Creamy Strawberry Crackle Salad
A creamy, dreamy strawberry salad with a perfect blend of creamy, crunchy, and fruity elements, ideal for fall parties and festive occasions.
- Prep Time: 17 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 17 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 package (3.4 oz/96g) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 cup whipped topping, thawed
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
- ½ cup chopped nuts (optional; walnuts or pecans)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
Instructions
- Rinse and hull about 4 cups of fresh strawberries. Slice them evenly and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the instant vanilla pudding mix with 1½ cups cold water. Whisk until smooth and thickened, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in ½ cup sour cream and 2 tablespoons sugar until creamy and smooth.
- Gently fold 1 cup thawed whipped topping into the pudding mixture, keeping it fluffy.
- In a large bowl, combine sliced strawberries, 1 cup drained crushed pineapple, 1 cup mini marshmallows, and ½ cup chopped nuts if using.
- Pour the creamy pudding mixture over the fruit and marshmallows. Gently fold everything together until evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let flavors meld and marshmallows soften.
- Before serving, gently stir the salad and garnish with fresh strawberry slices or extra nuts if desired.
Notes
Do not overmix the whipped topping to preserve fluffiness. Drain pineapple well to avoid watery salad. Use fresh, firm strawberries for best texture. Chill at least 1 hour before serving. For dairy-free, substitute sour cream and whipped topping with coconut-based alternatives and use dairy-free pudding mix. Add marshmallows just before serving to keep crunchier.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About ½ cup per serv
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 18
- Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 23
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 2
Keywords: strawberry salad, creamy dessert, crackle salad, fall party dessert, easy dessert, fruit salad, marshmallow salad