The Easiest And Most Delicious Red Hot Fluff Salad Recipe

Red Hot Fluff is a vintage “salad” featuring cinnamon along with those classic ingredients of crushed pineapple, Cool Whip and mini marshmallows. Cinnamon Imperials (also known as Red Hots) melt into crushed pineapple to form a sweet, cinnamon base before adding the fluffy marshmallows and whipped topping.

Red Hot Fluff Recipe

My vintage salad obsession continues.  I love old fashioned “salad” recipes.  Maybe it’s because there is not one vegetable in these salads, or maybe it’s because they all seem to have mini marshmallows and whipped topping, but either way, I just can’t get enough of them.

The fabulous Dee (of our Church Windows Candy recipe) shared this recipe with me. I had never heard of a salad that had Red Hots Candy in it, so I quickly added it to my menu.

Cinnamon salad is a beautiful shade of pink making the perfect addition to a Christmas, Valentine’s Day, bridal shower or baby shower.  This pink color comes from marinating Red Hots in crushed pineapple.  The color leaks from the candies into the pineapple into a dark shade of red. Then, Cool Whip and mini marshmallows are added to soften the red color into the color pink.

The amount of “hot” in this Red Hot Fluff is in your control. If you want just a small amount of cinnamon goodness, use 1/4 cup of cinnamon imperials.  If you prefer a big hit of cinnamon spice, use 1/2 cup cinnamon imperials.

Red Hot Salad Ingredients

There are only 4 ingredients in this fluffy, cold dessert.

• Crushed Pineapple
• Red Hots (adjust to your tastes)
• Mini Marshmallows
• Cool Whip

Are cinnamon imperials the same things as Red Hots?

Yes, these two candies are interchangeable. Use either in this cinnamon salad recipe.

Can I make my own crushed pineapple?

Yes, you can, and it’s really easy. If you have a fresh pineapple, remove the skin and core, and then throw chunks of pineapple into the food processor. Pulse until crushed. If you have canned pineapple chunks or rings, pour into the food processor and pulse until crushed.

How to Make Red Hot Pineapple Salad

Step by Step Instructions

1. Drain pineapple juice off of canned crushed pineapple. Discard juice (or use it in Amaretto Pina Coladas).
2. Combine pineapple flesh with cinnamon imperial candies.
3. Refrigerate overnight.
4. If all the candies have dissolved, proceed to next step. If not, stir and return to the refrigerator.
5. Once the Red Hots candies have dissolved and the pineapple is red in color, stir in mini marshmallows and Cool Whip.
6. Chill for a couple hours before serving.

For the full instructions and ingredient list for Red Hot salad, scroll to the bottom of this post. 

Recipe Variations

• Stir in nuts such as walnuts or pecans to this fluff salad.
• Use a flavored Cool Whip such as cheesecake-flavored.
• Add in a can of cherry pie filling!

What are some recipes with leftover pineapple juice?

Don’t pour it down the drain. Pineapple juice is a perfect cocktail ingredient. Try Amaretto Pina Coladas, Bay Breeze and Jalapeno Pineapple Limeades. Or, consider adding it to a meat marinade if cocktails aren’t your cup of tea.

What should I serve with Cinnamon Salad?

Even though this is a “salad” by name, I consider it a dessert – the perfect summer dessert.  Serve along side Pulled Pork, Italian Green Bean Salad, and Parmesan Zucchini Squares.

Recipe FAQs

• If you are big on cinnamon or big on the “hot” part of red hots, add up to 1/2 cup of the cinnamon candies.  For milder tastes, only use 1/4 cup.
• Drain off all the juice from the crushed pineapple; a sieve works wonders for this step.
• Be sure the red hot candies are completely melted into the crushed pineapple.  If you find candies still in the bowl, give it a good stir and return it to the refrigerator for a few more hours.
• If you can’t find Red Hot candies, use Cinnamon Imperials instead.
• You could eat this right away but this cinnamon salad gets better if you chill it for a couple hours first to let the flavors meld together.

Crushed Pineapple Recipes

Vintage salads that our grandmothers and mothers made back in the day featured many of the same classic ingredients, like mini marshmallows and Cool Whip. They also often featured crushed pineapple as a core ingredient. Here are some of our favorites:

Classic Ambrosia

Pink Lady Salad

Orange Jello Salad

Cherry Fluff

Pretzel Salad

Oreo Fluff

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