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Strawberry Fluff is a delicious ‘dump and go’ dessert salad made with creamy cottage cheese, Cool Whip, and sweet strawberry Jell-O. This fruity, no-bake treat is loaded with fresh berries, pineapple pieces, and mini marshmallows—an easy, no-cook classic for summer parties, picnics, backyard barbecues, and potlucks.

Close-up of a wooden bowl filled with fluffy pink strawberry fluff, topped with fresh strawberries.

What is Strawberry Fluff?

Our easy Strawberry Fluff recipe is a fruity, old-fashioned favorite that blends a cool and creamy base with tender pineapple tidbits, fresh berries, and soft marshmallows. It’s packed with sweet, tart, and fluffy texture and filled with strawberry flavor, all with a pretty pink hue from a packet of jello.

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Oh my gosh this is SO yummy! We have made it now 2 times. Everyone that has tried it loves it, and it’s SO easy to make!

– Terri

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So, is this strawberry fluff salad recipe a side dish or a strawberry fluff dessert? I’ll let you decide! Some version of this sweet dessert salad seems to show up at every baby shower, barbecue, or potluck picnic, whether it’s disguised as a Watergate salad, an Ambrosia Salad, or another variation of this vintage jello salad recipe.

Ingredients for Strawberry Fluff Salad

Cottage cheese: I used 4% milkfat small curd cottage cheese for this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite variety.
Pineapple tidbits: You can use fresh pineapple for this recipe if you prefer. You will need about 1 ½ cups of diced pineapple. Some recipes call for crushed pineapple, but I love the pineapple chunks from the can of tidbits.
Fresh strawberries: You could also make this recipe with fresh raspberries or bananas. If you choose to use frozen strawberries, make sure you thaw them and blot them dry first.
Whipped topping: You can use Cool Whip or make a homemade whipped cream by beating cold heavy cream with powdered sugar for 2-3 minutes.

Strawberry jello mix: If you try this recipe with a different fruit, like raspberries or bananas, switch out the jello mix to match the fruit.
Mini marshmallows: While I used normal white mini marshmallows, you can use the multicolored ones for some extra flair and fun flavor.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Spoonful of creamy pink strawberry fluff, highlighting its fluffy texture with fresh strawberries in the background.

How to Make Strawberry Fluff

Make The Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients and stir well.
Serve: Serve cold and enjoy!

combine all of the ingredients and stir well.

Variations and Add-Ins for Strawberry Fluff Salad

While Strawberry Fluff is delicious as is, there are plenty of ways to get creative and put your own spin on this classic!

Change The Cottage Cheese: You can replace the cottage cheese with cream cheese for a richer, smoother texture, or use Greek yogurt for a tangier twist and a boost of protein. For a thicker, creamier texture, you can add half a small vanilla instant pudding mix package to the fluff.
Create Crunch: For crunch and extra flavor, mix in some chopped pecans, walnuts, or slivered almonds to complement the sweetness of the fluff.
Fluff Flavors: Feel free to try this recipe with a different fruit and switch out the Jell-O mix to match the flavor profile. Some other fun flavor ideas include:
- Make With Mixed Berries: Keep the recipe the same, but swap out the strawberry gelatin for a different berry flavored jello and use a combination of blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries.
- Tropical Twist: My Pineapple Fluff has a double dose of pineapple mixed with vanilla pudding and coconut flakes.
- Choose Orange Or Cherry: You can make an orange fluff by swapping the strawberry jello for orange jello and using a can or mandarin oranges. Or make my Cherry Fluff by mixing sweetened condensed milk with cherry pie filling.
- Make Multiple Fruit Fluff: My Easter Fruit Fluff combines mandarin oranges, pears, and peaches with instant cheesecake pudding.
- Banana Split Fluff: Use instant vanilla pudding mix or banana cream instant pudding instead of the cottage cheese and jello mix and use fresh bananas.
- Orange Fluff: Swap the strawberry jello for orange jello and use canned mandarin oranges. Just make sure to drain them.

Make With More Mix-Ins: Graham cracker crumbs can give your fluff a pie-like texture, or add mini chocolate chips to the fluff for a bit of decadence.

Don’t miss out on my other easy dessert salad recipes that you can serve like a dip, like Peanut Butter Fluff, Peanut Butter Fluff, Oreo Fluff.

Bowl of creamy strawberry fluff topped with fresh whole and sliced strawberries.

Tips for Making the Best Strawberry Fluff

Fold the Fluff: To keep the fluff light and airy, fold gently and avoid overmixing.
Don’t Forget To Drain: When adding canned fruit (like pineapple), make sure to drain it thoroughly to avoid excess liquid in your fluff. Too much liquid can make it watery.
Serve It Sweeter: Taste your fluff before serving! If you like it sweeter, you can add a little powdered sugar or honey to adjust the sweetness level to your liking.
Serving Suggestion: For the best flavor and texture, chill your Strawberry Fluff before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld together and give it that refreshing, light feel.

Can You Make Strawberry Fluff Ahead of Time?

You can make Strawberry Fluff 2-3 days in advance, as chilling helps the flavors blend and the texture set. It holds up well in the fridge, making it great for parties and potlucks. If using frozen strawberries, keep it to two days since they break down faster. Before serving, give it a quick stir if any liquid separates to restore its fluffy texture.

How Long Does Strawberry Fluff Last?

In the Refrigerator: Store this Strawberry Fluff in an airtight container or covered tightly with plastic wrap in the fridge. Leftover salad can last up to 7 days depending on the freshness of the strawberries, but the longer it sits, the more the dessert will start to separate. If that happens, just mix it back together.

In the Freezer: You can freeze this fluff to create a delicious frozen dessert, similar to ice cream. But I don’t recommend keeping it for longer than 10 days, otherwise it will get icy and the consistency will change too much.

A wooden bowl filled with fluffy pink strawberry fluff, garnished with fresh strawberries, with extra strawberries and marshmallows in the background.

If you tried this Strawberry Fluff Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!!!

5 from 11 votes