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This easy fruit salad is fresh, vibrant, and tossed in a sweet homemade fruit salad dressing that takes it to the next level. It’s the perfect quick recipe for breakfast, a side dish, or a light dessert everyone will love.
For more potluck-worthy salad recipes, try my Macaroni Salad or Orange Fluff Salad. They’re always a hit!
Why you’ll love this easy fruit salad recipe!
What makes for the best fruit salad? In my opinion, it’s the dressing!
Salad dressing is not just for salads made with lettuce. In fact, it’s what really makes a fruit salad spectacular rather than boring and basic. My honey orange dressing is the ideal blend of sweet and tart and ties this whole fruit salad recipe together.
First, I cook my fruit salad dressing on the stovetop, letting it simmer for about five minutes. Cooking the dressing allows it to be thick and sticky, making sure to coat every piece of fruit. Then, I pour the dressing on top, and let the mixture chill in the fridge for at least two hours in advance before I’m ready to serve. This really lets all the flavors of the fruit marinate in the dressing and develop.
Here’s what else makes this recipe a standout:
- Bright and Fresh: A colorful mix of juicy fruit in every bite.
- Quick to Make: Simple ingredients and minimal prep time.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Great for potlucks, brunch, or summer gatherings.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Tastes even better after chilling.
Table of Contents
Ingredient Notes
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Orange juice – Forms the base of the fruit salad dressing.
- Honey – Adds natural sweetness to the dressing.
- Orange zest – Boosts citrus flavor. Be sure to zest the orange before you juice it!
- Vanilla – Enhances overall flavor.
- Oranges – Juicy and refreshing.
- Kiwis – Add a tangy contrast.
- Bananas – Provide natural sweetness and creaminess.
- Strawberries – Bright and slightly tart.
- Apples – Crisp and refreshing.
- Pineapple chunks – Sweet and tropical.
- Blueberries – Add color and bursts of flavor.
Variations
- Replace the apples with crunchy pears.
- Use the pineapple juice from the can of pineapple chunks to make the dressing. Replace the orange juice with the pineapple juice for a whole new take on the fruit salad dressing.
- Use a honey lime dressing, swapping the orange juice and zest with limes.
- Skip the bananas if you plan to make the fruit salad in advance. The bananas tend to turn brown after a day and you want your fruit salad recipe to look as fresh as possible!
- Add a splash of lemon juice or lime juice before adding the dressing to prevent the fruit from turning brown.
- Season the fruit with Tajín or chili powder for a hint of heat.
- Make this Christmas Fruit Salad for the holidays!
How to Make Fruit Salad
- Make the dressing: Add the orange juice, honey, and orange zest to a small pot, and simmer over medium heat for five minutes. The dressing will look thick and shiny. Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the vanilla. Then, let the dressing cool.
- Cut the fruit: Cut all the fruit into small, bite-sized pieces. I aim for pieces that are one inch by one inch in size.
- Mix the salad: Add all the chopped fruit to a large mixing bowl. Then, pour the cold dressing over the fruit. Toss everything together, mixing up the fruit and coating everything in the dressing.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let the salad chill in the fridge for at least two hours. Scoop the fruit salad into small bowls, and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
This fruit salad is great on its own! However, it’s also incredible paired with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. You can also use it as a topping on cream cheese pound cake, buttermilk pancakes, or waffles.
How to Store
- To Store: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–5 days.
- Do Not Freeze: Freezing makes the fruit mushy.
- Banana Tip: Remove bananas if storing longer than a day.
Try These Fruit Recipes Next!
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Easy Fruit Salad
Equipment
- 1 Small pot
- 1 Large mixing bowl
Ingredients
Dressing
- ¾ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 Tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fruit Mix
- 2 oranges, peeled
- 3 kiwi, peeled
- 2 bananas, peeled
- 2 cups strawberries, stemmed
- 2 apples, peeled, cored (honeycrisp or other crisp, tart variaties)
- 1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks, drained
- 1 ½ cups blueberries
Instructions
- In a small pot over medium high heat, add the orange juice, honey, and orange zest. Whisk together and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and continue to cook for another 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the vanilla, then let cool to room temperature while preparing the fruit mixture.¾ cup orange juice, ¼ cup honey, 1 Tablespoon orange zest, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Cut the oranges, kiwis, bananas, strawberries and apples into bite sized pieces and add to a large serving bowl. Stir in the pineapple chunks and blueberries. Once the dressing has cooled, drizzle over the fruit and gently stir together. Cover and chill for 2 to 3 hours or overnight before serving.2 oranges, peeled, 3 kiwi, peeled, 2 bananas, peeled, 2 cups strawberries, stemmed, 2 apples, peeled, cored (honeycrisp or other crisp, tart variaties) , 1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks, drained, 1 ½ cups blueberries
So refreshing and bright, and that orange dressing brings all the flavours together beautifully!
These look so refreshing — can’t wait to try them!
Love how simple this was to put together.