By Becky Hardin
Updated Nov 18, 2025
This classic marshmallow salad recipe is a sure-fire hit that works as a sweet side dish or fruity dessert. I’ve taken grapes, strawberries, pineapple, oranges, and marshmallows, and tossed them in a sweet and sour whipped cream dressing for a marshmallow fruit salad that is too good to be missed.
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Easy Marshmallow Salad Recipe
I love preparing an old-fashioned marshmallow fruit salad as a holiday dish, although I must admit that I also enjoy eating it any time of the year. Fluffy, light, and sweet, it’s a delicious way to enjoy fruit.
This salad comes together in about 20 minutes, with no cooking required, and, best of all, I can prepare it a day or two ahead of time so there are fewer things on my to-do list as the holidays approach. This recipe is perfect for feeding a crowd, making about 12 servings.
Though it tastes great as is, I’ll often switch things up based on my mood and what I’ve got in my kitchen. Sometimes I throw in canned pineapple in place of the fresh pineapple or use whipped topping in place of the whipping cream, powdered sugar, and sour cream. And if I haven’t had a chance to pick up fresh fruit, I use canned fruit cocktail instead.
Tips for Beginners
- Make the salad 4 hours before serving . This allows the flavors to mingle and preserves the salad’s structure.
- Add the cherries just before serving . Maraschino cherries will turn your whipped cream pink. I recommend adding them right before serving to avoid this.
- Serve the salad cold . Marshmallow salad can be left out of the refrigerator for up to 2 hours, but I recommend serving it cold because the whipped cream dressing will start to melt after 30 minutes.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 cup heavy whipping cream 227g
- ▢ 2 tbsp powdered sugar 14g
- ▢ ¼ cup sour cream 57g
- ▢ 10 oz. mini marshmallows 283g (1 bag)
- ▢ 1 cup canned mandarin oranges 268g, drained
- ▢ 1 cup diced fresh strawberries 170g
- ▢ 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple 170g
- ▢ 1 cup green grapes 150g, halved
- ▢ ⅓ cup maraschino cherries 57g, halved
- ▢ ⅓ cup chopped pecans 38g
Video
Instructions
- In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, whip the heavy cream and powdered sugar until soft-medium peaks form. Gently fold in the sour cream. Do not over-mix as it will cause the whipped cream to deflate. 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 2 tbsp powdered sugar, ¼ cup sour cream
- Gently fold in the marshmallows, mandarin oranges, strawberries, pineapple, grapes, maraschino cherries, and pecans. 10 oz. mini marshmallows, 1 cup canned mandarin oranges, 1 cup diced fresh strawberries, 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple, 1 cup green grapes, ⅓ cup maraschino cherries, ⅓ cup chopped pecans
- Spoon into your serving dish and top with additional maraschino cherries and pecans.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Hand Mixer
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Marshmallow Salad Step by Step
Whip the Cream: Using a hand mixer in a large bowl, whip 1 cup of heavy cream and 2 tbsp of powdered sugar until soft-medium peaks form. Gently fold in ¼ cup of sour cream but do not overmix.
Fold in the fruit: Gently fold in 10 oz. of mini marshmallows, 1 cup of canned mandarin oranges, 1 cup of diced fresh strawberries, 1 cup of chopped fresh pineapple, 1 cup of green grapes, ⅓ cup of maraschino cherries, and ⅓ cup of chopped pecans.
How to Store
This salad is a great make-ahead dish. Prepare the entire salad, leaving off any nuts or cherries that you plan to use as garnish, up to 2 days in advance. Store it tightly wrapped in the refrigerator, and garnish with cherries and chopped nuts when ready to serve.
Store leftover marshmallow salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing this salad.
Serving Suggestions
This marshmallow salad recipe is one delicious and crowd-pleasing dessert, but it is also commonly served as a side dish as part of a holiday meal. I like to serve it with some of my favorite holiday mains like air fryer garlic rosemary turkey breast , or deep fried turkey breast for Thanksgiving, garlic butter prime rib for Christmas, or sheet pan Easter dinner with lamb .
more fruit salads to try
Waldorf Salad
Cranberry Fluff Salad
Watermelon Salad
Grape Salad
Marshmallow Salad Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Hand Mixer
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream 227g
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar 14g
- ¼ cup sour cream 57g
- 10 oz. mini marshmallows 283g (1 bag)
- 1 cup canned mandarin oranges 268g, drained
- 1 cup diced fresh strawberries 170g
- 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple 170g
- 1 cup green grapes 150g, halved
- ⅓ cup maraschino cherries 57g, halved
- ⅓ cup chopped pecans 38g
Instructions
- In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, whip the heavy cream and powdered sugar until soft-medium peaks form. Gently fold in the sour cream. Do not over-mix as it will cause the whipped cream to deflate. 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 2 tbsp powdered sugar, ¼ cup sour cream
- Gently fold in the marshmallows, mandarin oranges, strawberries, pineapple, grapes, maraschino cherries, and pecans. 10 oz. mini marshmallows, 1 cup canned mandarin oranges, 1 cup diced fresh strawberries, 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple, 1 cup green grapes, ⅓ cup maraschino cherries, ⅓ cup chopped pecans
- Spoon into your serving dish and top with additional maraschino cherries and pecans.
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
