Raspberry Pink Fluff Dessert Salad

Pink fluff salad is a raspberry Jello dessert salad with a classic no-bake cheesecake flavor. It is a simple make-ahead salad made with Jello, crushed pineapple, cream cheese, and evaporated milk. This sweet summer salad will make your guests smile and be a big hit at your next potluck or family summer BBQ. It’s a good thing it makes a lot!

Years ago, a local restaurant served this style of jelled dessert salad. I absolutely loved it as a child. Fast forward to now, and I still love the sweet creaminess that a set fruit salad brings to the potluck or BBQ gathering table. Each luscious mouthful is a bit of nostalgia. Put some in a pretty dessert cup and indulge in no-bake dessert magic!

If you love this perfect sweet treat, you will love our orange-cream-dressed mango and nectarine salad. 

​Why you will love this easy-gelled salad recipe:

Light and Airy Texture: This salad’s light and airy texture adds a delightful contrast to heavier main dishes, making it perfect for summer or any time of the year.

Versatility: Whether served as a side dish or a light dessert, this salad fits seamlessly into any meal or occasion.

Simple Preparation: With straightforward instructions and easily accessible ingredients, this salad is quick and simple to prepare, saving you time while still impressing your guests with its deliciousness.

​There are some steps to making this raspberry cheesecake fluff salad, so let’s start!

The first step to making this fabulous recipe is to put the crushed pineapple and sugar on to cook. This needs to be hot! We will cook it for five minutes to ensure the sugar is fully dissolved and the juices are reduced slightly. Afterward, you will add raspberry Jello to the box and stir well. We want to keep going as you would for a regular batch of Jello to ensure the crystals fully dissolve. 

This piping hot pineapple raspberry Jello mixture should then be put in the fridge to partially set. My saucepan was super hot, and I needed to cool off some before putting it in the refrigerator. Once in the fridge, the cooled mixture will take about one hour to semi-set.

When there are five minutes left to the jelling time, open the evaporated milk and put it in a bowl with the cream cheese. We are using an electric mixer here to beat those two things together. You will want to continue to beat it until there are no more cream lumps and the mixture feels slightly thickened. You should see lovely foamy bubbles on top at this point as well. Mix the softened cream cheese and milk in a large bowl to add the jello mixture. A large mixing bowl will also ensure the milk and cheese mixture isn’t splashing out. 

You should check on that raspberry mixture now, in fact. Open up the fridge and poke it. Is it slightly set but not fully set? If it is, remove it from the refrigerator and mix it into the cheese mixture with a folding action. It’s okay that it is not entirely blended. Remember that the pineapple will be dyed pink there at this point.

Have you finished mixing? Return the raspberry fluff salad to the fridge and let it stand until fully set. That will take another hour to an hour and a half. 

This jelled dessert salad makes quite a bit, making it an ideal potluck addition or summer no-bake treat for the family BBQ. I also recommend taking this raspberry fluff recipe to your next church dinner, as it’s an easy recipe that feeds a crowd. 

Spoon some into small dessert cups, or let guests measure their own from the salad bowl! Either way, you will get rave reviews on the creamy dessert salad. It lasts up to a week in the fridge, making it a great sweet snack for kids at home on summer vacation. 

Ingredients:

Crushed Pineapple: The pineapple adds natural sweetness and a textural component to the recipe. If you don’t like the crushed pineapple bits, you can make the mixture smoother with a food processor beforehand.

Evaporated milk adds a rich and creamy texture to the salad and helps to bind the other ingredients together. 

Raspberry Jello: The raspberry Jello powder gives the dessert a light raspberry flavor and dyes the whole salad a lovely pink hue. The gelatin in the powder also makes the mixture easily scoopable. 

Cream Cheese: We used full-fat cream cheese for this recipe, creating a rich creaminess to the final dessert salad. Its smooth, distinct flavor makes this salad taste almost like a no-bake cheesecake. 

White Sugar: When melted into the evaporated milk and fruit, the sugar sweetens yes; however, it makes a more homogenous mixture. 

Substitutions And Add-Ins For This Gelled Salad. 

Crushed Pineapple:  This can be replaced with chunks of pineapple or any other canned fruit that pairs well with raspberry flavor. Remember that your fruit is adding sugars and texture to the salad. 

Evaporated Milk: To make this salad even richer, try using heavy cream or half-and-half. You can also substitute coconut milk for an added boost to tropical flavor. 

Raspberry Jello: This no-bake cold dessert salad can be made with any Jello flavor. Imagine how delicious orange Jello would be—a creamsicle-flavored dessert salad, oh ya!

Cream Cheese: Make this salad lower fat using low-fat or dry cottage cheese. The salad will have a bit more texture if you use dry cottage cheese. You can substitute the cream cheese entirely for a cool whip, but it will alter the flavor and texture of the end result. 

White Sugar: Reduce the sugar, which will still be a tasty treat. Alternatively, add some stevia to the pineapple or another coarse sugar alternative. 

Add-ins for this family favorite could include a drained fruit cocktail or fresh berries. You should add these in last so the mixture is thoroughly mixed first. Also, use fresh or canned fruits with only a little moisture, as they will thin the recipe, making it harder to set correctly. You can add mini marshmallows for a more textural salad if you like.

Expert Tips, Serving And Storing Suggestions For This Simple Recipe:

Tip #1: Dissolve for smoothness. Before cooling and setting, you want to be sure that the white sugar and the Jello powder are fully dissolved in the hot liquid. 

Tip #2: Easily soften cream cheese. You can quickly soften cream cheese in the microwave. Put in a bowl and nuke for a minute.

Tip #3: Beat softened cream cheese first. When blending the cream cheese-milk mixture, beat the softened cream cheese before adding milk. This will help avoid over-splashing the milk when being hit. 

​Indulge in the perfect side dish with this chilled raspberry salad. Its airy texture and vibrant flavor make it a refreshing addition to any meal, pleasing the palate and the eye with its delightful sweetness. Try topping it with some tart fresh raspberries for an eye-catching dessert. 

​To store this chilled raspberry salad, cover it tightly using plastic wrap and refrigerate it for up to 3-4 days. However, freezing is not recommended due to its creamy and gel-like consistency, as it may alter the texture and compromise the flavors upon thawing. Enjoy it fresh for the best taste and experience.

​Discover the irresistible taste of this chilled raspberry salad! Have you tried it yet? Please share your experience in the comments below, and let’s savor the joy of cooking together!