 40g (13%) | Protein: 1g (2%) | Fat: 1g (2%) | Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 54mg (2%) | Potassium: 371mg (11%) | Fiber: 4g (17%) | Sugar: 31g (34%) | Vitamin A: 320IU (6%) | Vitamin C: 45mg (55%) | Calcium: 30mg (3%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)

Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!

Course Fruit Desserts, Side DishCuisine AmericanDiet Vegetarian

US CustomaryMetric