This Banana Split Fluff Salad is an easy ambrosia salad that is loaded with all your favorite banana split toppings. Stir everything into one bowl, and it is ready to go.
Bring a bowl of the best fruit salad and a Banana Split Bundt Cake to your next picnic and watch everyone devour the sweet goodness.
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Now this is how I like to eat my salad. Anything loaded with fruit, nuts, marshmallows, and chocolate has to be a good thing. Yes, you read that right. This ambrosia salad recipe has chocolate in it. Oh, yeah!
By the way, if you love chocolate, you definitely need to check out this Rocky Road Fluff Salad! It’s a dream dessert for chocolate lovers!
Now I know what you are thinking. There is no way a bowl of creamy goodness should be called a salad because it does not have the normal and typical salad ingredients.
Well, technically this is more like a dessert because it has pudding and marshmallows in it. But hey, I like to call it fruit salad because then I can eat a second helping without feeling too much guilt.
My mother-in-law makes a pistachio fluff salad that I absolutely love. You probably have had this same green fluff salad at church potlucks or barbecues because that’s always where I end up eating it too.
Jello salad and ambrosia salad have been staple desserts over the years at the many church functions we have been to. This S’mores Cheesecake Fluff Salad always disappears in a hurry when we bring a big bowl of it to any event!
The other day I was totally craving one of these easy fluff salads! But since this is me we are talking about, you know I got a wild and crazy idea to change it up some!
Ever since I made this Banana Split Brownie Pie, I am always looking for ways to turn things into banana split desserts because that’s a flavor I will never tire of!
I started rummaging in one of my dessert cupboards trying to find some fun ingredients that needed used up. Banana pudding, walnuts, and marshmallows were all shoved in there together, so I pulled those out.
As soon as I saw them, I headed over to cupboard number two for some chocolate chips, cherries, and crushed pineapple. All the classic banana split flavors were about to happen in this easy ambrosia salad.
We won’t talk about how many cupboards my baking stuff has taken over because I’m ignoring that fact right now.
Ingredients needed to make a Banana Split Fluff Salad:
- Crushed Pineapple
- Instant Banana Pudding Mix
- Cool Whip
- Mini Marshmallows
- Maraschino Cherries
- Walnuts
- Mini Chocolate Chips
- Bananas
Lucky for me, the bananas on our counter were still bright yellow, so I grabbed a few of those to include in the fluff salad. We go through so many bananas in our house, so it varies what color the bananas are going to be.
Ripe bananas meant this banana split fluff could happen right away.
Some days those bananas are green, some days yellow, and then some days the brown ones sit there until I the urge to make a batch of these yummy Double Chocolate Banana Muffins.
How to make a Banana Split Fluff Salad:
Stir the pudding into the pineapple in a large mixing bowl. Do not drain the can of pineapple because the juice will help the pudding thicken up.
Fold in an entire container of Cool Whip with a spatula. Yes, I said Cool Whip. By now, you know I’m partial to that white stuff. We all like to eat it by the spoonfuls. Try a frozen scoop with peanut butter because it’s an amazing combo.
Gently stir in marshmallows, chopped walnuts, banana slices, mini chocolate chips, and maraschino cherries. Feel free to change up the banana split toppings to include the ones you like or don’t like.
Refrigerate the dessert salad for at least an hour because the flavors need time to thicken and meld together. Plus, this gives the marshmallows time to soften and become soft fluffy bites in your mouth.
If you are serving this banana split dessert salad later in the day or even the next day, I would recommend stirring in the bananas right before serving it. This just keeps the bananas from getting all brown and mushy.
Creamy pudding, crunchy nuts & chocolate chips, and juicy fruit all in one bowl! Dang it, now I’m craving another bowl of this Banana Split Fluff Salad! Time to whip up another one very soon.
More easy no bake desserts that you may enjoy:
These easy No Bake White Chocolate Cheesecake Parfaits have layers of cookies and fruit in each cup. Easy little treat to bring to parties!
This Strawberry Shortcake Fluff Salad is a fun and pretty dessert for spring and summer parties or picnics!
I love anything s’mores so this S’mores Eclair Cake is calling my name.
Easy Tiramisu is a fancy no bake dessert that will disappear in a hurry. Layers of creamy cheesecake and coffee soaked cookies will have everyone going back for more.
This No Bake Cherry Swiss Rolls Cake is so fun and easy to put together using snack cakes and cherry cheesecake.
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*If you are making this fluff salad to serve later, stir the bananas in right before serving to keep them from getting brown and mushy. **You can also dip the banana slices in lemon juice to keep them from browning too quickly, but it may add a slight lemon flavor to the dessert. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.Banana Split Fluff Salad
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Recommended Products
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16 Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 195 Total Fat: 7g Saturated Fat: 4g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 3g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 22mg Carbohydrates: 33g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 28g Protein: 1g
Lori says
April 3, 2015 at 7:19 AMI plan to make your Banana Split Cheesecake for the Holiday.
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says
April 3, 2015 at 8:01 AMWow! I haven’t ever had something like this before. We go through a ton of bananas too. I buy them two bunches at a time these days!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
April 3, 2015 at 8:28 AMOh yum! This looks like a great “salad” to bring to a potluck! And it’s totally my kind of salad too 😉
Jocelyn says
April 10, 2015 at 5:14 PMIt would be perfect for potlucks! I knew you would like this “salad”.
Stephanie @ Plain Chicken says
April 3, 2015 at 10:00 AMYUM! This is totally my kind of salad! 🙂
Jocelyn says
April 10, 2015 at 5:15 PMI know, right? 🙂
Lynn @ Order in the Kitchen says
April 3, 2015 at 10:01 AMI have never even heard of a fluff salad and now I’m craving one lol! Second helpings? Yes please! Also, I hear you on the cabinet space lol 🙂 Love this recipe girl!
Jocelyn says
April 10, 2015 at 5:15 PMOh, girl! You need a fluff salad like now!!!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
April 3, 2015 at 1:58 PMMy kind of salad! This looks super yummy 🙂
Alexandra says
April 3, 2015 at 2:06 PMYUM!! Pinning this one.
Jocelyn says
April 10, 2015 at 5:16 PMThank you!!!
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting says
April 3, 2015 at 2:14 PMThis is just so much fun!!
Cyndi - My Kitchen Craze says
April 3, 2015 at 2:34 PMThis looks so delicious! I am so making this for my hubby and kids. We love salads like these but I rarely make them. I don’t know why. Pinned! 😉
Jocelyn says
April 10, 2015 at 5:16 PMI hope your family enjoys this fun salad!
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says
April 3, 2015 at 3:37 PMI totally want to face plant this right now! Love the banana split twist – so fun!
Jocelyn says
April 10, 2015 at 5:17 PMYes, face planting is allowed in this yummy salad!!!
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg says
April 3, 2015 at 3:41 PMThis is absolutely something that I need to try. I like fruit salads like ambrosia, so I’m sure I’ll love this! 😀
[email protected] says
April 3, 2015 at 11:55 PMYep, my kinda salad! Pinning this, though I can’t decide what board to pin it to? Salad? Side dish? Dessert? Fitness? um….
Jocelyn says
April 10, 2015 at 5:17 PMHahaha! Pin it to all the boards 😉 Thanks for sharing!!!
Barbara Cherwin says
September 23, 2017 at 1:38 PMFitness….Imma fitness whole salad in my mouth, lol !
Amber @ The Bewitched Baker says
April 4, 2015 at 8:15 AMYes! Thank you! This is the exact perfect way to make a salad. No rabbit food for me, thanks.
Of course, things like this are probably the reason my waistline is as it is but… oh well!
Thank you for sharing! I will definitely be saving this for later!
Jocelyn says
April 10, 2015 at 5:18 PMI hear ya on the waistline…mine is not the smallest! Give me the desserts…no bunny food here either 🙂
Saypon says
April 4, 2015 at 11:17 AMDo you drain the pineapple? Or is the liquid needed to mix with the dry pudding powder?
Jocelyn says
April 4, 2015 at 2:48 PMNo, you do not want to drain the pineapple. The liquid helps dissolve the pudding mix! I hope you enjoy it!
Cathy says
April 5, 2015 at 2:04 AMI’m with you! This is my kind of salad! Pinned! I would love for you to share at this weeks Happiness Is Homemade Link Party! Happy Easter!
Wendy says
April 6, 2015 at 10:14 AMFruity, sweet, and light at the same time is the perfect combo for a spring-summer treat! What fun to take your favorite (of the moment) flavors and create a variety of desserts . 🙂
Jocelyn says
April 10, 2015 at 5:19 PMYes, this is the perfect spring and summer “salad” for all dinners and picnics!!!
[email protected]+Macaroni+and+Cheesecake says
April 6, 2015 at 7:50 PMWhat a fun twist on the traditional treat! I love this!!
M. Larson says
April 7, 2015 at 10:01 AMDo you have a recipe for the pistachio fluff and/or the cherry fluff often found in grocery store deli’s and buffets?
Jocelyn says
April 10, 2015 at 5:19 PMI don’t have a recipe for either of those. I’m sorry!
Mel says
April 7, 2015 at 3:41 PMDo you have a different option for the pineapples? I love banana splits, but I usually substitute the pineapples, as I don’t like them.
Donna says
April 10, 2015 at 7:07 AMI would just leave out the pineapple and mix it with the cherries juice and all.
Jocelyn says
April 10, 2015 at 5:20 PMYou can also mix the pudding mix with 1 cup of milk instead of the pineapple. Then mix in your favorite toppings 🙂
trish says
May 19, 2015 at 8:59 AMI use mandarin oranges in a dessert I make very good that way too
Donna says
April 10, 2015 at 7:06 AMI want to try this for a summer family reunion but I think I will mix all then freeze in a 9×13 pan that way it stays cold what do you think?
Jocelyn says
April 10, 2015 at 5:22 PMI have never frozen this dessert. I’m not sure how the fruit would hold up in the freezer…I have a feeling the bananas would turn brown and gross.
Brenda says
April 21, 2015 at 8:11 PMLooks so good I decided to make the fluff salad. We haven’t ate it yet but I was wondering if you mix the pudding according to the box directions first or if you just add the dry pudding to the pineapple. I did the later… hope it was the right choice
Jocelyn says
April 21, 2015 at 10:46 PMHi, Brenda. You did it right 🙂 The dry pudding mix gets added to the pineapple. The liquid from the can of fruit dissolves the pudding mix. I hope your family enjoys it!!!
jessica knott (Swanky Recipes) says
May 4, 2015 at 7:34 PMThis looks insanely delicious! I love fluff salad as it is and happen to be making a fruit one but man, I wish I was making this! Next time this is a must!
Kelsey says
May 16, 2015 at 4:07 PMI just made the Banana Split Fluff Salad for a salad luncheon today. The bowl was wiped clean! Had several people ask for the recipe. My family was disappointed I didn’t bring home any leftovers for them.
Michelle says
May 23, 2015 at 10:47 PMWill have to try this … love anything with bananas. Do you serve this as a dessert, or with dinner?? Seeing the chocolate chips, I’m guessing it’s more of a dessert. Do the bananas not get brown?
Jocelyn says
May 24, 2015 at 7:08 AMWe ate it as a dessert. The bananas will start to get brown after a day or two…if you have any left. You can dip them in lemon juice before stirring them in if you like.
tammy says
May 26, 2015 at 7:14 PMThis dessert is yummy. I an just wondering if there is any way to keep the bananas from turning brown?
Jocelyn says
May 26, 2015 at 7:44 PMYou could dip the bananas in lemon juice before stirring them in. Our fluff salad was eaten so quickly that the bananas didn’t have time to turn brown 😉
Laura says
May 29, 2015 at 8:49 PMI am making this tomorrow. To keep the bananas from turning brown, I’m going to mix them in the pineapple juice, then remove the fruit and add the pudding mix then follow the rest of the steps.
steph says
July 19, 2015 at 9:13 PMI just made this for the first time and for some reason it is very runny and not setting up. I followed the recipe to a T. Do you have any suggestions on what to do next time?
Jocelyn says
July 19, 2015 at 10:01 PMYou didn’t make the pudding before stirring it into the pineapple, did you? You want to stir the dry pudding mix into the pineapple. The juice from the crushed pineapple make the pudding. I have made this countless times and it has never been runny.
Kathy says
October 9, 2015 at 7:13 PMCan this be made the day before (minus the bananas) and kept refrigerated overnight?
Jocelyn says
October 9, 2015 at 7:26 PMYes, you can definitely make it the day before and add the bananas right before serving. I hope you enjoy the “salad”! 🙂
Kathy says
October 9, 2015 at 9:01 PMThank you!!!
Martha says
November 20, 2015 at 2:08 PMCan you use sugar free pudding or should it be regular pudding?
Jocelyn says
November 20, 2015 at 3:18 PMI have never tried it with the sugar-free pudding. Everything else that you add to this fluff has plenty of sugar in it, so I would just use the regular.
Martha says
November 21, 2015 at 2:21 PMThanks, if I decide to try the sugar free, (which I already bought) I’ll let you know if it works.
Jujube28 says
July 14, 2017 at 7:22 PMYou can also use sugar free cool whip with the sugar free pudding.
Julie says
November 29, 2015 at 9:42 AMI made this for Thanksgiving, and followed directions. The salad was runny and never really fluffy, soggy and flat. I don’t know what I did wrong.
Jocelyn says
November 29, 2015 at 5:31 PMHow much milk did you use? You cannot use the box directions or it will not turn out. The pudding and milk mixture should be extremely thick before you fold in the Cool Whip.
Julie says
November 30, 2015 at 10:20 AMI did not use any milk at all. I just mixed the pineapple and pudding mix together. I do think however, I did not wait for that mixture to thicken. How long should you wait before continuing with the rest of the recipe? Also found the mixture of items to be very sweet. Any suggestions if I try this again. Thank you.
Jocelyn says
November 30, 2015 at 12:42 PMOh, I’m sorry about that. I was thinking of my other fluff salad recipe. The pudding and pineapple should have been thick before folding in the Cool Whip. It is a very sweet mixture based on everything in it.
JosieS says
April 7, 2016 at 4:32 PMHello, I will make this for my friend daughter birthday party, but my question is; I do not prepare the pudding as it says in the box, but the pudding powder will thicken up with the pineapple juice? So as soon as the pudding is thicken, I could go ahead and fold the cool whip? right?
Jocelyn says
April 7, 2016 at 10:01 PMYes, that is exactly right. Dump the pineapple and juice into a bowl with the dry pudding mix. Stir it until it thickens and then fold the Cool Whip in. I hope you enjoy it!
JosieS says
April 8, 2016 at 10:38 AMthank you for answering my question Jocelyn! we sure will!
Stacey says
September 27, 2016 at 1:15 AMThis stuff is ah-mazing!! My husband took a big bite and mid mouthful goes, “oh my god that’s good!” I don’t like the texture of bananas but like the flavor..so I didn’t add the slices but the pudding was banana-ey enough for me. Can’t wait to make more of your recipes.
Jocelyn says
September 27, 2016 at 11:20 AMYay! I am so glad you let me know how much your family enjoyed it! I hope you find more recipes to try!
Caitlan says
November 4, 2016 at 3:00 AMI am planning on making this for my upcoming baby shower for a different spin on the traditional pistachio fruit salad. I have a question tho, when looking at the recipe it says 1- 20 oz can of pinapple. I bought a huge 6 lb can at costco but it is only 10 oz surprisingly so I’m curious if I will need two of those cans or if it was a miss type or what lol please help me, thank you!!
Jocelyn says
November 4, 2016 at 8:48 AMI would be surprised if the can from Costco that is 6 lbs. is only 10 oz…maybe it is a typo and it is really 100 oz.? You do need a 20 oz. can of crushed pineapple, but that can size is the same size as a can of pie filling from the store. I hope that helps and that everyone likes the salad at the shower.
TRISTAN says
December 9, 2016 at 4:04 PMAs much as i love your food ideas, your website is a nightmare to use. I get so effing many pop up ads i cant even navigate. It has taken me 20 minutes to get to find your actual RECIPE instead of the verbal talk about the recipe. I am beginning to understand that the longer i stay on your website and see the pop up ads the more cash you get. Your site is truly a nightmare to try to read and scroll with the continual pop ups. Please stop this nightmare ughhhhhh.
Jocelyn says
December 19, 2016 at 9:19 AMI am so sorry you are having so much trouble. I did email my ad provider to see if they could look into the issue. Each ad does have an “x” to close them out. Yes, I do make money from people being on my site, but I’m not trying to keep you there to make all the money on you. I support my family by creating free recipes for people to make. Ads and sponsored work are one way I help pay our family bills. It should not take you 20 minutes to scroll past the story and pictures that I share though.
Linda Hancock says
December 18, 2016 at 6:54 PMI hate pages like this wanted the recipe,not scroll past everything else,then never find the recipe.
Jocelyn says
December 18, 2016 at 11:49 PMI am so sorry you feel that way. You must not have scrolled far enough. The recipe card is below the last picture. It even has a printable link, so you can print it!
Lisa Gavazzoni says
January 15, 2018 at 10:20 AMPlease don’t crucify me , I was wondering if there was something I could substitute for the banana I would like to make these to put in shooter glasses for a wedding however I don’t want Brown bananas Is there something else that could be used I know it wouldn’t be called the banana split…lol… it just looks so good!!
Jocelyn says
January 16, 2018 at 1:21 PMYou could just leave the banana chunks out. How early are you going to fill the glasses? If you are doing it the same day as the wedding, the bananas shouldn’t start turning brown. Mine was fine for the first day or two, then they started to brown a little. Or you could make this pretty pink version. https://insidebrucrewlife.com/2015/07/strawberry-shortcake-fluff-salad/
Lisa Nagle says
April 15, 2018 at 1:05 PMMy mom made a fruit salad similar to this every holiday, and we have continued this tradition! Instead of chocolate chips, we use chopped dates, and diced apples. We don’t use pudding and in place of cool whip we use whipped heavy cream with a little sugar to sweeten it, YUMMY!
Jocelyn says
April 16, 2018 at 4:30 PMYour mom’s fruit salad sounds delicious too!! I love the date and apple combo!!!
Cheryl Jones says
July 1, 2018 at 5:00 PMJust made it and it is a hit with my teenager. Way to go!
Cheryl says
August 18, 2018 at 6:30 PMHow far in advance can you make this yummy looking fluff?
Jocelyn says
August 19, 2018 at 3:01 PMYou can make it a day or two ahead of time, but I would stir the bananas in right before serving so they don’t turn brown. I hope you enjoy the “salad”.
Darla Thompson Ortiz says
August 30, 2018 at 7:15 PMDo you use the juice from the cherries in the salad?
Jocelyn says
August 30, 2018 at 8:02 PMNo, you want to drain the cherries. I like to pat them dry with paper towels before cutting them up. I hope you enjoy the “salad”!
Emily says
September 1, 2018 at 9:59 PMAll I could find was semi sweet mini chips! Hope that format make a difference
Heather says
October 31, 2018 at 9:34 AMSo lovely. So nice. Very informative. God bless you.
Judy Smith says
March 30, 2019 at 9:30 AMIf I cut this recipe in half (there is only me to eat it) would I only use half the pudding mix?
Jocelyn says
March 30, 2019 at 11:04 PMYes, I would measure the pudding mix and only use half of it. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Toni says
April 1, 2019 at 12:33 PMThis salad was really amazing! My kids loved it!
Sommer says
April 1, 2019 at 1:14 PMI love to serve this as dessert during family barbecues!
Julie says
April 1, 2019 at 1:58 PMHow fun! My girls are going to love this!
Steph says
April 1, 2019 at 2:30 PMThis looks incredible! Can’t wait to make it for a BBQ we’re going to next week!