Description
Junk yard salad brings together unexpected ingredients in a wild culinary adventure. Crisp vegetables, surprising textures, and bold flavors combine to create a plate you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits and Sweet Ingredients:
- 1 can (21 ounces / 595 grams) cherry pie filling
- 1 can (20 ounces / 567 grams) crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
Dairy and Dairy Alternatives:
- 1 can (14 ounces / 397 grams) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 container (8 ounces / 227 grams) Cool Whip, thawed
Dry Ingredients and Optional Add-ins:
- 1 package (1 ounce / 28 grams) instant vanilla pudding mix (dry)
- Optional: 1 cup chopped pecans for added crunch
Instructions
- Create a spacious mixing vessel and pour in the cherry pie filling, ensuring a vibrant base for the dessert.
- Add crushed pineapple to the mixture, allowing its tangy essence to complement the cherry’s sweetness.
- Introduce sweetened condensed milk, stirring to create a smooth, creamy consistency throughout the preparation.
- Sprinkle dry vanilla pudding mix into the blend, whisking thoroughly to eliminate any potential lumps and enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Gently incorporate mini marshmallows, distributing them evenly to provide delightful textural contrast.
- Fold in Cool Whip with a light hand, carefully blending until the ingredients are harmoniously combined and the texture becomes luxuriously creamy.
- Transfer the mixture to a sealed container, ensuring complete coverage to prevent moisture absorption.
- Refrigerate for a minimum of three hours, or ideally overnight, allowing the flavors to intermingle and develop a more complex taste.
- Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir to redistribute any settled ingredients and present a visually appealing dessert.
- Dish out chilled and savor the delightful medley of textures and flavors.
Notes
- Swap the sweetened condensed milk with coconut cream for a dairy-free version that maintains the creamy texture.
- Toast the mini marshmallows under the broiler for a caramelized flavor boost before mixing into the salad.
- Use Greek yogurt instead of Cool Whip to increase protein and reduce processed ingredients while keeping the dessert light and fluffy.
- Experiment with different fruit fillings like blueberry or peach to create unique flavor variations that match seasonal produce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 186
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 66 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg