Banana Split Fluff Salad is a flavor-packed no bake dessert that feeds a crowd while also satisfying everyone’s sweet tooth in a fun way! Only 15 minutes of hands-on prep time is required!
Taste another spin-off from the classic ice cream treat by making this No Bake Banana Split Cake! Similar ingredients but made with a delicious graham cracker crust!
Mix up a large bowl of this Banana Split Fluff Salad to bring to every gathering that’s on your calendar! Especially the summer ones, since this fruity, chilled treat will be the perfect way to cool down in the heat!
It’s made with ingredients such as mini marshmallows, fruit, cool whip, and banana pudding mix. Creating a no-bake dessert that will pleasantly shock your taste buds without sacrificing your time!
Instead, it’s made in just 15 minutes and is then chilled in the fridge.
A Taste Of This Banana Split Fluff Salad
Taste: This twist on the vintage ice cream dessert still has all of your favorite flavors! You will still enjoy the taste of fresh bananas, strawberries, cherries, and crushed pineapple.
It’s all wrapped up in a sweet banana and pineapple coating! Don’t worry, it’s got all of those delicious banana split toppings that you love as well!
Texture: The creamy coating in this dessert is loaded with mix-ins, giving this banana split salad tons of tasty texture! From the tender fruit, bouncy marshmallows, crunchy nuts, and chocolate chips, you get to experience it all!
A Closer Look At That Sweet, Creamy Coating!
All of the fruit, marshmallows, and nuts in this dessert are covered in the creamiest, dreamiest coating ever! This creamy dessert coating is made by combining instant banana pudding mix powder with crushed pineapple juice.
That’s right, the milk is replaced with pineapple juice! This genius recipe move is an easy way to infuse the dessert with a much more vibrant flavor!
Though if you don’t prefer a strong pineapple flavor, you may want to drain the pineapple juice. Then replace the juice with 1 cup of milk, sour cream, or yogurt.
This will also create an even creamier coating for the Banana Split Salad. Though if you want a creamier dessert WITH the pineapple flavor, just drain half of the juice from the canned crushed pineapple.
For a slight flavor variation to the creamy coating, you can even swap the banana pudding mix out for another flavor! Try vanilla, cheesecake, or even coconut cream flavor!
Helpful Recipe Tips When Making This Banana Split Salad
- Mix-Ins – This dessert salad is super easy to customize to your own taste buds! Feel free to use different nuts, fruit, or chocolate chips!
- Pudding – Be sure only to use the instant variety pudding, not cook and serve. If cook-and-serve pudding is used in this recipe, the salad will not turn out correctly. The two types of puddings are located close to each other on the shelf, so it is easy to accidentally grab the wrong one!
- Mixing – When combining the instant banana pudding, mix the powder with the crushed pineapple juice until the powder fully dissolves. Once the pudding has thickened, the two have been thoroughly combined, and you can move on to the next step!
- Chilling – It may be tempting to skip the chilling time on this dessert! However, I encourage you not to since doing so will cost the salad to miss out on a ton of flavor and texture!
- Toppings – As with any banana split, the toppings are the best part! You could even set up a toppings bar where friends and family can add their own choice of toppings themselves. Include things such as chocolate syrup, whipped cream, maraschino cherries, chocolate chips, chopped peanuts or walnuts, and sprinkles!
Desserts like this Banana Split Fluff Salad are the best part of any gathering or party! From Blueberry Heaven On Earth Cake to No Bake Butterfinger Pie, there’s surely a dessert for every occasion!
And even if there isn’t an occasion, you can still enjoy other easy-to-make treats such as these Strawberry Cheesecake Balls and Easy Scotcheroos!
Storage Instructions
Keep any leftovers stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Before serving, give the salad a mix to reincorporate any of the juices and cream that may have started to separate.
Is This A Dessert That I Can Make Ahead Of Time?
Yes, this dessert can be made up to two days in advance. This will actually give you the best tasting Banana Split Salad since the dessert will have had plenty of time to chill while the flavors blend.
I wouldn’t recommend making it any more than two days in advance though. Any longer than that, and the fruit and marshmallows may become too soft.
Can I Choose To Use Light Or Low Fat Ingredients In This Dessert Recipe?
Of course! You can use light or low-fat cool whip in this recipe, and it’ll still turn out just fine. You can even use the sugar-free and fat-free version of banana pudding as long as it’s the instant variety.
Can I Make This Banana Split Salad With Homemade Whipped Topping Instead Of Cool Whip?
Yes, this dessert salad can be made using your own homemade whipped topping. Just be sure to use at least 8 ounces of the homemade topping so the salad will still turn out correctly.
Banana Split Fluff Salad
EQUIPMENT
- large mixing bowl
INGREDIENTS
Fluff
- 1 (3.4 oz) box instant banana pudding unprepared
- 40 ounces crushed pineapple in juice undrained
- 8 ounces Cool Whip thawed
- 3 large bananas sliced
- 16 ounce fresh strawberries hulled and chopped
- 4 cups mini marshmallows about â…” of a 10 ounce bag
- 10 ounces maraschino cherries drained well and stems removed (reserve some for topping)
- ½ cup chocolate chips plus more for topping
- ½ cup chopped peanuts plus more for topping
Toppings
- Chocolate syrup
- Whipped cream
- Maraschino cherries
- Sprinkles
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the instant banana pudding mix powder and the crushed pineapples and juice until the powder has fully dissolved and the pudding thickens.1 (3.4 oz) box instant banana pudding, 40 ounces crushed pineapple in juice
- Add the Cool Whip and fold it together using a rubber spatula.8 ounces Cool Whip
- Add the bananas, strawberries, marshmallows, cherries, chocolate chips, and nuts. Stir together to combine until everything is evenly coated in the banana pudding cream mix.3 large bananas, 16 ounce fresh strawberries, 4 cups mini marshmallows, 10 ounces maraschino cherries, ½ cup chocolate chips, ½ cup chopped peanuts
- Place in the refrigerator to chill for 2 to 4 hours. This gives the pudding time to thicken and let the flavors meld together.
- When ready to serve, top with additional nuts, semisweet chocolate chips, and maraschino cherries. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and add sprinkles if desired.Chocolate syrup, Whipped cream, Maraschino cherries, Sprinkles
NOTES
- Storage Instructions: Keep any leftovers stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Before serving, give the salad a mix to reincorporate any of the juices and cream that may have started to separate.
- Is This A Dessert That I Can Make Ahead Of Time? Yes, this dessert can be made up to two days in advance. This will actually give you the best-tasting Banana Split Salad since the dessert will have had plenty of time to chill while the flavors blend. I wouldn’t recommend making it any more than two days in advance though. Any longer than that, and the fruit and marshmallows may become too soft.
- Can I Choose To Use Light Or Low Fat Ingredients In This Dessert Recipe? Of course! You can use light or low-fat cool whip in this recipe, and it’ll still turn out just fine. You can even use the sugar-free and fat-free version of banana pudding as long as it’s the instant variety.
- Can I Make This Banana Split Salad With Homemade Whipped Topping Instead Of Cool Whip? Yes, this dessert salad can be made using your own homemade whipped topping. Just be sure to use at least 8 ounces of the homemade topping so the salad will still turn out correctly.
