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Creamy Fruit Salad: The Ultimate Guide to a Delicious Dessert


  • Total Time: 260 minutes
  • Yield: 10-12 servings 1x

Description

Creamy fruit salad with condensed milk and sour cream, pineapple, mandarin oranges, marshmallows, coconut, grapes, strawberries, and optional nuts and cherries. Great for potlucks and dessert!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
  • 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained
  • 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
  • 2 cups miniature marshmallows
  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
  • 2 cups green grapes, halved
  • 2 cups red grapes, halved
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
  • 2 bananas, sliced (add just before serving to prevent browning)
  • 1 cup maraschino cherries, halved (optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine Condensed Milk and Sour Cream: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk and sour cream. Whisk or use a rubber spatula to mix until smooth and fully incorporated.
  2. Add Pineapple: Pour the undrained crushed pineapple into the bowl with the condensed milk and sour cream mixture. Gently stir to combine.
  3. Incorporate Mandarin Oranges: Drain the mandarin oranges thoroughly and gently fold them into the mixture.
  4. Add Marshmallows and Coconut: Pour in the miniature marshmallows and shredded coconut. Gently stir to distribute evenly.
  5. Nuts (Optional): If using, add chopped pecans or walnuts. Stir in gently.
  6. Grapes: Add the halved green and red grapes. Gently fold into the mixture.
  7. Strawberries: Add the hulled and quartered strawberries. Gently stir in.
  8. Maraschino Cherries (Optional): If using, halve the maraschino cherries and add them to the bowl. Gently stir in.
  9. Gently Fold in Bananas: Just before chilling, gently fold in the sliced bananas.
  10. Chill Thoroughly: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
  11. Give it a Stir: Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir to redistribute the ingredients.
  12. Serve and Enjoy: Serve the creamy fruit salad chilled.

Notes

  • Fruit Variations: Experiment with blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, or mango.
  • Add a Citrus Zest: Add the zest of one lemon or orange to the creamy base for a brighter flavor.
  • Greek Yogurt: Substitute half of the sour cream with plain Greek yogurt for a tangier version.
  • Whipped Cream: Fold in a cup of whipped cream just before serving for an even richer salad.
  • Make it Ahead: Best made ahead of time, but add bananas just before chilling or serving.
  • Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Salad Too Runny: Add a tablespoon or two of cornstarch to the creamy base before chilling.
  • Salad Too Sweet: Add a squeeze of lemon juice to balance the flavors.
  • Bananas Browning: Toss bananas with a little lemon juice before adding to the salad.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes