Easter Fluff Salad

Easter Fluff Salad is creamy, sweet, and loaded with marshmallows, juicy fruit, coconut, and little bits of chocolate. Everything gets folded into a light, fluffy base that comes together in minutes. It just needs a little time in the fridge to set, making it an easy make-ahead dessert for your Easter celebration.

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

• Instant vanilla pudding mix: Make sure you’re using instant, not cook-and-serve, or it won’t set properly. You only need to use the dry powder. Do not prepare the actual pudding.
• Crushed pineapple: Don’t drain it. The juice is what activates the pudding mix and gives the salad its creamy texture.
• Whipped topping: Let it fully thaw in the fridge first so it folds in smoothly without lumps. Try my homemade Cool Whip.
• Sour cream: Use full-fat for the creamiest texture.
• Pastel mini marshmallows: If you can’t find pastel ones, regular mini marshmallows work just fine.
• Shredded sweetened coconut: If you’re not a big fan of coconut, you can reduce the amount or leave it out.
• Mandarin oranges: Drain well so you don’t add extra liquid that could make the salad too loose.
• Maraschino cherries: Pat them dry with a paper towel to prevent the color from bleeding into the salad.
• Mini chocolate eggs: Chop them into bite-sized pieces so you get a little chocolate in every spoonful. Add them last to keep them from melting or smearing.

How to Make Easter Fluff Salad

• Step One: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the dry pudding mix and crushed pineapple with the juice until well combined. The pudding mix will start to thicken the mixture.
• Step Two: Fold in the whipped topping and sour cream until smooth and fluffy.

• Step Three: Add the mini marshmallows, coconut, mandarin oranges, and cherries. Stir gently to combine.
• Step Four: Fold in the chopped candy eggs.
• Step Five: Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour so the salad thickens and the flavors blend together.
• Step Six: Give it a gentle stir before serving.

Variations and Substitutions

• Switch the pudding flavor: Try cheesecake or white chocolate pudding for a slightly different flavor.
• Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream: It still adds a bit of tang and a thicker texture.
• Skip the coconut: Not everyone loves coconut. You can leave it out completely or replace it with extra marshmallows.
• Change up the fruit: Add chopped strawberries, grapes, or even a drained fruit cocktail if that’s what you have on hand.
• Swap the candy: Use whatever Easter candy you have leftover. Mini chocolate eggs, bunny peeps, jelly beans, or even chopped chocolate bars all work.
• Make it nutty: Stir in chopped pecans or walnuts for a little crunch.
• Lighten it up: Use light whipped topping and light sour cream to cut back a bit on richness.

Storage Instructions

• Refrigerator: Store covered in the fridge for up to 2 to 3 days. It will thicken as it sits, so give it a gentle stir before serving.
• Make Ahead: You can make it a day in advance. Just wait to add the chopped chocolate eggs until closer to serving so they stay firm and don’t bleed color.
• Freezing: Not recommended. The texture changes once thawed, becoming watery.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Mix the base well first: Take an extra minute to fully combine the pudding mix and pineapple so there are no dry pockets before adding anything else.
• Fold gently: When adding the whipped topping and mix-ins, use a light hand so the salad stays fluffy instead of dense.
• Cut fruit into similar sizes: If your mandarin oranges are large, give them a quick chop so everything is evenly distributed.
• Chill long enough: If it still looks a bit loose after 30 minutes, give it more time. It thickens more as it sits.

Easter Desserts

• Easter Trifle
• Easter Puppy Chow
• Easter Bark

Get our FREE
e-cookbook

I want it!

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

Follow me on Instagram @simplystacieblog, Facebook at Simply Stacie, TikTok @simplystacierecipes or Pinterest at @simplystacie and let me know how you liked this recipe and my other recipes.