Frog Eye Salad (Acini de Pepe Salad) is a fluffy, fruit & pasta salad. It doubles as a sweet side or dessert. Serve at your next dinner party!
This sweet and creamy pasta salad makes a delicious Fruit Dessert for the holidays. You can even use it as a side for a sweet option to balance out your savory dishes. If you love this, check out my Winter Fruit Salad and Waldorf Salad.
Why You’ll Love This Fruit Dessert?
- Perfect to make ahead of time and serve at a potluck or dinner party.
- Works perfectly as a side dish or serve it as a light fluffy dessert.
Sabrina’s Frog Eye Salad (Acini de Pepe Salad) Recipe
Frog Eye Salad, also known as Acini de Pepe Salad, is a fruit salad that is served as a side or dessert during the holidays. This dessert salad is most popular in Utah and Idaho and other areas along the west part of the Rocky Mountains. You will find it served at most community luncheons and church gatherings.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 3/4 cups pineapple juice , unsweetened
- 2 large eggs , beaten
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 pound acini di pepe pasta
- 2 cups mandarin oranges , canned, drained well
- 20 ounces crushed pineapple , drained well
- 8 ounces cool whip
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows
Instructions
- In a large pot whisk together the sugar, flour, salt, pineapple juice and eggs on medium heat until thickened then turn off the heat and whisk in the lemon juice.
- Cook the acini de pepe pasta one minute shy of the directions then drain and rinse well before adding to the pineapple egg mixture and mixing it together.
- Refrigerate the pasta mixture until fully chilled and just before serving mix with the oranges, pineapple, cool whip and marshmallows.
Notes
Nutrition
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Sabrina’s Tips
Make sure to drain all of your fruits well so that the salad does not become too watery. Add in your more delicate ingredients last (fruit and marshmallows) so that they do not get over mixed and become to mushy.
Table of contents
About this Recipe
Frog Eye Salad is the perfect fruity dish to bring to a potluck, made from Acini de Pepe pasta, which is similar in texture to tapioca once it’s in this salad. This is also a lot like a fruit salad or Ambrosia Salad, but with pasta and a creamy custard topping mixed in. I like to throw this together for holidays and family get-togethers because it’s always a hit!
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes, this can be made 1-2 days before serving. Your salad may develop some water on the top as it chills in the refrigerator, just mix the salad back together before topping with the garnish of your choice and serving.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- This recipe is best served chilled, so I recommend not skipping the refrigeration step in the recipe.
- You can use fresh or crushed pineapple for this recipe. If you’re using fresh, pulse it in the food processor a few times to get the texture of the store-bought version.
- I prefer the pineapple packed in water or pineapple juice, as the syrup ends up with too much sweetness.
- If you don’t have mandarin oranges, you can substitute with cut up pieces of regular orange. But try to get mandarin oranges if you can find them, as they add a unique flavor to the dish.
Pairing Suggestions
This fruit salad is a popular salad you will see served at community get togethers and church events (yes, I have even made it for luncheons for funerals and weddings). It is commonly paired with similar items like Ambrosia Salad and Jello Salad. Serve with other easy to make and serve items like Funeral Potatoes, Easy Broccoli Salad, and Classic Chicken Salad served on croissants. The bride (or recently departed in spirit) will definitely love this menu!
How to Store
- Serve: This fruit salad is best served chilled. Cover and put back into the refrigerator after two hours.
- Store: This salad should be covered in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Stir before serving.
- Freeze: Freeze Frog Eye Salad for 2-3 months, but keep in mind that this is dairy-based so the texture might be less creamy and you might find that it’s separating slightly. It is best to serve this salad fresh.
Ideas to Serve
Make this recipe using my Homemade Cool Whip, or if you’re going to serve it right away you can use Easy Whipped Cream! If you’re really motivated, you can try using my Homemade Marshmallows. Serve at a potluck or dinner party.
Variations
- Add-ins: Add other fruits to your frog eye salad, like banana, coconut, or strawberries. For more add-ins, try mini chocolate chips, nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans), maraschino cherries, and coconut flakes.
- Pasta Options: Any tiny pasta will work well in this fruit salad, including tiny alphabet pasta or even couscous.
- Spices: You can add warm spices, like cinnamon or nutmeg, to the custard.
- Extra Creamy: Thicken your frog eye salad with a small amount of cream cheese, or extra cool whip, although the pasta should do a good job of thickening this salad.
Related Recipes
More Dessert Fruit Salads
Photo used in previous versions of this post
I used to make this a lot back in the 70s and 80s. I made a batch for a party tomorrow, but I made way too much! Can I freeze it?
Hi Pat! I really don’t recommended it because the texture and taste changes during the freezing and thawing process. I do thank you for the five star review 🙂
Can you use honey instead of sugar
How to substitute honey for sugar:
Use less honey: Try 1/2 to 2/3 cup of honey for every 1 cup of sugar.
Adjust liquid: For every cup of honey used, subtract 1/4 cup of other liquids.
Add baking soda: Honey is slightly acidic, add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda for every cup of honey used.
Honey’s distinct taste will alter the recipe. Let us know what you decided to do and how it turns out!
Its so good I want to eat the whole bowl myself! Thanks for the recipe, just like my grandma used to make!
So glad you enjoyed Frog Eye Salad. I love that it reminded you of Grandma’s and thanks for the 5 star rating 🙂
Does recipe require one pound of pasta? Other recipes I have seen say one cup.
My pineapple can is 20 ounces.
Louise Anderson
Hi Louise, it is 1 pound but this is a large recipe, serves 10, maybe even more.
I apologize in advance if I missed this somewhere, but can this be made a day in advance? Thanks so much!
It won’t be as creamy but yes you absolutely could.
Does this recipe need one pound of the pasta? Others I have looked at call for one cup. My pineapple can is 20 ounces.
Louise Anderson
It’s better the next day! Marshmallows are perfect then!
Have you ever put green food coloring in this to make it more festive for kids on Halloween? How much would you use? When would you add it?
I haven’t ever tried this. I would add the food coloring once the sauce is cooked and just add in little by little, whisking until it give you the color you desire. I’d love to know how it turns out.
what can I use instead for pineapple. Love it but it dont love me. Mom made is for years till a bee sting kit and a trip to the ER, My grandson’s baptism is this weekend and my Daughter asked me to make this, Grandson thinks I’m going to find frog eyes. LMDO Love that boy
Oh no!! There are other fruit type salads on the site without pineapple or that would be easier to substitute the pineapple with but I’ve never tried to substitute the pineapple in this with anything else.
I have sliced grapes to use in the frog eye salad as a substitute for the pineapple. I added them at the very last . I used the red or dark purple and it really gave the salad color.
this is totally something that my girls would love!
Looks so delish! Those combinations of flavors are amazing that makes this simply irresistible, just perfect for the holidays!
Thanks, Melanie!
I’ve made this for 30 years. It is a hit every single time I make it..
What a great idea of potluck salad! I am sure it will be a HIT!
Enjoy!
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!
You’re welcome, Chrissie! So glad you found the recipe.
This was so easy to make and everyone loved it! We will be making it again for both Thanksgiving and Christmas this year!
I love this salad, I didn’t know it was called frog eye salad but I love it!!!
Little pastas acini di pepe, like little frogs eyes.
This is a must have at our summer BBQs. It’s so good and everyone loves it!
So glad everyone loves it!
Yummy!! I have never heard of this before and can’t wait to try it. I LOVE your site and have made many of your recipes. I always search your recipes first when looking for something new to try. Thanks so much. (Love the Cheddar popcorn!)
That’s so sweet of you to say, Jen! Thanks!
I haven’t made it in a few years, because I haven’t been able to find any Acini de pepe..
Does anyone know where I can find it?
I know they have it on Amazon.
So many retro white trash recipes. Thx for sharing!
Enjoy!
Just WOW. I’m 64 and we’ve eaten this most holidays. Certainly not white trash. You have a happy holiday
It’s one of my aunt’s favorite holiday dishes too. Happy Thanksgiving Sheri. <3
That was so mean spirited. Go away