A luscious dessert salad with a creamy vanilla base, a medley of tropical fruits, and crushed cookies in every bite. It’s a sweet treat everyone will love.

Fudge Striped Cookie Salad in White Bowl with Cookies and Mandarin Oranges on Top

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Ingredient Details / Supplies
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Cookies in salad? Yes, please! This fudge striped cookie salad combines creamy vanilla pudding, luscious fruits, and chunks of fudge-striped cookies to make a crowd-pleasing sweet treat.

While we were growing up, our mom and aunts made this salad for barbecues, picnics, family get-togethers, and holidays. It’s one of those retro recipes that brings together a unique collection of ingredients. But the combination is so delicious and brings back all the nostalgic feelings!

Ingredient Notes

Here are the seven simple ingredients you’ll need (pictured below). Read on for a few notes.

Striped Cookies, Cool Whip, Oranges, Pineapple, Fruit Cocktail, Pudding Mix, and Buttermilk in Bowls on Marble Surface

Pudding mix – be sure to use instant vanilla pudding.

Fruit cocktail – we love to use the fruit cocktail with extra cherries.

Cookies – we use the Keebler fudge-striped cookies.

Jump to full recipe with amounts.

Supplies

Large mixing bowl and spoon
Measure cups
Ziplock bag
Serving bowl or dessert cups

Cookie Salad in Small Dessert Bowl with Spoon

Let’s Make Cookie Salad

Follow these easy steps to make this delicious retro salad.

1 Mix pudding and buttermilk.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the pudding mix and buttermilk. You may have a few lumps and that’s ok.

Mixing Buttermilk and Pudding Mix in Glass Bowl

2 Add Cool whip.

Fold in the Cool Whip and gently stir until combined.

Adding Cool Whip to Pudding Mix in White Bowl with Wooden Spoon

3 Mix in the canned fruits.

Drain the canned fruit. Stir in the mandarin oranges, fruit cocktail, and crushed pineapple. Chill in the fridge until you are ready to serve.

Adding Fruit to Pudding Mixture in Glass Bowl

4 Crush the cookies.

Use a ziplock bag and cup to crush the fudge-striped cookies.

5 time for the cookies.

Right before serving, pour the crushed cookies into the fruit and pudding mixture. Gently stir until evenly distributed.

6 serve and enjoY!

Add the salad to a serving bowl and top with some crushed cookies and mandarin oranges (this is optional).

Final Striped Cookie Salad with Cookie Pieces on Top

More About This Recipe

One of the best things about fudge striped cookie salad is its surprising combination of ingredients. You wouldn’t necessarily think cookies and fruit go together, but it ends up being so tasty! It’s always a hit whenever we make it, and it’s one of those simple recipes that turns out amazing every time. Perfect for any get-together or when you want to make something special without a lot of effort.

This dessert also holds a special place in our hearts because while we were growing up, our mom and aunts used to make it for family reunions, picnics, and holiday dinners. It reminds us of how resourceful home cooks were back in the day when they had to make the most of what they had, often turning basic ingredients into memorable dishes.

Cookie Salad Garnished with Cookies and Mandarin Oranges in Bowl with Spoon

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to commonly asked questions about making this cookie salad.

Can I make Striped Cookie Salad ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the salad a few hours in advance and store it in the fridge. Just wait to add the crushed cookies until right before serving to keep them from getting soggy.

What can I use as a substitute for buttermilk?

If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by mixing 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using it in the recipe.

Can I use different types of fruit?

Absolutely! Feel free to mix and match your favorite canned or fresh fruits. Just make sure to drain them well to prevent the salad from becoming watery.

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