Our Pineapple Fluff is a light and creamy dessert that combines the tropical flavors of pineapple with a fluffy texture that melts in your mouth. Best of all, this fluff salad is a 5-minute dessert or side dish recipe!

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Easy Pineapple Fluff

Our Pineapple Fluff salad is an old-fashioned favorite that takes just 5 minutes to make by mixing fruit, instant pudding, mini marshmallows, pecans, and coconut flakes and folding it all together with whipped topping.

A pineapple fluff with Jello pudding is made all in one bowl, so cleanup is a breeze; plus it uses canned pineapple, a container of Cool Whip, and a packet of pudding to keep the prep work to a minimum.

This delicious no-cook classic combines a cool and creamy base with tender pieces of pineapple, crunchy pecans, and soft marshmallows; it’s filled with the best sweet, tart, and fluffy flavors and textures in every fruity bite.

This pineapple cool whip dessert salad could be the easiest way to make a mixture of fruit, nuts, marshmallows, and pudding. Fold it with fluffy “dressing,” and then place it on the picnic table as a welcome addition to any menu.

scooping pineapple pretzel fluff with wooden spoon

Other Delicious Fluff Recipes

What is fluff? Is it a side dish or a dessert? Is it a fruit dip or a cheesecake salad? Regardless of how you showcase your recipe, each rendition offers the same comforting sentiment: it has a silky sweet, cream-based “dressing,” that’s mixed with soft mini marshmallows and juicy fruit.

Why We Love This Pineapple Fluff Dessert Recipe

  • Quick and easy to make in 5 minutes.
  • Uses a handful of simple ingredients.
  • Simple no-cook recipe made in a single bowl.
  • Flexible and forgiving recipe that you can customize to your tastes.
  • No-bake recipes are great for warm weather so the oven won’t heat up your house.
  • Perfectly portable side dish or dessert to bring to summer parties, picnics, backyard barbecues, and potlucks. 
Pineapple Fluff ingredients

Pineapple Fluff Ingredients

  • Crushed pineapple
  • Instant vanilla pudding mix:  I used JELLO Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix but feel free to use your favorite brand. Make sure you are not getting the “Cook & Serve” pudding.
  • Pineapple chunks
  • Mini marshmallows: I used plain white mini marshmallows, but you can use the multicolored ones for some extra color and flavor. 
  • Chopped pecans
  • Sweetened shredded coconut flakes: Toasted coconut will also work well.
  • Whipped topping: I used Cool Whip for this recipe.

Substitutions and Additions

  • Prepare Without Pecans: Feel free to use walnuts, almonds, or pistachios instead of pecans. You can even make your fluff with pretzel pieces (like my Pineapple Pretzel Salad)!
  • Pick Your Pudding: Feel free to use your favorite flavor of pudding mix for a fun flavor swap. I love the taste of vanilla pudding in this recipe, but pistachio, lemon, cheesecake, or even white chocolate would taste delicious too.
  • Include Other Fruit: You can add other fruit in the mix including mandarin oranges, peaches, pears, grapes, or strawberries. 
top shot of Pineapple Fluff
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Spatula

How to Make Pineapple Fluff

  1. Make The Fruit Mixture: Stir together the crushed pineapple and pudding mix until the pineapple juice and pudding starts to thicken. Mix in the pineapple chunks, marshmallows, pecans, and coconut flakes.
  2. Fold In The Fluff: Fold in the whipped topping until combined. 
  3. Chill: Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
  4. Serve: Top with more marshmallows, pecans, coconut, or maraschino cherries, if desired, and serve chilled. Enjoy!

Tips For Making The Perfect Pineapple Fluff

  • If you have trouble finding crushed pineapple, you can buy an extra can of pineapple chunks and chop up the chunks into small pieces. Just remember to reserve the juice.
  • You can use fresh pineapple chunks instead of canned pineapple if you prefer.
  • You can add or omit or add more marshmallows, coconut, or pecans according to your taste. 
  • Feel free to use homemade whipped cream instead of whipped topping. I don’t recommend canned whipped cream because the consistency is too runny.

How to Store Pineapple Fluff

  • To Store: Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also store it in a large Tupperware container. If the juice starts to separate, give the fluff a quick stir.
  • To Freeze: Store in an airtight container, and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Please note that the texture of the marshmallows may change during the thawing process. I think this dessert is best when made fresh.
Pineapple Fluff with cherries

More Easy Fluff Salad Recipes

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make pineapple fluff ahead of time?

This pineapple fluff recipe can be served right after making it, but it is much better if it has time to chill and let the flavors come together. I recommend allowing it to chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. The longer the fluff chills the softer the marshmallows will become, so if you’d like the marshmallow to be more tender, leave the fluff in the fridge for 2 to 3 hours.

Can I make homemade whipped cream for this recipe?

You can absolutely make homemade whipped cream for your fluff. A quick homemade whipped cream consists of 1 cup of very cold heavy whipping cream, 1/4 cup of powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract beaten together at high speed with an electric hand mixer until the whipped cream is stiff. You can also check out my easy homemade whipped cream recipe here.

Can I make a vegan version of this Pudding Fruit Salad?

Yes, you can make a dairy-free version of this fluff. Use coconut whipped cream or your favorite plant-based whipping cream alternative.

Pineapple Fluff in a bowl

Other Easy Dessert Salads

5 from 2 votes
Pineapple Fluff featured image

Pineapple Fluff

Serves — 8
Pineapple Fluff salad, a delicious "dump and go" side dish or dessert, easily made in 5 minutes.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 20 ounces can of crushed pineapple undrained
  • 3.4 ounces box of instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 20 ounces can of pineapple chunks drained
  • 2 cups mini marshmallows
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 2 cups sweetened coconut flakes
  • 8 ounces container of whipped topping thawed

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl, add the crushed pineapple and vanilla instant pudding and stir until the pineapple juice and pudding starts to thicken.
  • Add the pineapple chunks, marshmallows, pecans, and coconut flakes, and mix with a spatula.
  • Fold in the thawed whipped topping until everything is evenly combined.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Jenn’s Notes

Storage:
  • To Store: Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also store it in a large Tupperware container. If the juice starts to separate, give the fluff a quick stir.
  • To Freeze: Store in an airtight container, and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Please note that the texture of the marshmallows may change during the thawing process. I think this dessert is best when made fresh.
Tips:
  • If you have trouble finding crushed pineapple, you can buy an extra can of pineapple chunks and chop up the chunks into small pieces. Just remember to reserve the juice.
  • You can use fresh pineapple chunks instead of canned pineapple if you prefer.
  • You can add or omit or add more marshmallows, coconut, or pecans according to your taste.
  • Feel free to use homemade whipped cream instead of whipped topping. I don’t recommend canned whipped cream because the consistency is too runny.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 425kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 169mg | Potassium: 340mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 52g | Vitamin A: 99IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 1mg

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5 from 2 votes

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Hi Jenn,
    I love your recipes, all the ones I especially like include Whipped Topping. I live in Australia, Whipped Topping is not available here. What can I substitute it with?
    Looking forward to your advise
    Regards,
    Carol