If you’re looking for an easy side dish that can feed a crowd, you must make this CREAMY FRUIT SALAD made with instant vanilla pudding and a ton of fruit!
The summer is upon us. Depending on where you live, you may have already gotten a taste of summer with some gorgeous weather and warm temperatures. There’s just something wonderful about a warm spring day. To me, its the first invitation into summer, and one of the first things I look forward to during the summer months are the endless summertime park meetups that always include a potluck feast. Let me tell you, this fruit salad is the perfect potluck recipe because it feeds a crowd, it’s super easy to make, and people love it.
This recipe starts with a can of pineapple chunks, a can of (or jar of homemade) peaches, and a box of vanilla instant pudding.Â
First thing you do is dump the fruit in a large bowl, juice and all.
Then you add the box of vanilla instant pudding mix. I suppose you could use other flavors, but I’m partial to vanilla for things like this. Don’t worry if it looks lumpy – it will all dissolve rather quickly. At this point, you’re probably not impressed. It is rather monochromatic, after all. That’s why we add some strawberries and grapes. They not only add a pop of color but they also add great flavor to the mix. I also love to add banana because banana and vanilla pudding were just made to be together.
Now, isn’t that much more pleasing? I thought so.
Final step: give it a good toss and stick it in the refrigerator until the pudding has set.
If you’re like me and hosting a play date for five hungry kids (its cold and rainy out today and much to my dismay, not quite potluck weather), then you don’t exactly wait for the pudding to set. I, however, got zero complaints and only compliments as those hungry little monsters inhaled this stuff.
I know what you’re thinking… “vanilla pudding mix in a fruit salad. Huh. Very clever.” That is what you were thinking, right? You know you want to give it a try. I expect a full report after the first major outdoor potluck/BBQ event of the year that’s just around the corner – Memorial Day. Please come back and tell me what you thought of this creamy fruit salad!
Ingredients
- 1 quart or two 15 ounce cans sliced peaches, with juice
- 20 ounce can pineapple chunks, with juice
- 5 ounce box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 pound strawberries stemmed and quartered
- 2 bananas peeled and sliced
- 1 bunch grapes stems removed
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine peaches, pineapple, all the juice from the fruit, and vanilla pudding mix. Mix well until the pudding mix is dissolved.
- Stir in strawberries, banana, blueberries and grapes.
- Chill until serving time.
Nutrition
Check out this link if you’re interested in learning how to make your own homemade canned vanilla bean peaches:
And if you’re interested in how I make my other favorite fruit salad that is made oh-so-delicious with one simple secret ingredient, be sure to take a look!
Joy says
How much blueberries do you add to this? I have made one like this without the blueberries, only you cook the pudding with the juices. I like this idea better! I can’t wait to try this version! Thank you!
Brenda says
Joy, I’m not sure what Krissy would tell you but I would start with 1 pint. This fruit salad is very adaptable to one’s own taste. For instance, I use apples instead of the bananas. I like to be able to keep it in the fridge a few days and bananas sometimes begin to turn brown. Some people also use mandarin oranges but if you are thinking about color, you want to be sure to mix in fruits that will be colorful. Raspberries and kiwi are also good choices.