No bake desserts are some of the easiest recipes to make and they’re great for tons of different occasions. Banana Split Fluff Salad is one of my favorite variations on fruit fluff salad. I first tried it as a summer dessert but it’s so good that we enjoy it pretty much any time of year! If you love banana splits, you’ll want to make this easy dessert salad that is packed with all of the flavors and can be made in minutes!
Why I Love Banana Split Fluff Salad
- Making banana split fluff doesn’t require any baking and only takes about 10 minutes of prep time. You just mix a few ingredients together and you have a dessert ready in minutes. This makes it a great recipe for getting kids involved in the kitchen.
- This is made with common ingredients like pudding mix, Cool Whip, pineapple, bananas, mini chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows. They’re all easy to find at any grocery store.
- Because it’s so easy to make, it’s great for potlucks, family gatherings, picnics, or as a simple weeknight dessert. This makes it a good recipe to have on hand for all seasons and holidays. Everyone loves the flavors of the classic ice cream treat.
What is a Fluff Salad?
Fluff salad is a sweet, creamy dessert salad that’s made with whipped topping, pudding or jello mix, fruit, and mix-ins such as mini marshmallows, nuts, and shredded coconut. Some popular types of fluff salads are this Watergate salad, mandarin orange fluff, ambrosia salad, and strawberry or cranberry fluff.
It’s often served as dessert or a side dish depending on where you live!
Ingredients
This banana split fluff recipe’s ingredient list is super simple. They’re all common and you should have no trouble finding them when you’re shopping.
- Instant Banana cream pudding mix
- Frozen whipped topping
- Crushed pineapple (drained well)
- Bananas
- Maraschino cherries
- Mini chocolate chips
- Mixed nuts dessert topping or chopped nuts (peanuts, pecans, walnuts)
- Coconut flakes
- Miniature marshmallows
- Chocolate syrup
Full measurements for each ingredient can be found in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Equipment
You’ll also need a few things from the kitchen to make banana split salad:
- Large mixing bowl
- Silicone spatula
- Measuring cups
- Serving bowl
Step By Step Instructions
This recipe makes 8 servings. It takes about 10 minutes of prep time and 1 hour of chill time.
Step 1. Combine the banana pudding mix and whipped topping in a large bowl. Gently fold until well mixed.
Step 2. Fold in the crushed pineapple, sliced bananas, cherries, mini chocolate chips, mixed nuts, coconut, and mini marshmallows.
Step 3. Cover the bowl and chill for at least one hour before serving.
Step 4. Drizzle with chocolate syrup before serving. You can also top with additional nuts and cherries to give it the classic banana split look.
Leftovers & Storage
You can cover any leftover fluff salad with plastic wrap (or put it in an airtight container) and keep it up in the refrigerator for up to three days. When serving leftovers, gently stir the fluff before serving again.
Can I Make This Dessert Salad Ahead of Time?
Yes, this is an easy make ahead dessert recipe! I recommend you chill it for at least one hour but you can also make it the night before and chill until you’re ready to serve.
If you do make it more than hour before you plan to serve it, I recommend adding the banana slices right before serving so they do not turn brown.
Then you can drizzle with chocolate syrup and toppings right before serving.
Tips & Tricks
- Make sure that your whipped topping is thawed so that it will mix in smoothly. Be sure to use Cool Whip and not just whipped cream. They have different textures and ithe texture won’t be quite right if you don’t use whipped topping.
- You can use sugar free Cool Whip if you would like. You can also use sugar free canned fruit.
- If you’re not a fan of banana pudding, you can also use vanilla instant pudding mix for this recipe.
- You can also make mix-in substitutions to change up the flavor a bit. Try using more fresh fruit or a different flavor of pudding. You can also use sprinkles for an extra festive look.
- For a fun party idea, set up a toppings bar and let everyone top their own banana split fluff. You could leave out the nuts and chocolate chips and include them in the topping bar along with whipped cream, sprinkles, caramel sauce, fresh strawberries, or your favorite banana split toppings.
More No Bake Dessert Recipes
- Orange Fluff Salad
- Pistachio Fluff
- Pineapple Fluff Salad
- Strawberry Pretzel Salad
- Cool Whip Fruit Salad
- Chocolate Chip Dip
Ingredients
- 3.4 ounces banana cream pudding mix
- 8 ounces frozen whipped topping thawed
- 20 ounces crushed pineapple drained well
- 2 bananas thinly sliced
- 1 jar maraschino cherries stems removed and patted dry
- ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup mixed nuts dessert topping
- ⅓ cup sweetened coconut flakes
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- Chocolate syrup for decorating
Instructions
- Combine the banana cream pudding mix and thawed whipped topping in a medium bowl. Fold gently until well mixed.
- Drain the crushed pineapple. Thinly slice the bananas. Then remove the cherry stems and pat the cherries dry.
- Fold in the crushed pineapple, sliced bananas, cherries, mini chocolate chips, mixed nuts, coconut, and mini marshmallows.
- Cover the bowl and chill for at least one hour before serving.
- Drizzle with chocolate syrup and top with more cherries before serving.
Pin This Post
Leave a Reply