Cherry Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Cherry Fruit Salad

Teresa Ambra

This delicious Cherry Fruit Salad recipe was originally called “pink salad” but I changed it to cherry fruit salad to better reflect what kind of salad this is. Yes, it is pink, but it’s more than just pink! It has a delicious and creamy, cream cheese and cool whip base with fruit cocktail, pineapple, maraschino cherries, walnuts and marshmallows thrown in.

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It is really spectacular and sweet enough to be a dessert. Almost everyone who tries this recipe wants a copy. It’s really easy and quick to assemble, too. I recommend leaving it in the refrigerator overnight if that’s a possibility. That way the flavors can mingle with the creamy base.

I love looking through my cookbook and reminiscing about the people who gave me each individual recipe. This recipe was given to my by one of my favorite friends in the early 1980s. Bonnie Rodriguez was a gal who mentored me in cooking, hospitality, and the Christian faith. She loved to try new recipes and I can’t remember any of them failing.

She was the one who spurred me on to trying more recipes out of cookbooks and magazines — recipes that I had never tasted before — rather than just relying on recipes I had sampled. Bonnie brought this salad to a potluck in the very early 1980s and it was an instantaneous hit with our family!

Cherry Fruit Salad has been one of John’s favorite recipes through the decades, too. Many times he would prefer a bowl of this delicious salad over dessert. Anytime we took home leftovers he would have them gone in no time! Part of the reason for that is he loves pineapple, and this recipe has pineapple in it!

I used fresh pineapple this time because I was trying to use it up, and the maraschino cherries that we had on hand were pitted and sliced so that saved a good bit of time on prep work. This is a great salad to take to potlucks, barbecues, block parties, or even family reunions. Because it uses mostly canned ingredients it can be made in the winter time as well, when fresh fruits are not so readily available. I think you’ll love this recipe. We sure do.

When I first posted this recipe in September 2012, I had only been blogging about three months. My first 200 or so posts were taken with an iPhone 3 camera which, while they provided a picture, the pictures were still of a blurry, grainy quality and many times on the dark side as well.

This recipe has always been so popular on my blog I decided to remake it and take pictures again (April 2015) when we had a potluck for our Sunday school class last week. This lovely salad also makes a great side dish for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, and since you make it night before, it can really be a time saver in preparation time.

Cherry Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my husband's favorite #salad recipe. Sweet enough to serve as a #dessert! #fruitsalad #cherries

Cherry Fruit Salad is a fabulous, fluffy salad recipe. One of our all-time favorites!

Cherry Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my husband's favorite #salad recipe. Sweet enough to serve as a #dessert! #fruitsalad #cherries

Here’s a quick peek at this yummy “pink” salad.

Cherry Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my husband's favorite #salad recipe. Sweet enough to serve as a #dessert! #fruitsalad #cherries

Cherry Fruit Salad is a great side dish for holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter.

Here’s what I did.

Cherry Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my husband's favorite #salad recipe. Sweet enough to serve as a #dessert! #fruitsalad #cherries

I used these ingredients.

Cherry Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my husband's favorite #salad recipe. Sweet enough to serve as a #dessert! #fruitsalad #cherries

Soften cream cheese. Put in a bowl with powdered sugar, non-dairy whipped topping, red food coloring and 5 tablespoons fruit cocktail juice.

Cherry Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my husband's favorite #salad recipe. Sweet enough to serve as a #dessert! #fruitsalad #cherries

Mix all the ingredients with an electric mixer. Yes, it’s going to be a “pink” salad.

Cherry Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my husband's favorite #salad recipe. Sweet enough to serve as a #dessert! #fruitsalad #cherries

Add drained pineapple, drained fruit cocktail, marshmallows and nuts. Rinse and drain maraschino cherries. Pat dry and add to bowl with pink cream cheese mixture. 

Cherry Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my husband's favorite #salad recipe. Sweet enough to serve as a #dessert! #fruitsalad #cherries

Stir ingredients with a wooden spoon to combine. Garnish with more cherries, if desired.

Cherry Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my husband's favorite #salad recipe. Sweet enough to serve as a #dessert! #fruitsalad #cherries

Cherry Fruit Salad is sweet enough to serve as a dessert!

Cherry Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my husband's favorite #salad recipe. Sweet enough to serve as a #dessert! #fruitsalad #cherries

Here’s a serving for you!

Here’s the recipe.

CHERRY FRUIT SALAD

(Recipe adapted from Bonnie Rodriguez, when we attended First Baptist Church Indian Rocks, Largo, FL; Bonnie referred to this as “Pink Salad.”)

Cherry Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Cherry Fruit Salad

Teresa Ambra
Cherry Fruit Salad is one of the best fruity and creamy salads ever. This fabulous fruit salad includes a cream cheese base with maraschino cherries, marshmallows, walnuts, pineapple and fruit cocktail. It's rich, decadent and sweet enough to be served as dessert. This vintage recipe is one of our family's favorite recipes.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Salads and Salad Dressings
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 294 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large serving bowl
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • measuring spoons
  • measuring cups
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 1 nut chopper if nuts are not previously chopped
  • 1 wooden spoon

Ingredients
  

  • 29 oz. can fruit cocktail reserve juice
  • 20 oz. can pineapple chunks drained
  • 16 oz. jar maraschino cherries drained and halved
  • 2-3 cups miniature marshmallows
  • 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped (measure after chopping)
  • 4-5 tbsp. reserved fruit cocktail juice
  • 5-7 drops red food coloring
  • 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese softened
  • 16 oz. container non dairy whipped topping
  • 3 heaping tablespoons powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Mix cream cheese, whipped topping, powdered sugar, 5 tbsp. reserved fruit cocktail juice, and a few drops of red food coloring in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer.
  • Add fruits, fruit cocktail, marshmallows and nuts.
  • Stir well to combine.
  • Refrigerate overnight if possible.

Notes

NOTE: I like to blot the cherries, pineapple and fruit cocktail dry with paper towels before adding so the salad stays nice and thick and doesn't get watered down from the syrup the fruits come in.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 6gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 173mgPotassium: 240mgFiber: 3gSugar: 46gVitamin A: 222IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 130mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cherries, fruit cocktail, fruit salad, marshmallows, pineapple, salad, walnuts
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Cherry Fruit Salad[/b]
Recipe Type: Salads and Salad Dressings
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from Bonnie Rodriguez when we attended First Baptist Church Indian Rocks, Largo, FL (This salad was always referred to as Pink Salad).
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 12
Fabulous fruit salad with a cream cheese base that includes maraschino cherries, marshmallows, walnuts, pineapple and fruit cocktail.
Ingredients
  • 29-oz. can fruit cocktail, [u]reserve juice[/u]
  • 1 lg. can pineapple chunks, drained
  • 16-oz. jar maraschino cherries, drained and halved
  • 2-3 cups [url href=”http://www.kraftrecipes.com/home.aspx” target=”_blank”]Kraft[/url]Jet-Puffed miniature marshmallows
  • ½ cup chopped [url href=”http://www.diamondnuts.com/” target=”_blank”]Diamond[/url] walnuts or pecans
  • 4-5 tbsp. reserved fruit cocktail juice
  • [url href=”http://www.mccormick.com/Spices-and-Flavors/Extracts-and-Food-Colors/Food-Colors/Red-Food-Color” target=”_blank”]McCormick[/url] red food coloring
  • 8-oz. pkg. [url href=”http://www.kraftfoodservice.com/productsandbrands/dairy/philadelphia/default.aspx” target=”_blank”]Philadelphia[/url]cream cheese, softened
  • 16-oz. container whipped topping
  • 3 heaping tbsp. powdered sugar
Instructions
  1. Mix cream cheese, whipped topping, powdered sugar, 5 tbsp. reserved fruit cocktail juice, and a few drops of red food coloring.
  2. Add fruits, fruit cocktail, marshmallows and nuts. Stir.
  3. Refrigerate overnight if possible.
Notes
I like to blot the cherries, pineapple and fruit cocktail dry with paper towels before adding so the salad stays nice and thick and doesn’t get watered down from the syrup the fruits come in.
Cherry Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my husband's favorite #salad recipe. Sweet enough to serve as a #dessert! #fruitsalad #cherries

This fruity salad is great to take to potlucks because you can make it the day beforehand.

Cherry Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | my husband's favorite #salad recipe. Sweet enough to serve as a #dessert! #fruitsalad #cherries

Doesn’t Cherry Fruit Salad look luscious?

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Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

Pistachio Fruit Fluff Salad

Pistachio Fruit Fluff Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Such a quick, easy and refreshing #fruitsalad for summer barbecues and #holidays. #fruit #salad

Pink Fluff

Cherry Fruit Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Cherry Fruit Salad

Teresa Ambra
Cherry Fruit Salad is one of the best fruity and creamy salads ever. This fabulous fruit salad includes a cream cheese base with maraschino cherries, marshmallows, walnuts, pineapple and fruit cocktail. It's rich, decadent and sweet enough to be served as dessert. This vintage recipe is one of our family's favorite recipes.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Salads and Salad Dressings
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 294 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large serving bowl
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • measuring spoons
  • measuring cups
  • 1 electric mixer
  • 1 nut chopper if nuts are not previously chopped
  • 1 wooden spoon

Ingredients
  

  • 29 oz. can fruit cocktail reserve juice
  • 20 oz. can pineapple chunks drained
  • 16 oz. jar maraschino cherries drained and halved
  • 2-3 cups miniature marshmallows
  • 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped (measure after chopping)
  • 4-5 tbsp. reserved fruit cocktail juice
  • 5-7 drops red food coloring
  • 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese softened
  • 16 oz. container non dairy whipped topping
  • 3 heaping tablespoons powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Mix cream cheese, whipped topping, powdered sugar, 5 tbsp. reserved fruit cocktail juice, and a few drops of red food coloring in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer.
  • Add fruits, fruit cocktail, marshmallows and nuts.
  • Stir well to combine.
  • Refrigerate overnight if possible.

Notes

NOTE: I like to blot the cherries, pineapple and fruit cocktail dry with paper towels before adding so the salad stays nice and thick and doesn’t get watered down from the syrup the fruits come in.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 6gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 173mgPotassium: 240mgFiber: 3gSugar: 46gVitamin A: 222IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 130mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cherries, fruit cocktail, fruit salad, marshmallows, pineapple, salad, walnuts
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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