Grandma's menu always includes a delicious dessert salad recipe. Find her retro ideas for ambrosia, molded gelatin salads, fluffs and more.
40 Retro Dessert Salad Recipes We Cherish
Updated on May 13, 2024
Simple Lime Gelatin Salad
Looking for a festive dish to light up the buffet? This pretty green gelatin dessert salad is eye-catching and has a delightful, tangy flavor. —Cyndi Fynaardt, Oskaloosa, Iowa
1/39
2/39
Ambrosia Salad
Total Time
10 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Because it’s so simple to make, this tropical fruit medley is great as a last-minute menu addition. Plus, this ambrosia dessert salad requires just five ingredients. —Judi Bringegar, Liberty, North Carolina
3/39
Broken Glass Dessert
Total Time
30 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When it’s cut into squares, this dessert looks just like stained-glass windows. The buttery graham cracker crust pairs perfectly with the lovely creamy topping. —Kathy Crow, Cordova, Alaska
4/39
Grandmother’s Orange Salad
Total Time
20 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This orange salad dessert is slightly sweet and tangy, too. It adds beautiful color to any meal and appeals to all ages! —Ann Eastman, Santa Monica, California
5/39
Pineapple Pretzel Fluff
Total Time
25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I often bring this special dessert salad to potlucks, and everyone goes crazy for the sweet and crunchy combination. Be sure to add the pretzel mixture right before serving to keep it crispy. —Beth Olby, Ashland, Wisconsin
6/39
Frozen Waldorf Salad
Total Time
25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
While I was growing up on a farm in western Kansas, we always had lots of hungry men around during harvesttime. This salad is one we served often since it was easy to increase and we could prepare it ahead of time.
7/39
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Total Time
30 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Need to bring a dish to pass this weekend? This make-ahead strawberry pretzel salad will disappear quickly at any potluck. —Aldene Belch, Flint, Michigan
8/39
Molded Cranberry-Orange Salad
Total Time
20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When I take this dish to potlucks during the holidays, people always ooh and aah. Feel free to top with whipped cream for added appeal. —Carol Mead, Los Alamos, New Mexico
9/39
Circus Peanut Gelatin
Total Time
10 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Circus peanuts are one of the most popular candies in my hometown’s old-fashioned candy shop. When I saw this circus peanut Jell-O recipe, I knew just where to buy them. Kids love the cool fruity taste, and older folks enjoy the trip down memory lane. —Ruthanne Mengel, De Motte, Indiana
10/39
Raspberry Gelatin Jewels
Total Time
10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Kids love this jiggly salad, and honestly, so do the adults. It’s always going to be on my holiday buffet. —Brenda Leonard, APO, AP
11/39
Slushy Fruit Salad
Total Time
5 min
Servings
18 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A fresh fruit salad can take some time to prepare and needs last-minute assembly. That’s why I often rely on this make-ahead frozen fruit salad when entertaining a crowd. —Judy McHone, Springfield, Illinois
12/39
Rainbow Gelatin Cubes
Total Time
30 min
Servings
9 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These layered jello cubes are fun to serve and to eat! I vary the colors to match the occasion. Kids of all ages snatch them up. —Deanna Pietrowicz, Bridgeport, Connecticut
13/39
Green Flop Jell-O
Total Time
15 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Get ready for fluffy lemon-lime goodness. My family calls it "flop Jell-O" because most of the time a clear gelatin layer that tastes like lemon-lime soda falls to the bottom of the dish. Try it with any flavor gelatin! —Michelle Gauer, Spicer, Minnesota
14/39
Creamy Pineapple Fluff Salad
Total Time
25 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Guests of all ages will gravitate to this traditional “fluff” dessert salad, chock-full of pineapple, marshmallows and cherry bits. —Janice Hensley, Owingsville, Kentucky
15/39
Sweet & Tart Lemon Jell-O
Total Time
20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
With its sunny lemon color, this gelatin mold brightens up any table. I usually make two molds for parties because it disappears so quickly. —Patricia Ryzow, Thousand Oaks, California
16/39
Cherry Waldorf Salad
Total Time
15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We combine apples with tart cherries and dried cranberries to give an autumn twist to classic Waldorf salad. —Marie Hattrup, Sonoma, California
17/39
Pistachio Mallow Salad
Total Time
10 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This fluffy pistachio salad is a real treat since it’s creamy but not overly sweet. It’s easy to mix up, and the flavor gets better the longer it stands. It’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, served in a green bowl.
-Pattie Ann Forssberg, Logan, Kansas
-Pattie Ann Forssberg, Logan, Kansas
18/39
Orange Appeal
Total Time
15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Oranges add color and great taste to winter meals! This dish looks very bright and appealing served in a glass bowl, and it’s a light and easy dessert to finish off a hearty holiday meal. As far as I’m concerned, the citrusy aroma of oranges is a must at Christmas time! —Billie Moss, Walnut Creek, California
19/39
Stained Glass Gelatin
Total Time
25 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Kids love this sweet, wiggly gelatin and whipped topping dessert. Use different flavors of gelatin to make color versions that are as wild as your imagination. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
20/39
Snickers Salad
Total Time
15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This creamy, sweet salad with crisp apple crunch is a real people-pleaser. It makes a lot, which is good, because it will go fast! —Cyndi Fynaardt, Oskaloosa, Iowa
21/39
Molded Strawberry Salad
Total Time
10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This refreshing salad has two layers – a pretty pink bottom that includes sour cream, and a ruby red top with strawberries and pineapple. For years, Mom has included this salad in meals she prepares for our family.
-Gloria Grant, Sterling, Illinois
-Gloria Grant, Sterling, Illinois
22/39
Overnight Fruit Salad
Total Time
30 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I first tasted this rich, old-fashioned fruit salad at my wedding reception many years ago. The ladies who did the cooking wouldn't share the recipe at the time, but eventually I got it. I've made it for many meals, and our daughters copied the recipe when they married. —Eileen Duffeck, Lena, Wisconsin
23/39
Two-Berry Fluff Salad
Total Time
15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This fluffy dessert salad is a welcome treat on warm Texas afternoons. Because there’s a blueberry orchard near our home, we often pick up berries to use in this recipe and others. When blueberries and strawberries aren’t in season, you can substitute frozen berries with equally good results. —Karen Wenzel, Conroe, Texas
24/39
Cran-Raspberry Gelatin Salad
Total Time
15 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Just like Grandma’s, this pretty gelatin salad has full berry flavor without being too tart. It’s perfect for any holiday dinner. —Rosemary Burch, Phoenix, Arizona
25/39
Apricot Fluff
Total Time
10 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When we were young mothers, I asked my best friend if she had a recipe for an easy ambrosia salad that I could take to a cookout later that evening. She shared this recipe with me and it’s become a must-have at every barbecue I attend. It’s sublime with peaches and peach gelatin, too. —Melissa Meinke, Fawn Grove, Pennsylvania
26/39
Creamy Blueberry Gelatin Salad
Total Time
30 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Plump blueberries and a fluffy topping star in this pretty, refreshing salad that was my mother's recipe. It was served at every holiday and celebration, and now my grandchildren look forward to sampling it at holidays. —Sharon Hoefert, Greendale, Wisconsin
27/39
Ambrosia Fruit Salad
Total Time
20 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mom's ambrosia salad, with its tasty combination of fresh fruits and creamy yogurt, is a family favorite, and a great addition to a backyard barbecue. —Colleen Belbey, Warwick, Rhode Island
28/39
Seven-Layer Gelatin Salad
Total Time
30 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's an eye-catching salad that my mother makes for Christmas dinner each year. You can choose different flavors to make other color combinations for specific holidays or other gatherings. —Jan Hemness, Stockton, Missouri
29/39
Pina Colada Molded Salad
Total Time
25 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My gelatin ring gets a tropical twist from coconut, pineapple and macadamia nuts. It's a wonderful anytime treat. Now that I'm retired from teaching, I have more time for kitchen experiments. —Carol Gillespie, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
30/39
Banana Split Fluff
Total Time
10 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This pretty pink mixture, rich with yummy fruit and nuts, is sure to disappear in a hurry. It’s a sweet and speedy treat that can be served as a dessert or salad. —Anne Powers, Munford, Alabama
31/39
Rosey Raspberry Salad
Total Time
15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Whenever I make this pretty raspberry salad, people talk! It's a festive side dish that works well for celebrations throughout the year. —Jane Vanderground, Macedonia, Ohio
32/39
Apricot Salad
Total Time
20 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Colorful gelatin salad adds a spot of brightness to any table. It blends well with this holiday feast. We children didn't know if it should be a salad or dessert, with its smooth texture and delicate flavor.—Fae Fisher, Callao, Virginia
33/39
Cranberry Waldorf Salad
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cranberries grow in the coastal area about 50 miles from our home. When they become available, I always make this creamy salad. —Faye Huff, Longview, Washington
34/39
Crunchy Apple Side Salad
Total Time
15 min
Servings
5 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
With fiber-rich fruit, light dressing and crunchy walnuts, this is a great side dish or snack. Try it with low-fat granola. —Kathy Armstrong, Post Falls, Idaho
36/39
Cranberry Jello Salad
Total Time
10 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Since this tangy salad keeps well, I make it a day ahead for my Christmas menu. It's also a great choice to take to a holiday potluck - even people who aren't fond of cranberries think it's yummy. I got the recipe from a friend at church who likes to cook and bake as much as I do.
-Betty Claycomb, Alverton, Pennsylvania
37/39
Orange Gelatin Pretzel Salad
Total Time
30 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Salty pretzels pair nicely with the sweet fruit in this refreshing layered dessert salad. It’s a family favorite that is a slam-dunk at potlucks. —Peggy Boyd, Northport, Alabama
38/39
Aunt Marion’s Fruit Salad Dessert
Total Time
20 min
Servings
10 servings (2-1/2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
Aunt Marion, my namesake, is like a grandma to me. She gave me this luscious salad recipe, which goes to all our family reunions, hunt club suppers and snowmobile club picnics...and I go home with no leftovers! —Marion LaTourette, Honesdale, Pennsylvania
39/39
Cranberry Salad
Total Time
15 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
One of my piano students taught me the perfect lesson in holiday recipes: this fresh cranberry salad. The keys are tangy fruit, fluffy marshmallows and crunchy nuts. —Alexandra Lypecky, Dearborn, Michigan
