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 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
Lorraine says
Hi Julie. I want to make your fruit Salad for Easter Sunday, having a problem with the pineapple. My question is can I use can pineapple, and do I drain the juice or not? Thank you.🐰
Julie Evink says
I would drain the juice if you used canned pineapple!
Brooke says
I made this for a BBQ and it was delicious! I added a little more vanilla pudding mix to add more glaze! It was amazing!!
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it Brooke! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Nina says
Can I freeze leftovers, thank you
Julie Evink says
No the fruit won’t hold up when frozen so I wouldn’t recommend it.
chris says
ok i am confused–you told sue to drain them, told diane not to drain!! so do you drain the mandarins or not??
Julie Evink says
No.
Sue says
I read through the comments and replies.
So do I add the liquid with the mandarin oranges or not?
Julie says
No, drain the juice of the mandarin oranges before adding.
Sharon says
delicious!!!
Julie says
Excellent! Glad you enjoyed it!
Linda Ellis says
This recipe did not work out well for me.
I put it together 2 hours before my luncheon; the raspberries were mushy. I barely tasted the vanilla or pudding flavor. I ended up throwing the rest out. Fruit is expensive; not happy. What did I do wrong?
Julie says
I’m sorry it didn’t work well for you, raspberries are a pretty delicate fruit to start with so they probably didn’t hold up well with the extra liquid added. Did you do a good stir after refrigerating it? The glaze tends to settle at the bottom.
Sandy says
The end result was delicious.. however, when you mix the dry pudding mix with the extracts, you don’t get a dressing mix.. it’s dry and clumpy. I even added more vanilla. I scooped it out, whisked it with some juice from mandarins until it was dressing consistency. Next time I will just sprinkle over the pudding mix then the extracts. I added a bit more pudding mix at the end.
Also, I will not add mandarins until the end. They became mush. I did however, mix blueberries and blackberries at the last toss. I will make it again with a couple adjustments.
Lisalia says
Ah, I too watched the picture and saw that you didn’t have liquid with the oranges… so I used fresh peeled clementines from Costco. And it was REALLY good! So thanks for the new recipe.
Julie says
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Elena says
My family loved this! Thanks
Julie says
You’re welcome!
Diane fusare says
Do you drain the juice off mandarin oranges
Julie Evink says
No you don’t drain them!
Jane Nielsen says
You don’t? Your video doesn’t appear to show the syrup/juice going in with the orange sections?!
Shiho says
Beautiful fruit salad and love the bowl too 😀
Trish says
This is going to be the perfect fruit salad
Noelle says
so simple I love this for a summer side dish, thanks!!
Michelle says
Made it for my husband and he loved it!
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Pudding and salad sound like a match made in heaven! This is perfect for summer!
heather+@french+press says
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!!