Creamy fruit salad with pineapple, mandarin oranges, banana slices, dark grapes, and shredded coconut in a vintage floral serving bowl.

Classic Fruit Salad

Name: Classic Fruit Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 10 servings
Ingredients: 1 can fruit cocktail; 1 can mandarin oranges; 1 can chunk pineapple; 2–3 medium bananas; 1 box instant lemon pudding mix; 1 carton Cool Whip; mini marshmallows; maraschino cherries; coconut flakes; pecans

This is the fluffy, colorful fruit bowl that tends to appear at family gatherings. Lemon pudding gives the sweet whipped topping a little brightness around the fruit and marshmallows.

By Betty Lou Gardner45 minUpdated 2026-08-25

This Fruit Salad is a light, creamy dessert made with colorful fruit, whipped topping, and a touch of lemon pudding for brightness! The combination creates a fluffy texture and a refreshing balance of sweetness that makes it a welcome addition to potlucks, holiday tables, family gatherings, and warm-weather meals. Simple to prepare and easy to make ahead, it's a classic crowd-pleaser that never seems to go out of style.

Betty Lou Gardner in a family archival photograph

Granny’s Kitchen Notes

From Betty Lou Gardner

This is one of those recipes I can put together without much planning because the ingredients are usually already in the pantry. I always make sure the fruit is drained well because that's what makes everything come together properly. If there are children coming over, I sometimes stir in a handful of marshmallows because they always seem happy to find them hiding in the bowl.