Creamy Easy Fruit Salad with Cool Whip

Easy fruit salad with Cool Whip or whipped topping recipe that’s super creamy and easy to make.. The perfect 3 ingredient BBQ side dish or a light fruit dessert idea that everyone will love!

Whether it’s summertime and you’re going to BBQ, or you’re looking for a refreshing side dish this creamy easy Cool Whip fruit salad is fantastic! You can use any fresh or canned fruits you like. I use what’s on sale, and everyone loves it. (affiliate links present)

Creamy Fruit Salad

We live where are lots of strawberry farms and farmers markets. When the fruit is inexpensive and beautiful it is a perfect time to make an easy fruit salad. It’s not only is it a great side dish you can call it “dessert” when you add these 2 ingredients to make a creamy fruit salad!

If if you can get your hands on a watermelon I would add chunks of that too. Next to our ambrosia recipe this is a favorite around here. Some of the same ingredients are used for this one except most are fresh fruits instead of canned. The choices of fruit for fruit salad are vast.

Ambrosia Fruit Salad with Whipped Topping

So first off this fruit salad recipe is very versatile. I typically use whatever fruits I find that are in season, look the best, and are the least expensive. When preparing a fruit salad with Cool Whip, it’s essential to choose fruits that pair well with the creamy and sweet nature of the topping. Here are some fresh fruit options that work well;

What fruit goes well with Cool Whip?

1. Strawberries are juicy and vibrant berries that are firmer so they work well inside fruit salads. They add a burst of sweetness and a beautiful color to the salad.
2. Blueberries are nice and small, flavorful, and when they pop with the Cool Whip provide a burst of flavor and already bite sized so they need very little prep.
3. Seedless grapes in either red, green, or a mix of both are great. They add a refreshing and juicy element to the salad. If you have little ones you will want to slice them in half for safety reasons.
4. Pineapple tidbits add a tropical flavor with the sweetness of whipped topping.

Cut it into bite-sized pieces for easy eating. You can drain a can that is already sliced or this is how to cut a pineapple hack into diced pieces.

Cool Whip Marshmallow Fruit Salad

I mean you could add mini marshmallows in there too. If you are going to go there a handful of sweetened coconut and/or a few maraschino cherries are fabulous too.

1. Mandarin Oranges can be canned or fresh adding a refreshing twist to the salad with fresh fruit. Use fresh segments or drained canned pieces.
2. Kiwi will add a pretty vibrant green color and unique taste. Adding a bit of sweet tartness to balance the sweetness of the creamy topping.
3. Mango will add a nice tropical flavor. Sliced, they bring a delightful sweetness and vibrant color to your fruit side dish.
4. Raspberries add a burst of flavor and a beautiful touch of red color to the salad.
5. Melon cubes like watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew can be cut into bite size pieces and added to the bowl for a juicy and refreshing element.

What fruits should not be mixed in fruit salad?

Those that brown easily or are very soft and may be mashed in the folding together process are a no for me. I do love bananas but not in this unless they are quite yellow and firm. If I use those I add at the very end and are very careful OR just set some on the top.

Variations

Remember to wash and prepare produce before adding them to the bowl. You can also garnish the fruit salad with a sprinkle of shredded coconut or chopped nuts for added texture and flavor. This time the blueberries and strawberries were buy one get one free so I focused on those and grabbed a can of mandarin oranges in light syrup to add as well.

The creamy mixture is just two ingredients, light or fat free sour cream and whipped topping…that’s it!! It brings a creaminess to this delicious fruit salad recipe and a bit of sweetness too. I have added tiny marshmallows into the large bowl at times and called it ambrosia too.

Fruit Salad with Cool Whip Ingredients

1. Diced fruit that is fresh is best, could use drained fruit cocktail too
2. Sour cream – I have found dairy free varieties too
3. Cool Whip or store brand whipped topping

For our fluff salad we use sour cream, for this and our pistachio ambrosia a combo of this and Cool whip is better I think. If you only use the tub it won’t be as thick and won’t coat the pieces quite as well.

How to Make Cool Whip Fruit Salad

• Dice your strawberries, add your blueberries, and add mandarin oranges after draining the can.
• In a small bowl gently whisk together your sour cream and whipped topping and then gently fold it into your fruit mixture.
• Add mini marshmallows too if you desire!

Should you refrigerate fruit salad before serving?

I always suggest that you chill in the fridge for an hour or so, covered with plastic wrap before serving. It gives it time to meld the flavors and chill which I like better. This also keeps well for the next day saved in a sealed container in the fridge too.

Other Cool Whip desserts you’ll love

If you are looking for more yummy side dishes to bring to church potlucks or special occasion we have a bunch of other ones that are either sweet or savory in flavor. Let’s start with something else using whipped topping like our Cool Whip Cookies. And our Cool Whip Pudding Frosting is great on cupcakes.

Now jump to recipe y’all and make a bowl yourself. If you tweak it in another way we haven’t mentioned yet that is a hit let us know.