🍑Easy Peach Fluff Salad (Kid-Friendly Dessert!)

Your kids are going to lose their minds over this one.

I’m talking about the kind of dessert that gets devoured in minutes, where little hands keep sneaking back for “just one more bite” until suddenly the whole bowl is gone.

Peach fluff salad is one of those recipes that feels nostalgic even if you’ve never had it before.

It’s creamy, it’s fruity, it’s perfectly sweet without being overpowering, and it comes together in about 10 minutes.

No baking required.

The texture? Fluffy clouds meeting juicy peach chunks.

The flavor? Like summer decided to show up at your dinner table in dessert form.

And here’s what makes this recipe a total winner: it’s one of those rare desserts that adults actually enjoy just as much as kids do.

You can serve it at a potluck, bring it to a BBQ, pack it for a picnic, or just make it on a random Tuesday because you wanted something sweet but didn’t feel like turning on the oven.

Plus, if you’re looking for recipes that don’t require a culinary degree or three hours of your life, this is it.

Five ingredients. One bowl. Zero stress.

Let me show you exactly how to make it.

What You’ll Need

Main Ingredients

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Peach slices (canned)	1 (29-oz) can	Or 3 cups fresh, diced
Cool Whip	1 (8-oz) container	Thawed completely
Mini marshmallows	1 cup	Regular size works too
Cottage cheese	1 cup	Small curd preferred
Instant vanilla pudding mix	1 (3.4-oz) box	Dry mix only, don’t prepare

Also Read: Crock Pot Sirloin Steak

Optional Add-Ins

½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1 cup mandarin oranges, drained
½ cup shredded coconut
Fresh mint leaves for garnish

Quick Tip: The secret ingredient here is the cottage cheese. I know it sounds weird, but once mixed in, you won’t even know it’s there. It adds tang and creaminess that balances all that sweetness perfectly.

Pro Tips

1. Drain Those Peaches Like Your Life Depends On It

I’m serious about this one.

If there’s too much liquid left on your peaches, your fluff will turn soupy instead of staying thick and creamy.

After draining, I even pat mine dry with a paper towel. Takes 30 seconds and makes a huge difference.

2. Everything Must Be Cold

Use cold ingredients straight from the fridge.

This helps the pudding mix dissolve better and keeps your fluff from getting too soft.

If your Cool Whip has been sitting out, pop it back in the fridge for 15 minutes before using it.

3. Fold, Don’t Stir

When you’re combining everything, use a gentle folding motion with a rubber spatula.

You want to keep all that air in the Cool Whip so your salad stays fluffy and light.

Think of it like you’re tucking ingredients into a cloud.

4. Make It the Night Before for Better Flavor

While you can absolutely eat this right away (and it’s still delicious), letting it chill in the fridge for a few hours or overnight lets all the flavors meld together.

The marshmallows soften slightly, the cottage cheese blends in better, and everything just tastes more cohesive.

5. Don’t Skip the Cottage Cheese

The cottage cheese adds this subtle tang that balances out all the sweetness, plus it gives the salad extra creaminess and a bit of protein.

Once it’s all mixed in, you won’t even know it’s there.

Trust me on this one.

Tools You’ll Need

✓ Large mixing bowl
✓ Rubber spatula or large spoon
✓ Can opener (if using canned peaches)
✓ Cutting board and knife
✓ Strainer or colander
✓ Paper towels (for drying peaches)
✓ Serving bowl or 9×13 dish
✓ Plastic wrap or lid for storage

How to Make Peach Fluff Salad

Step 1: Prep Your Peaches First

Open your can of peaches and drain them completely in a strainer.

While they’re draining, grab your cutting board and dice them into bite-sized pieces.

You want chunks that are small enough to get in every spoonful but big enough that you still get that nice peach texture.

Set them aside on paper towels to dry.

Step 2: Combine the Base Ingredients

In your large mixing bowl, add the Cool Whip, cottage cheese, and dry pudding mix.

Important: Don’t add any milk or water to the pudding mix.

You’re using it dry, which is what gives this salad its signature flavor and helps thicken everything up.

Also Read: Marinated Cucumber, Tomato & Onion Salad

Step 3: Fold It All Together

Using your rubber spatula, gently fold the Cool Whip, cottage cheese, and pudding mix together.

Keep going until everything is combined and the mixture is smooth.

You’ll notice it starts to thicken up as the pudding mix dissolves.

This takes about 2-3 minutes of gentle folding.

Step 4: Add the Fun Stuff

Toss in your mini marshmallows and gently fold them in until they’re evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

The marshmallows add these little pockets of sweetness and a fun chewy texture that kids go crazy for.

Step 5: Fold in the Peaches Last

Add your drained and chopped peaches to the bowl and fold them in carefully.

You want to coat them with the creamy mixture without breaking them up too much.

Be gentle here so you keep those nice peach chunks intact.

Step 6: Chill and Serve

Transfer your peach fluff to a serving bowl or a 9×13 dish, cover it with plastic wrap or a lid, and pop it in the fridge.

Let it chill for at least 2 hours before serving, or overnight for the best flavor.

When you’re ready to serve, you can garnish with a few mint leaves or extra marshmallows if you want it to look fancy.

Step 7: Scoop and Enjoy

Use a large spoon to scoop portions into individual bowls or dessert cups.

This stuff is best served cold, so keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to eat.

That’s it. Seriously.

Seven simple steps and you’ve got a dessert that’ll have people asking for the recipe.

Substitutions and Variations

Fruit Swaps

Instead of Peaches	Try This	Result
Mandarin oranges	2 (11-oz) cans, drained	Citrusy and bright
Pineapple chunks	1 (20-oz) can, drained	Tropical vibes
Fresh strawberries	2 cups, diced	Berry delicious
Mixed berries	2 cups total	Colorful and fun

Dairy Alternatives

Not a fan of cottage cheese? Swap it for:

Vanilla Greek yogurt (same amount)
Softened cream cheese (beat until smooth first)
Sour cream (adds extra tang)

Need it dairy-free? Use:

Coconut whipped cream instead of Cool Whip
Coconut yogurt instead of cottage cheese

Flavor Twists

🥥 Tropical Version: Use pineapple + ½ cup shredded coconut + diced mango

🌰 Crunchy Version: Add ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts right before serving

🍓 Berry Blast: Use strawberries + blueberries + raspberries

🥧 Cheesecake Style: Use cheesecake-flavored pudding mix instead of vanilla

Make-Ahead Tips

Timeline	What to Do	Pro Tip
24 hours ahead	Make the entire recipe	Flavors meld perfectly overnight
2 days ahead	Mix everything except peaches	Add fresh peaches day-of
For transport	Use airtight container + ice packs	Stays perfectly chilled
For parties	Make night before, garnish before serving	Looks fresh and beautiful

Storage Hack: If making more than a day ahead, keep peaches separate and fold them in right before serving. This keeps them from getting too soft.

Recipe at a Glance

Prep Time	Chill Time	Total Time	Servings
10 minutes	2+ hours	2 hours 10 min	8-10

Nutrition Information (Per Serving)

Based on 8 servings:

Nutrient	Amount	% Daily Value*
Calories	180	9%
Total Fat	4g	5%
Saturated Fat	3g	15%
Cholesterol	5mg	2%
Sodium	230mg	10%
Total Carbs	33g	12%
Dietary Fiber	1g	4%
Sugars	26g	–
Protein	4g	8%

*Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Keep in mind these numbers can vary depending on which brands you use and whether you add any optional ingredients.

Also Read: Refreshing Key Lime Pie Trifle Recipe

Meal Pairing Suggestions

Perfect Combinations

For BBQs & Picnics:

Grilled burgers or hot dogs
Pulled pork sandwiches
BBQ chicken
Potato salad
Coleslaw

For Potlucks:

Fried chicken
Mac and cheese
Green beans
Dinner rolls
Sweet tea

For Summer Cookouts:

Grilled corn on the cob
Baked beans
Watermelon slices
Lemonade

For Brunch:

Quiche
Breakfast casseroles
Fresh fruit platter
Mimosas

Why It Works: The sweetness of peach fluff balances out smoky, savory BBQ flavors beautifully. It’s like a palate cleanser and dessert rolled into one.

Leftovers and Storage

Storage Guidelines

Storage Method	Duration	Notes
Refrigerator (airtight container)	3-4 days	Texture stays consistent
Freezer	❌ Not recommended	Cool Whip separates when thawed
Room temperature	❌ Don’t do it	Needs to stay cold

Leftover Tips

If you notice liquid pooling: Give it a quick stir before serving. This sometimes happens as fruit releases moisture, but it’s totally fine to eat.

To refresh leftovers: Add a handful of fresh mini marshmallows on top right before serving for that fresh-from-the-bowl look.

Texture changes: The marshmallows continue to soften over time, which some people actually prefer. It makes the whole thing even creamier.

Also Read: Easy Pecan Pralines

FAQ

Can I use fresh peaches instead of canned?

Absolutely! Fresh peaches work beautifully in this recipe.

You’ll need about 3 cups of diced fresh peaches.

Just make sure they’re ripe so they’re sweet and juicy. Peel them first if you prefer (the skins can be a bit tough), then dice them into bite-sized pieces.

Why does my fluff salad look watery?

This usually happens when the fruit isn’t drained well enough.

Make sure you drain your canned peaches completely and even pat them dry with paper towels.

If you’re using fresh fruit, make sure it’s not too juicy. Also, using cold ingredients helps the pudding mix absorb moisture better.

Can I make this without pudding mix?

The pudding mix is what gives this recipe its signature flavor and helps thicken everything up, so I wouldn’t recommend skipping it.

If you absolutely can’t use it, you could try adding 2-3 tablespoons of powdered sugar and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract, but the texture and flavor will be noticeably different.

Is this actually a salad or a dessert?

Great question! 😂

Technically it’s called a salad, but let’s be real, it’s a dessert.

The “salad” name comes from old-school potluck culture where anything served in a bowl with fruit got called a salad.

Call it whatever you want and just enjoy it.

Can kids help make this?

Yes! This is an excellent recipe for getting kids involved in the kitchen.

They can help drain the peaches, measure ingredients, fold everything together, and add the marshmallows.

Just supervise the mixing to make sure they’re being gentle so the fluff stays fluffy.

What if I don’t like cottage cheese?

The cottage cheese gets completely blended into the mixture and you honestly can’t taste it once everything is combined.

It adds creaminess and a subtle tang that balances the sweetness.

But if you really can’t get past it, substitute vanilla Greek yogurt or even cream cheese (though you’ll need to soften it first and beat it until smooth).

How far ahead can I make this?

You can make it up to 24 hours ahead and it’ll be perfect.

Some people even say it tastes better the next day because all the flavors have time to blend together.

Just keep it covered tightly in the fridge.

Can I add other fruits?

Go for it! Mandarin oranges, pineapple, strawberries, and even maraschino cherries are all popular additions.

Just make sure whatever fruit you add is well-drained so you don’t end up with a soupy mess.

Also Read: Juicy Grilled Chicken Breast Marinade Recipe

Wrapping Up

There you have it.

The easiest, fluffiest, most kid-approved dessert you’ll make all year.

Peach fluff salad is one of those recipes that just works. It’s simple enough for a weeknight, fancy enough for a party, and delicious enough that you’ll find yourself making it on repeat all summer long.

The creamy texture, the juicy peach chunks, those little marshmallow surprises in every bite… it all comes together into something that feels both nostalgic and fresh at the same time.

And with only 10 minutes of prep and zero baking required, you really can’t go wrong.

So go ahead and make this tonight. Or this weekend. Or whenever you need something sweet that won’t stress you out.