Fruit Salad III Millionaire Salad

8 servings Prep: 15 m Cook: PT0M Total: 15 m Beginner
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Fruit Salad III Millionaire Salad
A luscious fruit salad with oranges, pineapple, peaches, pears, coconut, marshmallows, and sour cream that gets better overnight. Also called Millionaire Salad, this creamy, sweet fruit mixture is a potluck and holiday favorite that’s simple to prepare but tastes like a million bucks.

Ingredients

8 servings
  • 2 or 3 oranges
  • 1 (15 oz) can pears drained
  • 1 (15 oz) can peaches drained
  • 1 (8 oz) can shredded coconut
  • 1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple (retain liquid)
  • 1 (10 oz) bag miniature marshmallows
  • 1/2 pint sour cream

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Drain all fruit except pineapple. Everything must be chopped in small pieces. Do not cut up orange; scoop out inside with a spoon. Mix the oranges, pears, peaches, coconut, crushed pineapple with its liquid, marshmallows, and sour cream together until well combined.
  2. Put in the refrigerator overnight and serve the next day. The salad needs this time for the flavors to meld and the marshmallows to soften.

Common Problems and Solutions

Q: Can I make this without refrigerating overnight?

A: You can serve it right away, but it won't be as good. The overnight rest allows the marshmallows to soften and absorb the fruit juices, and lets all the flavors meld together. Plan ahead for best results.

Q: My salad seems watery after sitting overnight

A: Make sure you drain all the canned fruit thoroughly except for the pineapple. Pat the drained fruit with paper towels if needed. The pineapple liquid is intentional and helps create the creamy consistency.

Tips and Techniques

For the oranges, using a spoon to scoop out the flesh (rather than cutting) gives you tender pieces without the bitter white pith. Fresh oranges make a big difference over canned mandarin oranges in this recipe.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • sour cream: plain Greek yogurt or whipped topping (like Cool Whip)
  • canned fruit: fresh fruit
  • miniature marshmallows: regular marshmallows cut into quarters

Equipment Needed

  • large mixing bowl
  • spoon for scooping oranges
  • can opener
  • cutting board and knife

Historical Context

Also known as Millionaire Salad, this dessert salad became popular in the South in the mid-20th century when canned tropical fruits became widely available. The name likely comes from the luxurious combination of ingredients that would have seemed extravagant at the time.