Description

This Banana Split Fluff Salad is a delightful, no-cook dessert that combines the creamy sweetness of instant banana pudding with juicy crushed pineapple, fluffy Cool Whip, and an assortment of tasty mix-ins like mini marshmallows, walnuts, mini chocolate chips, ripe bananas, and maraschino cherries. Perfectly chilled and easy to prepare, this salad is a crowd-pleaser for gatherings and family meals.

Ingredients

Scale

Banana Split Fluff Salad Ingredients

1 (3.4 ounce) box instant banana pudding
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple (do not drain)
1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip
1 cup mini marshmallows
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts, plus more for garnish
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
2 ripe bananas, sliced
1 (10 ounce) jar maraschino cherries, halved

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Instructions

Mix pudding and pineapple: In a large bowl, combine the instant banana pudding mix and the undrained crushed pineapple. Stir well until the mixture thickens and becomes creamy, which should take a few minutes.
Fold in Cool Whip: Gently fold the container of Cool Whip into the pudding and pineapple mixture until everything is evenly blended and smooth. Be careful not to overmix to maintain the fluffiness.
Add mix-ins: Stir in the mini marshmallows, finely chopped walnuts, mini chocolate chips, sliced bananas, and halved maraschino cherries. Fold these ingredients gently to distribute them throughout the salad without breaking up the fruit.
Chill and garnish: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to firm up. Before serving, sprinkle additional chopped walnuts on top as a garnish if desired.

Notes

For best texture, use ripe but firm bananas to prevent mushiness.
Substitute walnuts with pecans or almonds if preferred.
Mini marshmallows add a fun texture but can be omitted for a less sweet version.
Maraschino cherries provide a classic banana split flavor, but fresh cherries can be used if available.
This salad is best served chilled and within 24 hours for optimal freshness.