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Easy Fruit Salad
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Easy Fruit Salad recipe is made with fresh strawberries, blueberries, grapes, pineapple, raspberries and mandarin oranges. The dressing on it is whipped up using a vanilla pudding mix along with vanilla and almond extract. This is the best fruit salad and it’s perfect for entertaining during the summer. Quick, easy and makes a big batch for potlucks, backyard parties and BBQs! It also makes the perfect salad for an easy brunch.
We love pairing this fruit salad with our favorite Balsamic Steak Skewers or Chicken Pineapple Kabobs! Don’t forget the Strawberry Pie for a sweet ending to your meal!
The BEST Fruit Salad Recipe!
Not only is this a great side dish for parties during the summer but it also makes a great recipe to make for brunches! There’s nothing like fresh fruit any time of the day in my opinion.
We love serving this with Mimosa Floats, our favorite breakfast casserole and don’t forget the bacon! It’s the perfect way to start the day.
I had a craving for fruit salad, which I haven’t craved in about 20 years since my brother graduated high school and my mother ordered way to much fruit salad and I felt like we ate it for months. Obviously we didn’t because it wouldn’t last that long but in my youth it sure did seem like that long!
My niece just graduated and we were laughing and reminiscing over my brother’s graduation and the epic Fruit Salad conundrum.
I’m back to craving fresh, flavorful fruit salad so I thought I’d whip this up for you. It’s delicious and perfect for all your summer gatherings! I love to throw Crock Pot Ham & Cheese Sandwiches in the slow cooker and serve it with that during the summer. No heating up the house while making dinner!
Fruit Salad FAQs!
This recipe is super simple and straight forward but here are some quick tips and tricks to making it the BEST fruit salad ever!
If you have additional questions please comment below and we will do our best to answer them.
What is in a fruit salad?
It really depends on the recipe. The key is to use a variety of fresh fruit for best flavor. Use only ripened fruit, so you might want to plan ahead a few days to make sure your fruit is ripe!
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Red Grapes
- Pineapple
- Raspberries
- Mandarin Oranges
You can surely toss in any fruit you’d like! Other options are listed below!
- Kiwi
- Green Grapes
- Clementines (replaces mandarin oranges!)
- Bananas (add these right before serving so they don’t turn brown!)
How to make the BEST fruit salad?
- Prepare fruit – Wash the fruit and chop it up if you need to and then add it to a large mixing bowl
- Make dressing – Sprinkle the pudding mixture and extracts over the fruit
- Toss fruit – Stir the pudding mix and extracts into the fruit
- Refrigerate – You want to refrigerate this for a few hours to create that delicious glaze on the fruit!
Can fruit salad be made a day ahead of time?
This one surely can! In fact, you want to make it at least a few hours ahead of time because the juices from the fruit mix with the vanilla pudding mix and create a delicious glaze on the fruit!
Can I use frozen fruit?
I would not recommend using frozen fruit in this recipe. Once the frozen fruit is thawed it is mushy and watery. This would not be a good fruit salad!
If you are looking to make this budget friendly remember that you can use whatever fruit is in season and mix things up!
What can I do with leftover fruit salad?
Pop it in the refrigerator and enjoy it the next day or pile it on top of some vanilla yogurt and add a little granola to it for breakfast!
How long does fruit salad last?
You’ll want to store any leftovers in a air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days depending on how ripe your fruit was when you made it!
More Fruit Recipes You’ll Love!
- Fruit Rainbow with Lemon Cheesecake Dip
- Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
- Dessert Nachos
- Easy Ambrosia Salad
- Peach and Strawberry Fruit Salad
- Strawberry Tapioca Salad
Wasn’t that easy? I know you are going to make this Easy Fruit Salad and love it so tag me on Instagram @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see you enjoying it!!!
Easy Fruit Salad Recipe
Quick and easy fruit salad recipe with strawberries, blueberries, pineapple and mandarin oranges. Covered in a dressing using vanilla pudding and extracts.
Print Pin RatePrep Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 16
Calories: 101kcal
Ingredients
- 1 lb strawberries hulled and sliced
- 11 oz blueberries
- 3 c. red grapes
- 1 whole pineapple sliced
- 15 oz mandarin oranges
- 2 Tbsp instant vanilla pudding
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
Instructions
- Ina large bowl combine fruit. Mix in pudding mix, vanilla and almond extract.
- Refrigerate at least two hours or overnight. The juices from the fruit will combine with the pudding mix to create a glaze.
Nutrition
Calories: 101kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 249mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 255IU | Vitamin C: 54.1mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 0.5mg
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LEAVE A COMMENT
I need MUCH decorating help as well – and pudding mix in fruit salad, I had NO idea that was a thing, but it sounds SO good!!
Pudding and salad sound like a match made in heaven! This is perfect for summer!
Made it for my husband and he loved it!
So glad you enjoyed it!
so simple I love this for a summer side dish, thanks!!
Beautiful fruit salad and love the bowl too 😀
This is going to be the perfect fruit salad
Do you drain the juice off mandarin oranges
No you don’t drain them!
You don’t? Your video doesn’t appear to show the syrup/juice going in with the orange sections?!