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–+ servings
Homemade frog eye salad with marshmallows and coconut.
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5 from 1 vote

Frog Eye Salad

Indulge in sweet nostalgia with this creamy and fruity Frog Eye Salad recipe – a delightful side dish that's perfect for any occasion!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Chill time12 hours
Total Time12 hours 50 minutes
Course: Dessert, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Krissy Allori

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup acini di pepe pasta
  • 20 ounce crushed pineapple in juice
  • 20 ounce pineapple tidbits in juice
  • 1 cup reserved pineapple juice see instruction
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 11-oz cans mandarin oranges Trader Joe's recommended
  • 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut optional
  • 1/2 cup mini marshmallows optional, mini dehydrated marshmallows recommended
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Cook 1 cup acini di pepe pasta al dente in a large pot of boiling water. This should take about 6 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse it with very cold water. Place the cooked pasta in a large bowl and refrigerate.
    cooked acini di pepe pasta in white bowl.
  • Using a fine mesh sieve over a bowl, add 20 ounce crushed pineapple in juice and press down with the back of a spoon to extract as much juice as possible. Transfer drained crushed pineapple to a bowl. Do the same with the 20 ounce pineapple tidbits in juice and transfer the drained fruit to the bowl with the crushed pineapple.
    straining pineapple tidbits.
  • Measure out 1 cup reserved pineapple juice.
  • Use the sieve to drain the 2 11-oz cans mandarin oranges and combine the drained oranges with the drained pineapple. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Any remaining juice can be discarded or used for something else.
    strained pineapple and mandarin oranges mixed together.
  • Make the pineapple custard: In a saucepan over medium heat combine the pineapple juice, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch and whisk until smooth.
  • Cook until mixture comes to a low boil and thickens slightly, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to fully cool in the refrigerator.
    cooking pineapple custard for frog eye salad recipe.
  • Combine the chilled cooked acini di pepe and the thickened pineapple custard in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
    Adding pineapple custard to acini di pepe pasta for frog eye salad recipe.
  • When you're ready to make the salad, add the drained fruit to the pasta mixture. Stir in 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut and 1/2 cup mini marshmallows, if using.
    adding shredded coconut and mini marshmallows to frog eye salad recipe.
  • In a separate bowl beat 1 cup heavy whipping cream and 1/4 cup powdered sugar together until stiff peaks form. Fold the fresh whipped cream into the acini di pepe mixture. Serve immediately or refrigerate.
    Folding in sweetened whipped cream to frog eye salad.

Notes

If pineapple tidbits aren't available, use chunks or rings and cut into smaller pieces.
While standard mini marshmallows work great in this recipe, I actually used dehydrated mini marshmallows (similar to what you would find in packaged hot chocolate mix). While they're not as easy to find, they add the same great flavor but with an added crunch that really compliments the recipe.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 349kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 95mg | Potassium: 244mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 541IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1mg
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