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This cherry fluff came to me from a church potluck, and there are lots of versions out there. I tested mine until the ratios were right. Drained pineapple keeps it from going watery, and 2 cups of mini marshmallows is the sweet spot. This is the version I landed on!
I made the cherry fluff yesterday and everyone just loved it!
-Peggy
How I Tested This Cherry Fluff
This recipe was passed down to me from a church potluck, and there are lots of versions online. I wanted mine to have the right balance, so I tested it one piece at a time.
Test 1: Pie filling and pineapple. How much cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple should go in? I started with 1 cup, and it wasn’t enough. I wanted to use full cans anyway, so I tried a 21 oz can of pie filling and a 20 oz can of crushed pineapple. It worked great!
Test 2: Draining the pineapple. I made it with the pineapple drained and with it undrained. Undrained gave me a watery, loose fluff salad, and it was gross. Now I drain it very well, because that one step decides whether your fluff is creamy or soupy.
Test 3: Marshmallows. 1 cup wasn’t enough. 2 cups was good. Then I tried 3 cups, and the ratio of marshmallows to mix-ins felt off. 2 cups is the sweet spot!
Why sweetened condensed milk? It turns cherry fluff from a loose fruit salad into a thick, creamy dessert that holds its shape. It’s sweeter and heavier than versions without it. But it scoops clean and holds up better overnight.
Why You’ll Love This Cherry Fluff
- Just 3 simple steps
- Made with 7 simple ingredients
- Only 10 minutes to make
- Bursting with cherry flavor
- Delicious no bake dessert recipe or use it as the perfect side dish
Cherry Fluff Salad Ingredients
Easy cherry fluff salad comes together with a handful of simple ingredients and is the perfect make-ahead recipe. Keep scrolling to get the full recipe and measurements in the recipe card below.
- Cherry pie filling
- Crushed pineapple: Drained very well
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Cool whip
- Sweetened shredded coconut
- Chopped pecans
- Mini marshmallows
How to Make Cherry Fluff Salad
This cherry fluff salad recipe is a no bake dessert salad that only takes a few easy steps to make! Get the measurements and ingredients in the recipe card below.
- Combine pie filling, pineapple and milk. In a large mixing bowl combine the cherry pie filling, drained crushed pineapple, and sweetened condensed milk. Stir with a spatula until combined.
- Fold in the cool whip.
- Add remaining ingredients. Fold in the sweetened shredded coconut, chopped pecans and mini marshmallows.
- Chill and serve. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Once chilled, give it a good stir and serve! Best eaten within 3 days.
Cherry Fluff Recipe Tips
- Serve cold. Cherry fluff is best served cold. Be sure to chill it for at least 2 hours before serving. You can even make this ahead the day before and let it chill overnight.
- Drain the pineapple well. The excess liquid in the crushed pineapple can make the dish watery.
- Double or triple it! Feeding a crowd, like a family reunion? This recipe doubles and triples. It goes fast!
Cherry Fluff Dessert Substitutions & Variations
- Add-Ins: Add your favorites to customize this cherry dump salad. You could try adding fresh cherries, maraschino cherries, pineapple chunks, or pretzel pieces. Some people also like to add sour cream (yes, you read that right, it gives it a bit of a tang), cottage cheese, or walnuts instead of pecans.
- Use a different berry pie filling. You could try strawberry or blueberry pie filling!
- Have another can of cherry pie filling? Make my cherry delight or cherry dump cake.
How to Store Cherry Fluff
Store cherry fluff in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Give it a good stir before serving.
To make ahead, mix it the day before and let it chill overnight. It needs at least 2 hours in the fridge before serving.
I don’t recommend freezing cherry fluff. Once it thaws, it’s looser and not as fresh. Make it the day before instead.
Cherry Fluff FAQs
Yes. Use one 3.4 oz (96g) box of instant vanilla pudding mix in place of the sweetened condensed milk. Stir the pudding mix into the cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple, then fold in the Cool Whip and the rest of the ingredients.
Make it the day before and chill it overnight. It keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days.
The crushed pineapple wasn’t drained well enough. When I tested it undrained, the whole bowl turned watery and loose. Drain it very well before you mix.
Yes. A reader with a coconut allergy asked me this one. Leave it out and make the rest as written.
I don’t recommend it. It thaws looser and not as fresh. Make it the day before instead.
More Fluff Salad Recipes
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Cherry Fluff Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 21 oz can cherry pie filling
- 20 oz can crushed pineapple, drained very well
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 8 oz (226g) cool whip
- 1 cup (85g) sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup (114g) chopped pecans
- 2 cups (86g) mini marshmallows
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl combine the cherry pie filling, drained crushed pineapple, and sweetened condensed milk. Stir with a spatula until combined.21 oz can cherry pie filling, 20 oz can crushed pineapple, 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- Fold in the cool whip.8 oz (226g) cool whip
- Fold in the sweetened shredded coconut, chopped pecans and mini marshmallows.1 cup (85g) sweetened shredded coconut, 1 cup (114g) chopped pecans, 2 cups (86g) mini marshmallows
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Best eaten within 3 days.
Last Step: I’d love to hear what you think. Leave a rating and comment here.
I follow you faithfully and have always had success with all of the recipes I have made. My family and I are so pleased. My question, on the Cherry Fluff recipe, the listed Calories and other nutrient amounts are quite shocking, are they correct?I will appreciate your letting me know before I make this delicious summery salad.
Thank You!
Hi Rochelle! The nutrition calculator might not be dividing it by the correct number of servings.
I think that this sounds amazing and I want to try it. I am, however, allergic to coconut. What can I substitute for it, or can I leave it out? Thank you for continuing to make such amazing recipes!! ❤️
You can omit the coconut!
I made the cherry fluff yesterday and every one just love it. thank for recipes I want to try them all. It was so easy to make.