This easy recipe for fruit salad is full of fresh fruit all tossed in a simple vanilla-kissed fruit salad dressing!
Add your summer favorites for the perfect healthy snack, side dish, or even dessert.
![Fruit salad is colorful and loaded with fresh delicious fruits and berries. It's the perfect side dish for outdoor occasions! It’s an old-fashioned dish that's always welcome at picnics and barbecues. Try this simple colorful recipe with a sweet dressing that has a secret ingredient! #fruitsalad #fresh ##recipe #spendwithpennies Easy Fresh Fruit Salad in a bowl](https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/1200-Easy-Fresh-Fruit-Salad-SpendWithPennies.jpg)
A Favorite Anytime Snack or Side
- This light salad is low in calories but filled with energizing vitamins and antioxidants.
- Perfect for serving next to waffles, pancakes, or ice cream!
- It can be made ahead of time and chilled until it’s ready to serve.
- So versatile with add-ins, make a signature salad with any fruit in the fridge!
What Goes in a Fruit Salad?
Lots of color, texture, and of course amazing fresh flavor makes fruit salad so delicious! This recipe has a combination of berries, some citrus, grapes, and kiwi fruit. But any combination of fruit will work.
More Fruit Add-Ins:
- Stone Fruits: Peaches (toss in citrus to prevent browning), Nectarines, Plums, Pears
- Tropical & Citrus: Bananas (toss in citrus), Kiwi, Pineapple, Mango, Grapefruit or Oranges (supreme if fresh)
- Berries: Soft Berries (add just before serving), Strawberries (sliced)
- Classic Fruits: Apples (toss in citrus to prevent browning), Green or Red Grapes (halved), Seedless Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon.
![This fresh fruit salad recipe has a tropical twist to sweeten things up and add extra color. Pineapple and kiwi are featured along with old-fashioned favorite ingredients like blueberries. Try it with a side of yogurt or vanilla pudding for a tasty dessert. #fruitsalad #fresh ##recipe #spendwithpennies various fruit on a table](https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Fruit-Salad-SpendWithPennies-1.jpg)
Fruit Salad Dressing
This fruit salad uses a very light simple syrup-style dressing. You can swap out the dressing for any dressing you like (or even leave it off if you’d prefer).
- For a citrusy twist, make a honey lime dressing with a bit of honey and lime juice (or try orange juice).
- Stir in whipped cream or cool whip and some mini marshmallows.
- Skip the dressing and enjoy the fruit as is or sprinkle in a bit of herbs like basil or mint.
![Enjoy the lively mix of colors and flavors in a fruit salad, featuring an array of fresh and tasty fruits and berries. This delightful side dish perfectly enhances outdoor occasions, bringing a refreshing and healthy addition to your meal. #fruitsalad #fresh ##recipe #spendwithpennies various fruits in a bowl](https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Fruit-Salad-SpendWithPennies-2.jpg)
Prepping Fruit for Salad
Most fruit can be cut into bite-sized pieces. Here are a few other tips for a great fruit salad.
COLOR: Blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries should stay whole so their juice doesn’t color the salad.
BROWNING: Toss banana and chopped apple with lime or lemon juice so they don’t oxidize (turn brown).
SOFT FRUITS: Fragile fruits (like bananas and raspberries) can be sprinkled on top after mixing the others so they don’t break.
How to Make Fruit Salad
- Make the vanilla dressing and let it cool to room temperature.
- Prepare pineapple, strawberries, & kiwi and put them in a large bowl. Add a squirt of lemon juice and toss to keep the fruit from browning.
- Add remainder of the fruit and very gently toss with some of the vanilla syrup. You may not need all of the syrup.
- Serve immediately or cover & keep chilled. Chop up some fresh mint to garnish the salad if desired.
![Indulge in a colorful and tasty fruit salad, packed with fresh fruits and berries. It's the ideal side dish for outdoor occasions, adding a refreshing touch to your meal and satisfying your taste buds! #fruitsalad #fresh ##recipe #spendwithpennies two sticks of cinnamon in a bowl of liquid](https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Fruit-Salad-SpendWithPennies-3.jpg)
![Indulge in a colorful and tasty fruit salad, packed with fresh fruits and berries. It's the ideal side dish for outdoor occasions, adding a refreshing touch to your meal and satisfying your taste buds! #fruitsalad #fresh ##recipe #spendwithpennies jug pouring liquid over bowl of fruit](https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Fruit-Salad-SpendWithPennies-4.jpg)
Leftovers
- Leftover fruit salad will keep for about a day in the refrigerator but there are so many ways to use it up!
- Leftover cinnamon-flavored simple syrup can also be added to drinks! Try adding it to sangria.
- For best results, serve fruit salad fresh, within 24 hours.
- If you have extras you can’t eat, drain the fruit well and place it on a parchment-lined pan, and freeze. Once frozen, place in a freezer bag. Frozen fruit can be used to make smoothies or smoothie bowls.
Fresh Fruit Favorites
Did you make this Fruit Salad? Let us know what your favorite add-ins are in the comments below!
![Easy Fresh Fruit Salad in a bowl](https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/1200-Easy-Fresh-Fruit-Salad-SpendWithPennies-220x220.jpg)
Easy Fresh Fruit Salad
This simple fruit salad is tossed in a homemade cinnamon vanilla simple syrup and served fresh!
Vanilla Fruit Salad Dressing
-
Bring water, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon sticks to a boil in a small saucepan. Stir until sugar is dissolved . Remove from the heat and cool completely.
-
Add all fruit to the bowl.
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Remove cinnamon sticks from the vanilla syrup and pour some of it over the fruit, you may not need all of it.
-
Toss very gently to stir and serve immediately.
Fruit salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 day after making it.
Leftover cinnamon-flavored simple syrup can also be added to drinks! Try adding it to Sangria.
For best results, serve fruit salad fresh.
If you have extras you can’t eat, drain the fruit well and place it on a parchment-lined pan, and freeze. Once frozen, place in a freezer bag. Frozen fruit can be used to make smoothies or smoothie bowls.
Calories: 143 | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 295mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 617IU | Vitamin C: 58mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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![Fruit salad is colorful and loaded with fresh delicious fruits and berries. It's the perfect side dish for outdoor occasions! It’s an old-fashioned dish that's always welcome at picnics and barbecues. Try this simple colorful recipe with a sweet dressing that has a secret ingredient! #fruitsalad #fresh ##recipe #spendwithpennies bowl of Easy Fresh Fruit Salad with writing](https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/NP-Easy-Fresh-Fruit-Salad-SpendWithPennies.jpg)
![This fresh fruit salad recipe has a tropical twist to sweeten things up and add extra color. Pineapple and kiwi are featured along with old-fashioned favorite ingredients like blueberries. Try it with a side of yogurt or vanilla pudding for a tasty dessert. #fruitsalad #fresh ##recipe #spendwithpennies pouring syrup over fruit to make Easy Fresh Fruit Salad with a title](https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SP-Easy-Fresh-Fruit-Salad-SpendWithPennies-2-2.jpg)
![Enjoy the lively mix of colors and flavors in a fruit salad, featuring an array of fresh and tasty fruits and berries. This delightful side dish perfectly enhances outdoor occasions, bringing a refreshing and healthy addition to your meal. #fruitsalad #fresh ##recipe #spendwithpennies close up of Easy Fresh Fruit Salad in a bowl with a title](https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SP-Easy-Fresh-Fruit-Salad-SpendWithPennies-3.jpg)
![Indulge in a colorful and tasty fruit salad, packed with fresh fruits and berries. It's the ideal side dish for outdoor occasions, adding a refreshing touch to your meal and satisfying your taste buds! #fruitsalad #fresh ##recipe #spendwithpennies fruit in a bowl to make Easy Fresh Fruit Salad and plated dish with a title](https://www.spendwithpennies.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/LP-Easy-Fresh-Fruit-Salad-SpendWithPennies-.jpg)
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