Description
Grandma’s Sunshine Salad is a refreshing, creamy fruit salad combining pineapple, mandarin oranges, and maraschino cherries in a sweet and tangy dressing. It’s the perfect summer dish that’s quick to make and always a hit at any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 can (15 oz) pineapple chunks, drained
- 1 can (11 oz) mandarin oranges, drained
- ½ cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
- ½ cup mini marshmallows
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup whipped topping (like Cool Whip)
- ¼ cup maraschino cherries, chopped (optional)
- ¼ cup orange juice or pineapple juice (optional)
- A pinch of salt to balance the sweetness
Instructions
- Prepare the fruits: Drain pineapple and mandarin oranges well. Place in a large mixing bowl.
- Add marshmallows and coconut: Stir mini marshmallows and shredded coconut into the fruit mixture. Add maraschino cherries if desired.
- Make the dressing: In a separate bowl, combine sour cream and whipped topping. Add orange or pineapple juice if using. Stir until smooth.
- Mix everything together: Pour the creamy mixture over the fruit and gently stir to combine, making sure not to break the fruit.
- Chill and serve: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Garnish with extra cherries or coconut before serving if desired.
Notes
- Drain the fruit well: This prevents the salad from becoming watery.
- Use fresh fruit: Fresh pineapple and mandarin oranges can be used for a vibrant, fresher taste.
- Chill before serving: Let the salad sit in the fridge for a few hours for the best flavor.
- Make it your own: Add nuts like pecans or walnuts for extra crunch or swap the mayo for Greek yogurt for a tangy twist.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Keywords: Grandma’s Sunshine Salad, Summer Fruit Salad, Easy Fruit Salad Recipe, Creamy Fruit Salad, Refreshing Salad, Sweet Tangy Salad