5-cup salad made just the way grandma made it! Only 5 ingredients needed – mandarin oranges, pineapple, coconut, marshmallows, and sour cream!
Inside: 5-Cup Fruit Salad
Likely, you’ve already heard of 5-Cup Salad. You’ve probably eaten it at your grandma’s table many times as a child. It’s a simple, classic recipe that has stood the test of time. Many variations of this homemade fruit salad have derived from this age-old recipe over the years.
What is 5-Cup Salad?
It is a fruit salad made up of five cups of five different ingredients. It’s a southern standby served as both a side dish and dessert. Don’t let the simplicity of this dish fool you. It’s elegant enough for your Easter table and casual enough for the neighborhood potluck.
This fruit salad is so simple to make.
What is in 5-Cup Salad?
- Mandarin oranges
- Pineapple
- Sweetened coconut
- Mini
Marshmallows - Sour cream
Don’t let that last ingredient fool you! Once it takes on the sweet flavors of the fruit, you’ll never know it’s sour cream. And it gives the dish it’s creamy goodness.
How do you make 5-Cup Fruit Salad?
Are you ready for how easy this is? You measure out five cups of each ingredient and mix at different intervals depending on if you a using any variations. Yep! It’s that easy.
The traditional southern version of this fruit salad mainly consists of sour cream, pineapple, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, and coconut. But there are many variations out there.
Here are a few variations of 5 Cup Salad
- Add 2 tbsp. instant lemon or vanilla pudding (We love the lemon!)
- Add chopped pecans or walnuts
- Use drained fruit cocktail instead of mandarin oranges
- Cut the coconut to 1/2 and add 1/2 cup of sliced maraschino cherries
- Add shredded apples or substitute them for the coconut
- Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream
- Add halved seedless red or green grapes
- Fresh strawberries make a great addition when they are in season
- Add fresh blueberries for added flavor and color
The variations are endless. Be creative and experiment – have fun creating your favorite version. Remember when you add additional fruits to be sure and add more sour cream.
My family’s favorite variation is with the two tablespoons of lemon instant pudding mix added.
Can you make 5-Cup Salad ahead of time?
Yes! It’s best when made the day before and refrigerated overnight, giving the ingredients some time to marry. It’s a great make-ahead dish for planning for company. I like to make it the night before and stick it int the fridge. The next day all you have to do is take it out and set it on the table. This fruit salad can easily be doubled or tripled when serving a crowd.
When can I serve 5-Cup Salad?
It is a staple on many southern menus for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. My favorite occasion to have it is Easter because
I love to serve this in individual half-cup ramekins.
Here are some other salad recipes you might like:
Pineapple Pretzel Salad
Amish Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup mandarin oranges well-drained
- 1 cup crushed pineapple well-drained
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 cup sweetened coconut
- 1 cup sour cream
Instructions
- If you’re using the lemon pudding, add to sour cream and stir until thoroughly mixed.
- Add the pineapple, coconut, and marshmallows; mix well.
- Fold in the mandarin oranges.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours – overnight is best.
Notes
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joyce says
When using the lemon pudding, how much sour cream do you mix it with? Maybe just enough to make the pudding powder creamy?
Kim says
Oh my goodness, Joyce! Somehow I missed this comment and the sour cream in the ingredients list. I updated the recipe to include the sour cream, but it’s 1 cup. So glad you asked.
Daniel Shocks. says
salad is good.and my old woman lives the five cups salad.she add more ingredients.she put in our big refrigerstors love it specially if my woman eat it.she love to make it .
Cindy says
This looks so yummy Kim! I was a bit surprised at the sour cream component – I didn\\\’t realize it would take on the flavor of the fruits! I have a yogurt/berry/honey recipe I eat almost every morning for breakfast and I think your recipe would be a great alternative! Thanks for sharing and for hosting the Homestyle Gathering!
Kim at Serving Up Southern says
Thanks, Cindy! The sour cream is unexpected, isn’t it? It’s really yummy though! I’ve actually been planning to try it with plain yogurt. I’m not sure how it will turn out, but I think it would be a healthy alternative. Your yogurt/berry/honey recipe sounds yummy too! :)
Susan says
Your recipe reminds me of a recipe that my Grandmother use to make. My mother’s family is from northern Ohio but my grandmother’s family is from the south. Thank you for reminding me of my childhood favorite. I will give this a try this weekend.
Driveway Gates says
I really love these, Thanks for the recipe.
Can’t wait to try this.
Wood Fencing says
I really love these, Thanks for the recipe.
Can’t wait to try it.
Marc says
Looks delicious! Can’t wait to try this. Thanks for sharing this recipe!