This better-than-sex fruit salad is downright sinful! The first time I tried it, I understood where the name came from. It really is that good!
This isn’t your average fruit cup, folks. I’m talking layers of cherry pie filling, tropical pineapple, and fruit cocktail. And then it’s finished off with a whipped topping, sweetened condensed milk, and sour cream. It’s pure indulgence in every bite!
Whip it up today and see why this fruit salad has earned its naughty reputation.
Why You’ll Love This Better than Sex Fruit Salad
Here are all the reasons you’ll agree this salad is better than just about anything!
- Playful Name: The cheeky “better than sex” name will raise eyebrows and start conversations. It sets high expectations!
- Easy Prep: With simple ingredients, this recipe comes together quickly and easily. It can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to serve.
- Customizable Creation: You can easily adapt this recipe to suit your preferences or the season. Mix and match your favorite fruits and experiment with different pie-filling flavors.
- Luscious Leftovers: If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, it keeps well in the fridge for a few days. Indulge again and again!
Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you need to make this sinful salad:
- Fruit Cocktail: It’s a vibrant mix of tropical fruits like papaya, grapes, and pineapple in syrup.
- Crushed Pineapple: The tangy chunks add a tropical twist.
- Cherry Pie Filling: This sweet-tart filling takes the salad over the top.
- Large Bananas: The natural sweetness of bananas balances the acidity.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: It creates a sweet, indulgent base.
- Sour Cream: It cuts through sweetness for a balanced flavor.
- Cool Whip: It adds a nice element of fluffiness to the salad.
Optional Additions:
- Fresh Strawberries: They add freshness and vibrance.
- Fresh Blueberries: They bring a pop of color and sweetness.
- Kiwis: The gorgeous green color makes the salad more vibrant.
How to Make Better Than Sex Fruit Salad
Follow these simple directions to make this dish:
- Make the base. In a large bowl, mix the Cool Whip, sweetened condensed milk, and sour cream until well combined.
- Add the canned fruits. Add the drained fruit cocktail, crushed pineapple, cherry pie filling, and sliced bananas. Gently fold to incorporate.
- Add the fresh fruits (optional). If using any of the optional fresh fruits, like strawberries, blueberries, or kiwi, gently fold them into the mixture.
- Chill for 4 hours. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to allow flavors to blend.
- Serve chilled. Serve the fruit salad chilled. Enjoy!
Tips For the Best Better than Sex Fruit Salad
Make your salad even more impressive with these tips:
- Ditch the liquid. Remove all excess liquid from the canned fruits before adding to prevent a watery salad.
- The riper, the better. Ripe bananas with just a few brown speckles add natural sweetness and creaminess.
- Be nice and gentle. Fold the ingredients together gently to keep the fruits from breaking down.
- Go wild with toppings. Top with extra whipped cream, cherries, nuts, or shredded coconut for a pretty presentation.
- Try a fruit swap. Swap in your favorite fruits like mandarin oranges, grapes, or mango for fun twists.
How to Store
Here’s how to keep leftover salad fresh:
To Store: Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Give it a good stir before serving to redistribute the juices and flavors.
To Freeze: While not ideal due to the delicate nature of the fruits, you can freeze the salad for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and drain off any excess liquid before serving.
Can mini marshmallows be added to this salad? Will it ruin the integrity of the other ingredients?
Hey, Cherie! I’ve never added mini marshmallows to this particular salad, but I do frequently add them to things like Watergate salad and Ambrosia salad, which both have similar textures. With that in mind, I think it would be fine to toss in a handful. They may soften a bit in the fridge, but I don’t think it would negatively impact the salad in any way.
How about adding some chopped walnuts or pecans , it just sounded good to me.
Hi Rebecca, that’s a great suggestion! It’ll add some nice texture and crunch. I’ll have to try it next time.
Canโt find tropical fruit cocktail. Is that what it says on the can?
Hi, Cathy!
So, you could use regular fruit cocktail for this if you can’t find tropical fruit cocktail. But yes, I get the Dole brand, and it DOES say tropical. Its exact title (on Amazon at least) is Dole Canned Tropical Fruit in Light Syrup & Passionfruit Juice. But you can absolutely make it with a regular fruit cocktail instead. ๐