Cherry Salad is a super simple dessert with only six ingredients that you can whip up in a matter of minutes. Perfect for potlucks and parties!
Cherry Salad
I’m a huge fan of these dessert salads. Add a big helping to your dinner plate or save it to enjoy as a dessert. Either way, it’s delicious.
This Cherry Salad tastes like a Cherry Cheesecake. It’s rich, sweet and so satisfying to any sweet tooth. I usually don’t have seconds because it is so filling. Even a little bit in a bowl is enough for me.
This is a vintage type of recipe that I remember my great-grandmother making for family dinners. I think almost every family has one of these dessert salads in their family cookbook.
Cherry Salad Ingredients
The star ingredient is, of course, the cherries. I use a can of cherry pie filling versus fresh cherries here.
Supporting ingredients include walnuts (love their crunch!), pineapple chunks, mini marshmallows and Cool Whip. It also uses a can of sweetened condensed milk.
You can make your own stabilized whipped cream if you can’t find Cool Whip.
If you aren’t a big fan of either the pineapple or walnuts, leave them out. You could also substitute other nuts or fruit in their place if you like.
How to Make Cherry Salad
It couldn’t be any easier! You could also call it Cherry Dump Salad because you literally just dump the ingredients in a bowl and serve.
Grab a large bowl and add the cherry pie filling, sweetened condensed milk, walnuts, pineapple chunks, Cool Whip and mini marshmallows to it. Stir to combine.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or until ready to serve. Refrigerate any leftovers.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
These kitchen tools will help you make this recipe.
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Where to Serve Cherry Salad
Like I mentioned, Cherry Salad is so versatile. Consider serving it at:
- BBQs
- Potlucks
- Parties
- For dessert
- Family dinners
Dessert Salad Recipes
I have several dessert salad recipes you might also enjoy.
- Creamy Fruit Salad – A dreamy salad/dessert that will be a surefire hit! It’s easy to make and so tasty to eat.
- Orange Creamsicle Salad – Sweet, creamy, fluffy and oh so good! This old-fashioned recipe will be a hit at your family’s dinner table.
- Sunshine Salad – A delicious fruit salad that is only 2 Weight Watcher’s Points Plus per one cup serving.
- Snickers Salad – This easy recipe is made with vanilla pudding, green apples, Cool Whip, caramel and loads of Snickers bars.
You’ll also enjoy this Banana Pudding Fluff, Lemon Blueberry Fluff, Mango Banana Marshmallow Salad, Strawberry Cheesecake Fluff, Berry Cheesecake Fluff, Tropical Fluff Salad, Strawberry Pretzel Salad, Rocky Road Fluff, Strawberry Fluff Salad, Grape Salad and Cherry Pudding Cake.
Try Cherry Cookies.
Cherry Salad
Ingredients
- 1 can cherry pie filling 21oz/540ml can
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14oz/300ml can
- 1 cup walnuts chopped
- 1 can pineapple chunks 20oz/540ml can, drained
- 4 cups Cool Whip thawed
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a large bowl and stir to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until ready to serve.
Video
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Bonnie L. says
I have made this a lot lately and will be serving it at a Christmas dinner this weekend. We love it! Only thing I change is I use pecans because they are sweeter and good with cherries. This salad is so quick and easy! Love it!
Guadalupe Flores says
No nuts several family members have nut allergies. I add 1 large can mandarin oranges(drained).
Angela says
On the can pineapple chunks would be okay to use organic can pineapple chunks instead? Also do it have to be cool whip or could i use homemade whip cream for this recipe? If able to use whip cream how much would I need for this recipe 2 cups?
Stacie Vaughan says
Hi Angela, Organic pineapple chunks are totally fine! You can make your own homemade stabilized whipped cream. I would recommend that over regular whipped cream so it holds its shape better. You’ll need 4 cups. I have a recipe here or you can find others online too! https://www.simplystacie.net/stabilized-whipped-cream/
Vicki says
Would this work with strawberry pie filling?
Stacie Vaughan says
Yes, for sure!
Danna F. says
My grandma made this recipe, then my mom and now my sister and I make it. Ours calls for crushed pineapple. It was our son’s favorite and now it’s my granddaughters favorite. It’s so easy to make. Ours also says to keep it in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
KRIS HUGHES says
Do you drain the pineapple juice?
Stacie Vaughan says
Yes, you drain the pineapple juice.
Celeste Siegmund says
Yes
Gina says
I used to make this all the time when I was growing up. It is so easy and delicious! It is really refreshing in the summer❤️
joanna swenson says
Yummy
Bernie says
I used fresh cherries and added a box of cherry jello powder, every body loved it!!!
Sarah Aye says
I’m interested to know how did u use a package of jello with fresh cherries? Can u please share with me?
Sarah A says
Do you think instead of walnuts or pecans, dried fig could be of substitution? Or would it throw if the taste of it all? I have never made this but I’m looking to very soon but I’m thinking of a different version in my head lol it includes dried fig chunks, crushed pineapple, and mandarin oranges…. what do you think? Or no? Maybe just stick to original recipe and remove nuts?
Stacie Vaughan says
You could try it with the figs! It’s an easy recipe to play around with different ingredients.
Greg Brummett says
I made your cherry pie filling salad and it was a hit!!
Stacie Vaughan says
Yay! Happy to hear!