Pink Lady Salad Recipe (Includes Step By Step Instructions)

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Pink Lady Salad is 5 ingredient vintage Jello salad that includes cottage cheese, canned pineapple and Cool Whip. Also known as Pink Stuff, this recipe creates one of those classic dishes that graced holiday dinner tables, family gatherings, baby showers, and Easter brunches across the Midwest.

Pink Lady Salad Recipe

There’s nothing more vintage than a gelatin salad. Preparing and serving a pink fluff salad (also called sweetheart salad) sends me through a time warp. I’m in a time when my Grandma is getting ready for a lady’s luncheon wearing a patterned apron.

I found this 5 Minute Pink Salad recipe in Grandma’s wooden recipe box.  Grandma’s recipe is on an index card, and she had two versions of Pink Lady Salad on the same stained card.  Both recipes were similar but unique.  There are numerous versions of gelatin salads out there, and I imagine that each home cook had her own beloved version that she used based on what ingredients were accessible and affordable. I also love how the same salads have various names.

If your heart desires, try mixing up this recipe by adding miniature marshmallows, cream cheese, drained mandarin oranges, or a different flavor of jello mix. Or, if you are wanting a more decadent Cherry Pie Version using cherry pie filling, try Grandma’s Cherry Fluff.  This is another recipe straight out of Grandma’s wooden recipe box.

Southern Pink Salad Ingredient List

  • Strawberry Jello (preferably sugar free), 0.3 oz packet
  • Crushed Pineapple, drained well
  • Cottage Cheese
  • Cool Whip
  • Pecans, chopped

Equipment

Find a list of pantry staples and kitchen utensils needed to make this recipe by clicking on our Amazon Store. I love these plastic, reusable bowl covers. They are a lifesaver.

How to Make Old Fashioned Jello Salad Recipe

Step By Step Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, mix cool whip, drained crushed pineapple, cottage cheese, chopped nuts and dry packet of Jello.
  2. Let salad set up in refrigerator before serving, approximately 1 hour.

For the full instructions and ingredient amounts for 5 Minute Pink Salad, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Recipe FAQs

  • This easy pink stuff salad has only 5 ingredients – strawberry jello mix, cool whip, cottage cheese, chopped nuts and crushed pineapple.
  • Use raspberry jello, if desired.
  • Be sure to drain the pineapple thoroughly before adding to the pink stuff salad.  Discard the juice or use it for something delicious like Amaretto Pina Coladas.
  • A sieve works best for draining crushed pineapple. Check out the “Kitchen Stuff You Need” list in our Amazon shop for our sieve of choice and other items that we can’t live without.
  • To make this 5 minute pink salad diet friendly, use fat free cool whip, non fat cottage cheese, and sugar free strawberry jello.
  • We prefer to use sugar free strawberry jello in this recipe, but regular strawberry jello mix would work too.
  • The strawberry jello mix gets added to the salad dry without water being added.
  • Love family favorite fluff salads? Try Cranberry Fluff Salad by clicking here.

Can I swap canned pineapple chunks for crushed pineapple?

Yes, canned pineapple chunks, tidbits or pineapple rings are a suitable substitute for crushed pineapple.  First off, you need to determine whether or not the recipe calls to drain off the juices from the crushed pineapple.  If so, then go ahead and drain first, and then pour the chunks into a food processor.

If the recipe says to keep the pineapple undrained, then pour in the entire can, juices and all.

Next, use the food processor to make crushed pineapple.  The Pulse button works great for this.  Pulse until the pineapple chunks are broken down into crushed pineapple. Or, turn on low for a few seconds at a time until you get to the desired texture.

This can also be done with fresh pineapple as well.

Pink Lady Salad is 5 ingredient vintage Jello salad that includes cottage cheese, canned pineapple and Cool Whip. Also known as Pink Stuff, this recipe creates one of those classic dishes that graced holiday dinner tables across the Midwest.

Our Favorite Vintage Dessert Salads

Our grandma loved her dessert salads and luckily she wrote some of her favorite recipes down and we’ve found other keepers in our old church cookbook collection. Here are some that we’ve shared already on the blog – AmbrosiaCherry Fluff, Vintage Pineapple Pretzel Salad, Watergate Salad, and Lazy Daisy (Ambrosia) Salad.

Our Favorite Vintage Recipes

Vintage recipes are our cup of tea. Here’s some of our favorites:

Classic Vanilla Pudding

Classic Vanilla Pudding is a recipe that everyone should master.  Making vanilla pudding from scratch is fast and easy, and the result is smooth, velvety, creamy, delicious dessert.

Grandma’s Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Grandma's Sour Cream Coffee Cake is an old fashioned pound cake recipe made in a Bundt pan. This classic coffee cake is moist.

Swiss Steak and Vegetables

Creamed Peas and New Potatoes

Creamed Peas and New Potatoes come together quickly on the stove-top and pair perfectly along side of any entree.  This old fashioned side dish tastes just like Mom or Grandma made it.

Creamed Chipped Beef Gravy

Easy Chipped Beef Gravy is an old-fashioned recipe that goes by many different names, including S.O.S. The dish uses dried beef and is usually served over toast. This old-fashioned dish is fast and kid-friendly dinner option.

Mom’s Tuna Casserole with Potato Chips

Mom's Tuna Casserole topped with crumbled potato chips is one of those classic dishes that was on every dinner table across the country back in the day.

Classic Salmon Patties

Easy Salmon Patties have the flavor of the classic salmon patty recipe without bread crumbs and without crackers, making them a low carb salmon patties recipe. 

Linking up to Weekend Potluck.

Pink Lady Salad is 5 ingredient vintage Jello salad that includes cottage cheese, canned pineapple and Cool Whip. Also known as Pink Stuff, this recipe creates one of those classic dishes that graced holiday dinner tables across the Midwest.
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4.67 from 3 votes

Pink Lady Salad – An Old Fashioned Jello Salad Recipe

Pink Lady Salad is 5 ingredient vintage Jello salad that include cottage cheese, canned pineapple and Cool Whip. Also known as Pink Stuff, this recipe creates one of those classic dishes that graced holiday dinner tables across the Midwest.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Refrigerate1 hour
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Dessert, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 5 Minute Pink Salad, Pink Lady Salad, pink salad, pink stuff salad, sweetheart salad
Servings: 8
Calories: 214kcal
Author: Barbara

Ingredients

  • 9 ounces Cool Whip
  • 0.3 ounces strawberry Jello mix, dry (sugar free, preferably)
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 20 ounces crushed pineapple, drained
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, mix all ingredients until strawberry jello mix is completely incorporated and salad is perfectly pink.
    Pink Lady Salad is 5 ingredient vintage Jello salad that includes cottage cheese, canned pineapple and Cool Whip. Also known as Pink Stuff, this recipe creates one of those classic dishes that graced holiday dinner tables across the Midwest.
  • Let set up in the fridge for approximately 1 hour.
    Pink Lady Salad is 5 ingredient vintage Jello salad that includes cottage cheese, canned pineapple and Cool Whip. Also known as Pink Stuff, this recipe creates one of those classic dishes that graced holiday dinner tables across the Midwest.

Notes

  • This easy pink stuff salad has only 5 ingredients—strawberry jello mix, cool whip, cottage cheese, chopped nuts and crushed pineapple.
  • Be sure to drain the pineapple thoroughly before adding to the pink stuff salad.  Discard the juice or use it for something delicious like Amaretto Pina Coladas.
  • A sieve works best for draining crushed pineapple.
  • To make this 5 minute pink salad diet friendly, use fat free cool whip, non fat cottage cheese, and sugar free strawberry jello.
  • We prefer to use sugar free strawberry jello in this recipe, but regular strawberry jello mix would work too. 
  • The strawberry jello mix gets added to the salad dry without water being added. 
  • Please note carb counts, calorie counts and nutritional information can vary  greatly depending on the products you use. The nutritional information below is auto-calculated and should NOT be used for specific dietary needs.

Nutrition

Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 124mg | Potassium: 205mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 136IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 1mg

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15 Comments

  1. My gram made “May Day Salad”, which is mandarin oranges instead of pineapples and orange jello powder.

  2. One of my favorites as a kid! But my mom cooked the jello and pineapple (undrained) until the grainy jello look was gone. Then cooled it down and added cottage cheese. After that was lightly mixed she folded in the whip cream. Delish!!! Im going to try the no cook version. One less step.

    1. I’ve heard it was actually better when it was cooked like that. If you try the instant way please let us know what way you liked better as in flavor wise Please.

  3. What a childhood memory! Please share all the versions your grandmother had! It is a perfect for diabetics!

    1. Yes, making it ahead of time is just fine…just don’t take a bite from the bowl and double dip…the bacteria in our mouths can break down the salad and make it watery.

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