Frog Eye Salad

This fruity salad with a fun name will be a family favorite soon!

Canned fruit, mini marshmallows, and whipped topping are tossed in a creamy pineapple custard with pasta for this colorful and sweet salad!

It’s colorful, fluffy, sweet. It looks stunning on any picnic or potluck table!
This recipe tastes best when extra chilled, so it’s perfect for making ahead!
Similar to ambrosia salad, frog-eyed salad can be served as a side dish or a dessert.

Rumor has it that frog-eye salad (AKA fish-eye salad) may have gotten its name from the round shape of the acini di pepe pasta. It also goes by “pasta fruit salad” if the name makes anyone squeamish.

sugar , acini di pepe , eggs , flour, marshmallows , pineapple , crushed pineapple , whipped topping , lemon , oranges with labels to make Frog Eye Salad

The Flavor Foundation

Pasta: Small and round acini di pepe pasta is the preferred pasta for this recipe. It can be replaced with couscous, white rice, or orzo.

Fruit: Canned or fresh mandarin oranges and pineapple tidbits (with juice) are preferred. Add fresh orange segments and chopped pineapple to the salad for more texture.

Custard: The pineapple-flavored custard pulls the recipe together. Or simply whip up a box of instant vanilla pudding.

Whipped Topping: Whipped topping from a tub holds up well in this recipe, but for the best, fresh flavor, make your own whipped cream.

Add a Little Variety:

Mix in shredded coconut, fruit cocktail, toasted pecans, or walnuts for a new recipe every time you make it!
Add some extra fresh fruit with sliced bananas, halved red or green grapes, pears, or apples.
Replace the pineapple custard with homemade lemon or vanilla custard for a different flavor.
Just for fun, add a few drops of green food coloring to make your frog-eyed salad extra froggy. Or toss in some edible eyeball sprinkles, they are sure to get a laugh!

adding sugar and flour to pan to make pudding for Frog Eye Salad

Frog Eye Salad Made Easy (And Delicious!)

Cook the pasta.
Prepare the pineapple custard and cook until thickened (full recipe below).
In a large bowl, combine fruit and other ingredients and chill for 12 hours.

Serve as a side dish for your favorite meals or save it for dessert! It’s a sweet treat that everyone loves.

How to Keep It Fresh

Frog eye salad can be made up to 2 days ahead and kept refrigerated until ready to serve.
Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Stir before serving and add more whipped topping to refresh.
This recipe does not freeze well, but with simple pantry staples it’s easy to whip up a fresh batch anytime!

More Fruity Side Dishes

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image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

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Fruity, fluffy, and sweet frog eye salad is a colorful side dish or dessert.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Cool 12 hours

Total Time 12 hours 30 minutes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Drain the juices from the pineapple into a measuring cup to make 1 cup of juice. Set aside.
In a small saucepan, off of the heat, combine the reserved pineapple juice, sugar, eggs, and flour. Whisk well to combine.
Turn the heat on to medium and stir constantly until the mixture thickens. Let boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat, stir in lemon juice, and cool to room temperature.
In a pot of boiling water, cook acini di pepe according to package directions. Rinse with cold water and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, egg mixture, crushed pineapple, pineapple tidbits, marshmallows, and whipped topping. Once mixed, gently fold in the orange segments.
Cover and refrigerate at least 12 hours.

Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days. Stir before serving, and add more whipped topping to refresh.
Do not freeze.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dessert, Party Food, Salad, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine American

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