Uncle Fred’s Fruit Salad with Pudding Dressing
📜 Collection: UK15 | ✍️ Attribution: Uncle Fred | 📂 Category: Desserts A classic potluck fruit salad featuring a clever twist where instant banana pudding is prepared with reserved fruit juice. This creates a thick, flavorful dressing that perfectly coats the medley of canned and fresh fruits.
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Inactive / Chill Time | Yield / Servings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 mins | 0 mins | 1 hour | 10–12 Servings |
🔪 Key Equipment
- Measuring cup
- Large mixing bowl
- Wire whisk
Ingredients
| Measurements | Ingredients | Prep / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2 (15 oz) cans | Apricots | Drained, juice reserved |
| 1 (20 oz) can | Pineapple Chunks | Drained, juice reserved |
| 1 (10 oz) jar | Maraschino Cherries | Drained |
| 2-3 | Bananas | Ripe, sliced |
| 1/2 cup | Pecans | Chopped |
| 1 (5.1 oz) package | Instant Banana Pudding | Large package |
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Dressing
- Drain the 2 (15 oz) cans apricots and 1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks into a measuring cup, reserving the fruit; add water if necessary to reach the liquid volume required by the 1 (5.1 oz) package instant banana pudding.
- In a large bowl, whisk the 1 (5.1 oz) package instant banana pudding with the reserved fruit juice for 2 minutes until the mixture begins to thicken.
- Allow the pudding to stand for 5 minutes until it reaches a set, sauce-like consistency.
Step 2: Assemble and Chill
- Gently fold the reserved apricots, pineapple chunks, 1 (10 oz) jar maraschino cherries, 2-3 bananas, and 1/2 cup pecans into the thickened pudding.
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour until cold and set before serving.
💡 Make-Ahead & Storage: This salad can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance; keep refrigerated and covered tightly to prevent the bananas from browning.
Original Recipe Scan
