Aunt Betty’s Comfort Kitchen · Salads

Katherine's Fruit Salad

Name: Katherine's Fruit Salad
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 10 servings
Ingredients: 1 large can mandarin oranges; 1 large can fruit cocktail; 1 large can crushed pineapple; 1 box instant vanilla pudding; 1 box instant lemon pudding; 1 envelope Dream Whip

A no-cook ambrosia-style salad — canned fruit thickened with dry pudding mixes (no milk needed — the pineapple juice does the work) and lightened with whipped topping. A make-ahead potluck staple.

15 min total 1 hr chill

Effort ●○○○ Time ●○○○ Anytime

VegetarianGluten-Free

Servingsamounts scale to match

Units

Ingredients

The dry pudding thickens against the juice — don't add milk. Stir the dry vanilla and lemon pudding mixes straight into the undrained fruit; the pineapple juice is the only liquid it needs to set. Fold the whipped topping in last, and chill.

Easier, if you like

Cool Whip (about 2 cups, thawed) can stand in for the Dream Whip.
Any canned fruit works — peaches, pears, or extra mandarins.

Method

Cook's notes

No milk goes in — the juice from the undrained pineapple is what sets the pudding. That's the whole trick.

Make it a few hours (or a day) ahead; it firms up and the flavors settle.

Vegetarian and naturally gluten-free — check that the pudding mixes are GF if it matters.

Lovely with a handful of mini marshmallows or coconut folded in, ambrosia-style.

Vegetarian and gluten-free as written

Gluten-free: naturally — just confirm the pudding mixes are GF.

Lighter: use sugar-free instant pudding and a light whipped topping.