Recipes

Strawberry Fluff Salad

RECIPE BY: San

DATE: June 24, 2025

Total Time 15 minutes

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Strawberry Fluff Salad is a fun, fruity twist on Watergate Salad—cool, fluffy, and full of strawberries and pineapple!

I love a good old-fashioned fluff salad, and this strawberry cheesecake version is our newest favorite! It’s creamy, fluffy, and bursting with strawberry flavor and a hint of cheesecake—perfect for parties, potlucks, or anytime you need an easy, make-ahead treat.

plate full of strawberry fluff

My mom’s Watergate salad inspired this Strawberry Fluff Salad. It’s so good that she requested I make it for her upcoming retirement party. I’ll make it for more than just that – it is the best side dish for any gathering. The kids love it, and the adults do, too!

I’ve got a soft spot for retro recipes, and strawberry fluff salad hits all the nostalgic notes. With pudding, jello, marshmallows, pineapple, coconut, and fresh strawberries, it tastes just like the classic fluff salads from my childhood—I can never stop at just one scoop!

a box of pudding mix.

It’s also a great make-ahead recipe, something I love all year, especially during the summer when we need something to share almost weekly. Fluff salads are always a hit – a crowd-pleaser, for sure.

Maybe you’re like me and grew up with these fun side dishes. If so, prepare for a trip down memory lane! If you’re new to dessert salads, you’re in for a treat – this strawberry cheesecake fluff salad recipe might win your heart.

a serving of dessert salad on a plate.

Ingredients

  • Cool Whip
  • Cheesecake instant pudding mix
  • Strawberry jello mix
  • Crushed pineapple
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Sweetened coconut flakes
  • Chopped fresh strawberries

Recipe Tips and Variations

  • You can easily switch the fruit and jello flavors to make different flavored fluff salads. I think fresh raspberries, blueberries, or even blackberries would work well. Use a matching or complementary jello flavor to go with them.
  • Instead of cheesecake pudding mix, try using vanilla pudding mix instead.
  • I like to use Cool Whip in this recipe because it holds up well in the refrigerator. You can use homemade whipped cream sweetened with sugar instead, but any leftover salad won’t keep as long in the fridge.
  • Some nuts would work well in this recipe – maybe chopped pecans, almonds, or walnuts. Just don’t add a lot, just a few to add a nice crunch.
  • Leftover fluff salad will be kept in the refrigerator for four days, although I think it’s best to keep it within a day or so. The fruit will start releasing moisture, making the salad less fluffy and light. It will still taste good, but it won’t look as nice.

How to Make Strawberry Cheesecake Salad

Place the whipped topping in a large mixing bowl.

whipped topping in a bowl.

Sprinkle the dry pudding mix over the top.

cheesecake pudding mix sprinkles over cool whip.

Sprinkle the dry jello mix over the top.

strawberry jello mix added to the bowl.

Beat the mixture until fully combined.

marshmallows added to the mixture.

Add the marshmallows.

crushed pineapple on to of the marshmallows.

Add the drained crushed pineapple.

coconut flakes added to the fluff mixture.

Sprinkle the coconut flakes over the top.

chopped strawberries being poured into the bowl.

Add the chopped strawberries and then stir until combined.

the strawberry fluff being mixed.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the salad for at least one hour before serving it.

overhead shot of the strawberry cheesecake fluff in a bowl.

I usually make this recipe a day in advance of serving it. This allows it time to set up fully. At the very least, give it at least an hour to chill before eating it.

If you make it and want to serve it immediately, you will notice it’s a little grainy. That’s because the pudding and jello mixes haven’t fully dissolved. Giving it some time to chill will eliminate this problem.

a spoonful of fluff.

Can you use frozen strawberries?

Fresh strawberries work best in this strawberry fluff recipe. They hold their shape better.

If frozen strawberries are all you have, you can use them, but I recommend thawing them first and draining them well so they don’t water down your fluff.

a plate of strawberry fluff.

Strawberry cheesecake fluff is like a pretty pink cloud on a plate! Make this one soon, friends. You’re going to love the flavors, texture, and how easy it is to make.

More Great Side Dishes with Fruit

a bowl of strawberry watergate salad/

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collage image for pinterest strawberry fluff salad


Strawberry Fluff Salad

Prep: 15 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 10
Calories: 222 kcal
Inspired by Watergate Salad, this Strawberry Fluff Salad is a cool and fluffy treat that is bursting with strawberries and pineapple. You can make it ahead for an easy dish to share at potlucks, holidays, BBQs, and parties.
fluff salad in a bowl with a wooden spoon.
Print Pin Rate

Ingredients
 

  • 8 ounces Cool Whip
  • 3.4 ounces cheesecake instant pudding
  • 1 Tbsp strawberry jello powder
  • 20 ounces crushed pineapple juice drained and squeezed out
  • 3 cups mini marshmallows
  • 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut flakes
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries chopped

Instructions
 

  • In a mixing bowl add Cool Whip, pudding mix, and Jello powder and beat until fully combined.
  • Add crushed pineapple and beat again until well combined.
  • Stir in marshmallows, coconut, and strawberries.
  • Cover and chill for at least an hour or until ready to serve. Enjoy!

Notes

This is a great dish to make a day ahead of time.
Recipe inspired by my Grandma Sorency’s Watergate Salad.

Calories: 222kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 447mgPotassium: 148mgFiber: 2gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 70IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 1mg

fluff salad in a bowl with a wooden spoon.
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Hey, I'm Sandra! At A Dash of Sanity, you'll discover family-friendly recipes for every occasion. Whether it's speedy dinners or delectable desserts, I'm here to make your mealtime delicious, simplify your holiday baking, and unite your loved ones around the table.

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4.88 from 40 votes (14 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




33 Comments

  2. 5 stars
    Everyone absolutely loved the strawberry fluff salad! It was a big hit, with its perfectly sweet, creamy texture and the fresh burst of strawberries throughout.

    Reply

  3. 5 stars
    This strawberry fluff salad was absolutely amazing! I’m already planning to make it again. It’s a simple, delicious way to bring a smile to everyone’s face!

    Reply

  4. 5 stars
    It’s so light, fluffy, and packed with sweet strawberry flavor. Everyone from the kids to the adults loved it. It’s nice to have such a simple yet delicious dessert option that’s also a bit nostalgic.

    Reply