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5 Cup Salad

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close up shot of a bowl of fruit salad
This 5 cup salad is a creamy and sweet spin on traditional fruit salad with bright pineapple, cherries and oranges combined with marshmallows and covered in a tangy sour cream dressing.
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Table of Contents
  1. 5 Cup Salad Ingredients
  2. Substitutions And Additions
  3. How To Make This 5 Cup Salad Recipe
  4. How To Serve This Sour Cream Fruit Salad
  5. Storing This Fruit Salad With Marshmallows
  6. More Recipes You’ll Love
  7. JUMP TO RECIPE

Our 5 cup salad is named perfectly since you only need five ingredients, each measuring one cup, to make this simple and delicious salad recipe. Colorful pineapple, mandarin oranges, and maraschino cherries are mixed with mini marshmallows and a simple sour cream dressing to create this creamy fruit salad.

close up shot of a bowl of fruit salad

5 Cup Salad Ingredients

5 Cup Salad raw ingredients that are labeled
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Our 5 cup salad is a delightful combination of creamy goodness and refreshing fruit flavors that is sure to satisfy your taste buds.

This classic salad recipe includes a medley of pineapple, mandarin oranges, sour cream, cherries, and miniature marshmallows that yield a harmonious flavor and texture.

The sweet fruitiness of the pineapple and mandarin oranges blend flawlessly with the creaminess of the sour cream to create this irresistible salad.

You’ll need:

  • 1 cup of sour cream
  • 1 cup of roughly chopped pineapple chunks, drained
  • 1 cup of mandarin oranges, drained
  • 1 cup of drained and halved maraschino cherries, no stems
  • 1 cup of miniature marshmallows 

Substitutions And Additions

COCONUT: You can substitute sweetened coconut flakes for the cherries.

NUTS: Add nuts for an added crunch in this classic recipe.

PINEAPPLE: You can substitute drained pineapple tidbits or drained crushed pineapple for the pineapple chunks.

MARSHMALLOWS: You can substitute the multicolored miniature marshmallows for the plain miniature marshmallows.

SOUR CREAM: Greek yogurt is a popular choice as a substitute for sour cream, and it will work well in this recipe as well.

TOPPING: Add a scoop of Cool Whip on top for an extra sweet treat in this yummy fruit salad.

How To Make This 5 Cup Salad Recipe

I’m not sure you can find a salad that is easier to make than this 5 cup salad. Everything comes together quickly in the bowl and is ready in no time.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

This easy five cup salad recipe can be made a day ahead and kept in the fridge until you are ready to serve it. This gives it time to allow all the flavors to mingle together.

STEP ONE: Add the sour cream to a medium-sized mixing bowl, and whisk to remove any lumps.

STEP TWO: Fold in the pineapple, mandarin oranges, cherries, and mini marshmallows just until combined. 

PRO TIP:

Stir the fruit together carefully as you don’t want to break the pieces of fruit up in the salad.

fruits and marshmallows being folded into the bowl of sour cream

STEP THREE: Cover and chill in the refrigerator for two hours. Serve while cold.

PRO TIP:

Don’t skip the chilling step. This salad needs time for all the flavors to blend together to make it even tastier.

How To Serve This Sour Cream Fruit Salad

Enjoy this dessert salad either as a side dish or dessert. It’s the perfect recipe to bring to a family gathering or serve on a special occasion.

Try serving it with something savory, like grilled chicken breast or roasted vegetables, or maybe something a little lighter, like a cucumber and tomato salad.

This vintage recipe is not the only sweet fruit salad we love. Our ambrosia salad and cherry fluff are two more reader favorites that you can’t forget to include in your potluck menu ideas. 

Storing This Fruit Salad With Marshmallows

Enjoy this creamy salad within a few days of making it for the best results.

IN THE FRIDGE: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

IN THE FREEZER: We do not recommend freezing this salad as the creamy texture will change, and the fruit will become mushy once thawed.

close up shot of a spoonful of fruit salad honoring over a cup of fruit salad

This 5 cup salad is packed with sweet ingredients smothered in a creamy dressing. Your whole family will love the way this simple fruit salad has been dressed up with the fun marshmallows and tangy sour cream.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I use fruit cocktail instead of just the pineapple?

If you would like to include additional fruit in this 5-cup fruit salad recipe, you can change it up. Just try to stick to the one cup measurement for each of the ingredients.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

This recipe is actually better made ahead of time so that it has time to sit in the fridge and allow all the flavors to mingle.

How do I store this salad?

You can keep this salad in the fridge for up to three days. We don’t recommend freezing the salad as the fruit will become mushy once thawed.

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close up shot of a bowl of fruit salad

5 Cup Salad

5 from 1 vote
This 5 cup salad is a creamy and sweet spin on traditional fruit salad with bright pineapple, cherries and oranges combined with marshmallows and covered in a tangy sour cream dressing.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings 5 cups

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup roughly chopped pineapple chunks, drained
  • 1 cup mandarin oranges, drained
  • 1 cup drained and halved maraschino cherries, no stems
  • 1 cup miniature marshmallows

Instructions
 

  • Add the sour cream to a medium-sized mixing bowl, and whisk to remove any lumps.
  • Fold in the pineapple, mandarin oranges, cherries and miniature marshmallows just until combined.
  • Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Serve while cold.

Notes

  • This easy five cup salad recipe can be made a day ahead and kept in the fridge until you are ready to serve it. This gives it time to allow all the flavors to mingle together.
  • Stir the fruit together carefully as you don’t want to break the pieces of fruit up in the salad.
  • Don’t skip the chilling step. This salad needs time for all the flavors to blend together to make it even tastier.

Nutrition

Calories: 248kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 48mg | Potassium: 199mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 597IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 1mg
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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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