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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.
I have used the frog eye salad recipe many many times. It’s easy and not expensive to make at all. The only problem I had was figuring out which sugar to use with what step. Other than that easy, peasy tyvm. I am now hooked on it
Really valuable about this recipe is using the drained juice. I had already bought pineapple juice ($2.69) but did a taste test ( very similar) & used the drained juice.
AWESOME, AWESOME AND MORE AWESOME. MAKING OT RIGHT NOW FOR THE 3RD TIME SINCE THANKSGIVING
It drives me nuts when people call ANY pasta “noodles”. Call it acini de pepe pasta.
Noodles are flat strips of pasta.
That said, the recipe is fine and we call it Frog Eye Salad.
your comment is unnecessary. didn’t your mom teach you, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all?”
In Kansas we DO NOT PUT coconut, bananas or marshmallows in Frog Eye! Our family loves it!!! We always have this at Thanksgiving & Christmas. Leftovers are better with frog eye.
I don’t put coconut or bananas in mine either. I think bananas would turn it brown and would not stay fresh as long.
I don’t do the banana or coconut either. It’s definitely a family favorite.
I cut the bananas in the pineapple or mandarin orange juice then drain the bananas, the bananas don’t turn brown for 3 or 4 days
If you put the sliced banana in some of the pineapple juice it will not turn brown.
Kansan here and yes! None of that goes in mine😉 but I do love this salad!
Love this salad my good friend made it and I just had to have this recipe 🐸👀🥗💛💖💙❤️💜
Wonderful, wonderful recipe! We made it with colorful marshmallows and it was an instant hit with my four teenagers.
Great Recipe! I added diced peaches & maraschino cherries to mine in addition to all the other yummy fruit.
This is always a hit at any gathering!!
When I tell People its Frog eyes They don’t want to eat it But they love it when they finally taste it. A very refreshing Summer dessert/
I made this and it was simple to make and tasted delicious!!! I will definitely be making this again and again.
Thank you!