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Strawberry Shortcake Fluff Salad

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This sweet pink Strawberry Shortcake Fluff Salad has pudding, whipped topping, angel food cake, and fresh strawberries.  A fluff salad recipe is the perfect treat to share at picnics or barbecues.

Try this amazing Rocky Road Fluff Salad for the chocolate lover’s in your life.

A red bowl on a cutting board filled with strawberry fluff salad with a plate of angel food cake behind it

Strawberry Fluff

Going on food tours and seeing how food is grown or packaged has been one of my favorite things that I have done as a food blogger. It is so cool to see the entire process from farm to table each time.

A few years ago I was able to go to a few strawberry farms and hear about their process.  I came home from that California trip with strawberries on the brain, and I couldn’t wait to add them to an easy no bake dessert for my family to enjoy.  

One of the most popular desserts that I have ever made is this Fluff Salad. It’s what started my obsession with these easy creamy fruit salads.

An overhead picture of the top of a red bowl filled with strawberry fluff salad and topped with diced strawberries

I seriously have so many ideas for ones that I want to make, but I am trying to spare you from my fluff salad obsession by spacing them out over time.

Today we are starting with a sweet strawberry fluff salad made with angel food cake.

What is a fluff salad?

  • If you have ever been to a church potluck in the midwest or south, you have probably had a version of this dessert salad.
  • A mixture of pudding, Cool Whip, and different mix-ins creates this fun dish. Crushed pineapple, nuts, marshmallows, cherries, or chocolate chips are all different ways to change up the dish.
  • Popular versions are Orange Fluff, Pistachio Fluff, Watergate Salad, or Fruit Ambrosia Salad.
  • The result is a light, fluffy pudding dessert that can be served as a side dish or a dessert. 

What You’ll Need:

  • Instant Strawberry Pudding Mix – I usually find this pudding mix at Walmart. If you can’t find it, use instant white chocolate or vanilla.
  • Milk – You can use regular milk or 2%. Add more strawberry flavor by adding strawberry Quik to the milk first.
  • Cool Whip – The creamy whipped topping is what gives this salad the fluffy texture. If you prefer, you can also use Whipped Cream recipe instead.
  • Miniature Marshmallows – This sweet ingredient gives a great texture to the chilled salad. They are optional, so you can leave them out if you like.
  • Strawberries – Feel free to use more fresh strawberries to the dessert. It’s delicious with twice the fruit too.
  • Angel Food Cake – Cut the cake into small bite-sized cubes before adding it to the mixture. You will only need about 1/2 a cake to get 3 cups of cubes. Use the leftovers to make these Peach Cheesecake Pie Parfaits too.
A red bowl on a cutting board filled with strawberry fluff salad and topped with diced strawberries

How to make Strawberry Shortcake Fluff Salad:

This dessert salad is very easy to put together in minutes. It’s great served as a side dish or dessert.

  1. Cut fresh strawberries and half an angel food cake into chunks. Set these aside.
  2. Whisk together the instant strawberry pudding mix and milk.  
  3. Fold in a container of thawed Cool Whip.
  4. Add marshmallows, strawberries, and cake cubes and stir gently.
  5. Refrigerate the bowl of fluff salad for 1-2 hours for best flavor and texture. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

What can you use if you can’t find the strawberry pudding?

You can use an instant white chocolate or vanilla pudding mix and strawberry milk to get the strawberry flavor. 

Another thing you can do is to add a few teaspoons of strawberry Jello to the pudding mix before stirring in the milk.

Can you make fluff salad ahead of time?

Yes. This fluff salad can be made a day ahead of time and chilled in the fridge. Just make sure to give it a stir before serving.

This dessert salad really is best served within a day of making it though. The berries start to add extra moisture to the dessert if it sits too long.

CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

A red bowl filled with strawberry shortcake fluff salad and topped with extra diced strawberries

More dessert salads:

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Two pictures of Strawberry Shortcake Fluff Salad collaged together with a red text box
A red bowl full of strawberry fluff salad and topped with diced strawberries

Strawberry Shortcake Fluff Salad Recipe

Yield: 8 cups fluff salad
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

This sweet pink Strawberry Shortcake Fluff Salad has pudding, whipped topping, angel food cake, and fresh strawberries.  A dessert salad recipe is the perfect treat to share at picnics or barbecues.

Ingredients

  • 1 angel food cake
  • 1 - 3.4 ounce box instant strawberry pudding mix
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 - 8 ounce container Cool Whip, thawed
  • 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
  • 2 cups diced strawberries

Instructions

  1. Cut the angel food cake into small bite sized cubes. You will need 3 cups of the cake cubes.
  2. Whisk together the pudding mix and milk until dissolved and the pudding thickens.
  3. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until it is all mixed together.
  4. Add the marshmallows, cake cubes, and diced strawberries and stir gently.
  5. Refrigerate until time to serve.

Notes

  • If you cannot find strawberry pudding, you can use an instant vanilla or white chocolate pudding mix and 1-2 Tablespoons of strawberry Jello.
  • Use strawberry milk to boost the strawberry flavor.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 87Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 32mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 0gSugar: 8gProtein: 1g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Jocelyn @ Inside BruCrew Life
Cuisine: American / Category: Pudding and Parfaits

*The post for Strawberry Shortcake Fluff Salad was first published July 10, 2015. The photos and post were updated and republished January 27, 2021.

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Comments

    • Jocelyn says

      This fluff salad is actually quite sweet, so I would personally not add any additional sugar to the strawberries. Plus, adding sugar to the berries will cause them to get juicy, and the extra liquid would make the fluff salad get wet and mushy.

      Reply

  2. Tammy says

    Just made a triple batch today using white chocolate pudding. This is a family favorite! Today I added blueberries and strawberries for a festive treat.

    Reply

  3. Darrell says

    I can NOT find ‘strawberry pudding’ – I’m located in the middle of the state of Iowa. Suggestions please.

    Thank you

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      The “notes” section of the recipe card has some ideas for anyone who cannot find the strawberry pudding. I hope that helps and you are able to make the fluff salad.

      Reply

  4. Carrie says

    I am trying this recipe for our 4th of July get together. I was wondering if this was something I could make ahead? (Day before) I was afraid it would get soggy. Thanks and we can’t wait to try.

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      It is ok if you make it one day ahead of time, but I would personally make it day of and let it sit in the fridge a few hours before serving. I hope you enjoy it.

      Reply

  6. Teri Martin says

    I just thought of something when I read about you saying if someone can’t find strawberry pudding , use vanilla pudding. Well, I think to get that good strawberry flavor , mix some Nestle’s strawberry quick into the milk before adding to the instant pudding. Just a thought.

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      I had it in my fridge for 2-3 days, and it still tasted fine. I do recommend making and serving it within the first day though. It is definitely better that way.

      Reply

  8. Claire says

    Just check out the Strawberry Shortcake Fluff and have a question. What are the Angel Food Cake cubes that are mentioned in the ingredients, please?

    Reply

  9. BakerBabe63 says

    OMG! This is just SOOOOOOO awesome!! I was lucky enough to find the Strawberry Creme pudding at a nearby WalMart (had to go to the bigger one in the town where I work rather than the little one around the corner from home, but it was on the way) and I just made it. I’m going to be taking 90% of it to work with me tonight for my co-workers (will save me from eating the entire bowl by myself), but the rest is staying right here at home with me. Only one little drawback to this that I found. I licked the bowl…and the spoon clean…well, I guess it saves time on dishes, right?? LOL Thanks for sharing. This is gonna be my go-to “salad” for quite some time. Now off to go back to the bigger WalMart to stock up on boxes of Strawberry Creme pudding! 😀 Thank you SO much for sharing this recipe.

    Reply

  16. Lisa | Sweet 2 Eat Baking says

    Wow, looks like you had an amazing time (and view) on your trip. That’s insane that all the flowers need to be removed by hand — dedication right there! They do look so delicious though.

    I love that this fluff goes with angel cake too, because it’s so heavenly. Corny, I know! 😆

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      I had no idea how labor intensive strawberries were to grow. I have a new found appreciation for the hard work that goes into growing them!

      Reply

  17. Judy says

    I want the recipes for the food in the photos too!!! 🙂 I love your site and daily recipes. Now to find the time and energy to make so many of them. A recent diagnosis of fibromyalgia has taken a serious blow to my food preparation. I’m hoping with change and getting this under control, all of this will change. Bless You and thanks.

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      I am so glad you are enjoying the recipes and my site. You totally made my day. I hope you are able to get the fibromyalgia under control and get back in the kitchen again soon!

      Reply

  18. Maureen Blackburn says

    The strawberry trip sounded amazing!!! I would love eating strawberries in every dish, so bring on the strawberry recipes!!!! ( they just happen to be on sale this week, and I picked up a couple cartons) Now I will be trying Strawberry Shortcake Fluff!!!

    Reply

  26. Mir says

    That “dirty dozen” list is always terrifying. But I can’t always get organic, and I love me my fruit! So it’s good to hear someone say that we should just keep eating it.
    Have I mention before that I love how this kind of dish is called “salad?” This one is so summery!

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      It was so good to hear that the bottom line is to just get more fruits and veggies in your diet. I’m so glad I never really listened to those lists! And salad that looks like this is definitely my favorite way to add in salad to my diet. LOL!

      Reply

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