Strawberry Fluff Salad is the perfect summertime dessert. It’s light, fluffy, and made with fresh strawberries and angel food cake. It only takes minutes to make, so you can whip it up at the last second for your next picnic or barbecue!
Try this amazing chocolate fluff salad for the chocolate lover's in your life.
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Strawberry Shortcake Fluff
Fluff salads are a popular no bake dessert during the summer. Most families have a recipe that has been handed down from their grandma. They are the perfect side dish to share at picnics, barbecues, or family gatherings.
One our favorite versions is this banana split fluff. Adding fresh fruit to the creamy fluff adds a fun burst of flavor and freshness to the dish. Since we had an extra box of strawberries in the fridge, I changed things up and added them to a strawberry fluff.
With its light pink color, smooth texture, and delicious taste, this shortcake salad will have you coming back for another scoop. Your summer parties will never be the same again when you serve this strawberry fluff salad!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ready in minutes. In under 10 minutes, you can have a bowl of this creamy goodness chilling in your fridge. All you need are just 6 simple ingredients.
- It is a fun pink color. The pretty pink hue and bright red berries make the salad stand out on any table.
- Light and refreshing. It is a no bake dessert option, which makes it great during the hot months. The cool texture paired with the juicy strawberries tastes so good on a warm summer day.
- Great side dish for parties. This strawberry pudding dessert is a delicious choice to bring to summer picnics or parties. The sweet flavor pairs well with savory options such as burgers, grilled chicken, or pulled pork.
What is a fluff salad?
This dessert salad is a combination of instant pudding, Cool Whip, and different mix-ins in one bowl. Crushed pineapple, nuts, marshmallows, cherries, or chocolate chips are all different ways to change up the dish.
The result is a light, fluffy pudding dessert that can be served as a side dish or a dessert. Popular versions are orange fluff, pistachio fluff, or ambrosia fruit salad.
Ingredients Needed
In just 10 minutes you can have big bowl of this strawberry shortcake fluff salad chilling in your fridge. All you need are these 6 simple ingredients.
- Instant Strawberry Pudding Mix - I usually find this flavored pudding mix at Walmart. If you can't find it, use an instant white chocolate or vanilla pudding mix.
- Milk - Whole milk or 2% milk works best when making instant pudding.
- Cool Whip - The creamy whipped topping gives the pudding a fluffy texture. If you prefer homemade whipped cream, substitute 3 cups.
- Mini Marshmallows - Once they soften this sweet ingredient adds 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. It's also delicious with twice the amount of fruit.
- Angel Food Cake - Cut the cake into small bite-sized cubes before adding it to the mixture. You will only need about ½ a cake to get 3 cups of cubes.
BruCrew Tip: Use leftover cake to make peach cheesecake pie parfaits.
How To Make Strawberry Fluff Salad
The best part about this strawberry fluff recipe is how easy it is to prepare. In ten minutes you can stir everything into a big bowl.
- Slice the fresh strawberries and cut half an angel food cake into chunks. Set these aside.
- Whisk together the instant strawberry pudding mix and milk until it thickens. Gently fold in the thawed Cool Whip.
- Add marshmallows, strawberries, and cake cubes and stir very carefully.
- Refrigerate the bowl of fluff for 1-2 hours for best flavor and texture.
Storage Recommendations
Keep the strawberry fluff in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, although it is best if served the day it is made. If it sits too long, the berries start to add moisture to the easy dessert salad.
I don't recommend freezing any type of fluff salad because it tends to be watery when it thaws and doesn't have the same consistency.
Tips and Tricks
- Boost the strawberry flavor. Stir strawberry Quik powder into the milk before you make the instant pudding mix. You can also stir a few tablespoons of dry strawberry Jello mix into the pudding.
- Use other pudding mixes. Vanilla and white chocolate pudding mixes will work just as well.
- Add a cheesecake flavor. Beat a block of softened cream cheese in a bowl, then mix in the strawberry pudding mixture. Sprinkle graham cracker chunks on top right before serving.
- Let it chill. Refrigerate the pudding mixture for a couple of hours to give it time to thicken.
- Make it a pie. For a fun twist, skip the cake cubes and spread the creamy fluff in a graham cracker crust before chilling.
FAQs
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 add a few teaspoons of dry strawberry Jello to the pudding mix before stirring in the milk.
Yes. This fluff salad can be made 1 day ahead of time and chilled in the fridge. Just make sure to stir it before serving.
We do not recommend using frozen strawberries because they tend to be wet and mushy after thawing. If you add them, they could make your fluff salad very watery.
More Dessert Salads
- S'mores Cheesecake Fluff
- Cookies and Cream Fluff
- Pumpkin Fluff
- Lemon Cheesecake Salad
- Cranberry Fluff Salad
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Recipe
Strawberry Fluff Salad
This sweet pink Strawberry 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 2% milk
- 1 - 8 ounce container Cool Whip, thawed
- 1 ½ cups mini marshmallows
- 2 cups diced strawberries
Instructions
- Cut the angel food cake into small bite sized cubes. You will need 3 cups of the cake cubes.
- Whisk together the pudding mix and milk until dissolved and the pudding thickens.
- Gently fold in the Cool Whip until it is all mixed together.
- Add the marshmallows, cake cubes, and diced strawberries and stir gently.
- Refrigerate until time to serve.
Notes
- Boost the strawberry flavor. Stir strawberry Quik powder into the milk before you make the instant pudding mix. You can also stir a few tablespoons of dry strawberry Jello mix into the pudding.
- Use other pudding mixes. Vanilla and white chocolate pudding mixes will work just as well.
- Give it a cheesecake flavor. Beat a block of softened cream cheese in a bowl, then mix in the strawberry pudding mixture. Sprinkle graham cracker chunks on top right before serving.
- Let it chill. Refrigerate the pudding mixture for a couple of hours to give it time to thicken.
- Make it a pie. Skip the cake cubes and spread the creamy fluff in a graham cracker crust before chilling for a fun twist.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 87Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 31mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 0gSugar: 9gProtein: 1g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*This post was first published in July 2015. The photos and post were updated and May 2023.
Dana
How long will this stay in the fridge without getting soggy?
Jocelyn
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.
Claire
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?
Jocelyn
That would be angel food cake cut into cubes 😉 Hope you enjoy the recipe!
BakerBabe63
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.
Amanda
This looks so amazing!!!
Jocelyn
Thanks girlie!!!!
Terra Heck
That Fluff Salad looks amazingly delish. I didn't know strawberries have more vitamin C than oranges. Interesting!
Jocelyn
It was totally news to me too!
Trish - Mom On Timeout
Looks like you had an amazing time Jocelyn! Just love seeing all those fresh strawberries!
Jocelyn
Thank you!!!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout
Sounds like a totally fun trip! And yes--- it's alllll for the vitamins 🙂
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness
I can see why you had strawberries on the brain!! This looks so good! I JUST bought a load of strawberries, and am dying to use them!
Jocelyn
Yay for strawberries! I hope you have fun using up all your berries!
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel
So jealous! Sounds like an awesome trip! This Strawberry Shortcake Fluff Salad is pure GENIUS. Pinned!
Jocelyn
It was so much fun!!! Thank you so much for the recipe pin 🙂
Lisa | Sweet 2 Eat Baking
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! 😆
Jocelyn
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!
Judy
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.
Jocelyn
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!
Maureen Blackburn
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!!!
Jocelyn
Thank you! And I hope you enjoy the fluff salad...yay for strawberries being on sale!
Kennedy Cole| KCole's Creative Corner
This is how I like my salads! 😉 No lettuce, just perfectly fluffy, pink cool whip goodness! Looks like absolute deliciousness!
Jocelyn
I'm with you there! This is totally my kind of salad too!
Stephanie @ Plain Chicken
What a fun trip! This strawberry shortcake fluff salad is most definitely my kind of salad!! YUM!
Jocelyn
It really was so much fun! And I totally agree with you...this is my kind of salad too 🙂
Jeff the Chef
I never considered putting angel food cake in my fluff! Interesting!
Jocelyn
Definitely try it...it is so good!!!
Christina Mann
Do you bake the angel food cake
Jocelyn
You can bake your own if you would like, but I just buy a pre-made cake at the grocery store for this fluff salad.
Jen | Baked by an Introvert
Your trip sounds so fun! So much strawberry inspiration. This salad looks incredible!
Kelly @ Mostly Homemade Mom
Wow, what a beautiful trip! This salad looks amazing too, can't wait to try it!
Jocelyn
Thank you!!!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
Oh just the sound of this salad is making my mouth water! I love the strawberries in here, Jocelyn! Sounds so delicious and like the perfect dish for a summer party!
Jocelyn
It is definitely a fun party dish for any party or picnic!!!!
Melanie @ Gather for Bread
What an amazing trip Jocelyn! I'd definitely be all over that. Berries all day...oh yeah. Could life get any sweeter!?
Happy Friday!
Jocelyn
It was so much fun and informational! And all the strawberries had me in heaven!
Mir
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!
Jocelyn
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!
Melisa Woodruff
Can you add blueberries to make it more patriotic? Would like to try this recipe for Labor Day picnic at church.
Jocelyn
You sure can! Blueberries would be a great way to make it red, white, and blue!