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This easy Frog Eye Salad recipe is sweet, creamy, and a classic potluck dessert made with acini de pepe pasta, juicy fruit, and a light, fluffy dressing.
Tell me Frog Eye Salad was a part of your childhood too?
Tell me Frog Eye Salad was a part of your childhood too?Frog eye is pure nostalgia for me; one of those old-school recipes that showed up at nearly every family gathering growing up. We called it Acini de Pepe Fruit Salad, but I know a lot of people recognize it as Frog Eye Salad.
It’s sweet, fluffy, fruity, and basically dessert disguised as a side dish, which, let's be honest, is the best kind of side dish. I use freshly whipped cream instead of cool whip and it's just richer, fresher, and only takes a few extra minutes. Whether you’ve been making this for years or are trying it for the first time, this recipe is a keeper.
Try my other yummy side dish recipes, like Cranberry Fluff Salad, Ambrosia Salad, Macaroni Salad, or Street Corn Pasta Salad.
How to make Frog Eye Salad:
Combine and Heat: In a saucepan, whisk together the sugar, pineapple juice, egg yolk, salt, and cornstarch, then bring the mixture to a boil until it thickens slightly. Meanwhile, cook the acini de pepe pasta separately by bringing the pot of water to a boil then adding the noodles and simmering them for 6 minutes on low, or until al dente. Combine them with the thickened sugar mixture and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight.
Serve: When ready to serve, mix the pineapple, oranges, coconut, bananas, and marshmallows in a separate bowl, then gently stir the fruit mixture into the chilled acini de pepe. Fold in fresh whipped cream and serve this frog eye salad at any bbq, gathering, or potluck.
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Recipe
Frog Eye Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 20 ounce can pineapple tidbits , drained and juice reserved
- 10 ounce can crushed pineapple , drained and juice reserved
- 1 cup reserved pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 cup acini di pepe noodles
- 15 ounce can mandarin oranges , drained
- 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 banana , sliced
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Drain the pineapple cans and reserve the juice. Reserve the pineapple fruit in the fridge for later.20 ounce can pineapple tidbits, 10 ounce can crushed pineapple
- In a saucepan over medium heat combine the pineapple juice, sugar, egg yolk, salt and cornstarch and whisk until smooth. Cook until mixtures comes to a low boil and thickens slightly. Remove from heat and allow to cool.1 cup reserved pineapple juice, ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg yolk, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- Cook acini de pepe noodles according to package instructions. Drain and cool.½ cup acini di pepe noodles
- Combine the acini de pepe and the thickened sauce in a tupperware.
- Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. Once the acini de pepe mixture has chilled, add it to a large bowl with the pineapple, mandarin oranges, coconut, marshmallows, and bananas.15 ounce can mandarin oranges, ½ cup shredded sweetened coconut, 1 cup mini marshmallows, 1 banana
- Whip cream: In a separate bowl beat the cream and sugar together until stiff peaks. Fold fresh whipped cream into the acini de pepe mixture. Serve immediately or refrigerate.1 cup heavy whipping cream, ¼ cup powdered sugar
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe October 2018. Updated August 2025.
Isn’t this pretty similar to what we called ambrosia?
They are similar, but ambrosia doesn’t have the acini de pepe mixture in it, and I use yogurt in the ambrosia. Here’s my Ambrosia fruit salad recipe, for comparison. https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/ambrosia-fruit-salad/
What size can of tidbits and crushed pineapple do you use?
I’ve updated the ingredients! Thanks 🙂
Can you leave out yolk from frog eyed salad?
Wow! This is a long-lost favorite salad!! I showed this to my husband, and he said this was one of his favorite party salads, but neither one of us has seen this in so many years! Thank you for posting this!
My grandma used to make this! I haven’t had it since she passed away! I’m gonna have to make it soon!!
This looks amazing! I love trying new fruit salads!
My mom used to make this when I was growing up. It is sooo yummy!
I loved my grandma’s frog eye salad and this one looks just as good. Definitely going to try!
Wow. I’ve never seen this before, or even heard of it! Is it a very classic American dish? Definitely not something we have in the southern hemisphere in Australia 🙂
This salad is the best. Be sure and try it if you can get all the ingredients there. I have a SisterFriend in Australia and would love to give her the recipe if you have the ingredients there. I live in Florida.
We did call it frog eye salad. I should see if my lil daughter would like this.
I was told that the acini de pepe noodles were frog eyes when I was little.