This easy 5-cup salad combines juicy fruit, mini marshmallows, and creamy goodness for a simple, nostalgic treat. With just five ingredients, it’s the perfect quick recipe for any occasion.
This classic five cup salad recipe is a nostalgic nod to retro cooking and a delightful mix of flavors and textures. It combines a creamy base with an abundance of colorful fruit, mini marshmallows, and sometimes shredded coconut.
So….is it a side or a dessert? I’ll let you decide. It’s one of those dishes that doesn’t really seem to know what it is! It’s sweet like a dessert, but depending on the dressing, it can be light like a fruit cocktail.
Ingredients for the Best 5 Cup Salad Recipe
- Sour cream: You can use light sour cream for a lower calorie count.
- Pineapple chunks: You can substitute drained pineapple tidbits or drained crushed pineapples for the pineapple chunks if you prefer.
- Mandarin oranges: I prefer to use canned mandarin oranges for best results. Fresh oranges have a pith (the white part) around each segment, which will affect the texture of the dish.
- Maraschino cherries: You can substitute sweetened coconut flakes for the cherries.
- Miniature marshmallows: You can substitute multicolored miniature marshmallows for the plain miniature marshmallows. You can also use large marshmallows by cutting them into quarters with kitchen shears to turn them into mini marshmallows. Eight large marshmallows is the equivalent of 1 cup of mini marshmallows.
How to Make 5 Cup Salad: Step-by-Step Guide
- Whisk: Add the sour cream to a medium size mixing bowl and whisk until no lumps remain.
- Fold: Fold in the fruit and mini marshmallows.
- Serve: Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Serve while cold.
Tips for Perfect 5 Cup Salad Every Time
- Select The Sweetness: If the salad feels too sweet, balance it with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt or additional sour cream. For less sweetness, opt for fruit packed in water instead of syrup.
- Prevent Moist Marshmallows: Add the marshmallows just before serving to keep them fluffy and prevent them from becoming soggy. Alternatively, lightly toss them in powdered sugar before mixing to create a protective coating.
- Pat With A Paper Towel: Make sure any canned fruits are well-drained to avoid excess liquid that could water down the salad. For an extra step, pat the fruit dry with a paper towel.
- Make More: This recipe can be doubled or tripled if you need to feed a crowd.
