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 salad is 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 it with our favorite Balsamic Steak Skewers or Chicken Pineapple Kabobs! Don’t forget the Strawberry Pie for a sweet ending to your meal!
Not only is this homemade fruit salad 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. This is one of my go-to recipes because everyone loves fruit, plus it’s so flexible. I always grab a variety of fruit that’s in season so we never tire of it.
We love serving this with our favorite breakfast casserole and don’t forget the bacon! It’s the perfect way to start the day if brunch is your thing.
It’s also perfect for serving for lunch or dinner along side a main dish. 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!
Ingredients Needed
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 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!
Expert Tips!
This recipe is super simple and straight forward but here are some quick tips and tricks to making it the BEST!
If you have additional questions please comment below and we will do our best to answer them.
- You can skip the vanilla pudding mix and extracts if you prefer to have a simple fruit salad that’s just tossed together. It will not have a glaze on it if you leave that off.
- The almond extract can be skipped, just replace it with more vanilla extract if you don’t like almond or someone has an allergy.
- This is great served with yogurt. A fun option is to make breakfast parfaits with it.
- If you use bananas or apples toss them with a splash of lemon juice before mixing them in the salad to prevent browning.
- Use fruit with contrasting colors for the best presentation.
- Chop fruit roughly the same size. It’s easier to eat this way and prettier in the bowl.
- Mix it up by adding fresh herbs. For example you could use basil, lemongrass, lavender or mint for a new twist.
- The kids love it when you add a few mini marshmallows in this.
Can it 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 leftovers?
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 it last?
You’ll want to store any leftovers in a air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 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
- Strawberry Tapioca Salad
- Grape Salad
- Ambrosia Salad
- Cranberry Fluff Salad
- Fruit Pizza
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!!!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Easy Fruit Salad
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 powder not prepared
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
Instructions
- In a large boil whisk pudding mix, vanilla and almond extract until smooth.
- Add in fruit and gently stir to coat with glaze.
- Refrigerate at least two hours or overnight. The juices from the fruit will combine with the pudding mix to create a glaze.
Tips
- You can skip the vanilla pudding mix and extracts if you prefer to have a simple fruit salad that’s just tossed together. It will not have a glaze on it if you leave that off.
- The almond extract can be skipped, just replace it with more vanilla extract if you don’t like almond or someone has an allergy.
- This is great served with yogurt. A fun option is to make breakfast parfaits with it.
- If you use bananas or apples toss them with a splash of lemon juice before mixing them in the salad to prevent browning.
- Use fruit with contrasting colors for the best presentation.
- Chop fruit roughly the same size. It’s easier to eat this way and prettier in the bowl.
- Mix it up by adding fresh herbs. For example you could use basil, lemongrass, lavender or mint for a new twist.
- The kids love it when you add a few mini marshmallows in this.
- Make sure you 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.
- I would not recommend using frozen fruit in this recipe. Once the frozen fruit is thawed it is mushy and watery.
- Pop leftovers in 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!
- You’ll want to store any leftovers in a air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days depending on how ripe your fruit was when you made it!
Video
Nutrition Information
LEILA ISOMAKI says
do I drain the mandarin oranges
LEILA ISOMAKI says
do you drain the mandarin oranges
Claudine Pelletier says
Please specify in your recipe if you are to use the instant pudding POWDER or make the instant pudding per recipe on pudding box (whisk w milk etc) then whisk with vanilla etc.
Courtney says
Instant vanilla pudding powder – not prepared.
Patty says
Not sure what I did wrong but my pudding was clumpy and not glaze like. I used sugar free pudding, could that have been it?
I used grapes, strawberries, blueberries and peaches.
Julie Evink says
Try whisking the glaze first and then adding in the fruit!
Jennifer says
We had the same problem… ours was clumpy. We did whisk the extracts with the pudding first. It tasted fine but definitely looked weird with white chunks in it.
Courtney says
Did you use sugar free as well?