This Winter Fruit Salad is a sweet, juicy and flavorful way to load up on your daily vitamins! Whether you make this Christmas Fruit Salad as a side dish, breakfast, or even dessert, you’re going to fall in love with every bite. It’s an easy and delicious treat with no guilt attached!
Earlier this fall, I was invited to an outdoor craft class in my neighborhood. It was a chilly October day, but it was so nice to be around a couple of my mom friends for an afternoon and I actually learned a couple of things, too. (I am SO not crafty)
Since we were going to have some drinks, I wanted to bring something to share with everyone that could be easily portioned into individual servings and didn’t require heat or refrigeration. My daughter had the idea for fruit salad and that’s how this Winter Fruit Salad came to be!
And while it is a fruit salad, it tastes like a holiday – Thanksgiving or Christmas for sure – and could be a beautiful addition to your holiday table!
How is this Winter Fruit Salad different than other fruit salads?
While this salad is light and refreshing, it’s made with fruits that are in season during the cold winter months. It’s also flavored with cinnamon and maple syrup to give it a warmer, more autumnal flavor than a traditional summer salad.
My daughter LOVED this salad…and it actually got her to try kiwi which she has claimed to not like in the past. She even ate all the pomegranate seeds!
Ingredients for Winter Fruit Salad
When it comes to fruit, the more, the merrier! I love this Christmas Fruit Salad so much because it’s naturally sweetened by the fruit itself, along with ingredients like maple syrup and freshly squeezed orange juice.
These simple and inexpensive ingredients can be found at just about any grocery store! I recommend buying organic products to get the best tasting salad.
- honeycrisp red apples – When you shop for honeycrisps, reach for the ones that don’t have too much yellow. An abundance of yellow coloring might mean the apple is too ripe!
- granny smith apples – Either fruit will work deliciously with the other ingredients! Simply pick your favorite and dice it up.
- oranges – I love oranges for their versatility. While they’re the perfect summertime snack, they also pair phenomenally with cinnamon, giving the salad a perfect fall/winter flavor!
- kiwi – Does your kiwi have dark spots? That’s okay! Most of the time, you should be able to easily cut the dark spots out.
- raspberries – Raspberries are usually used in desserts because of their natural sweetness, and they’re packed with vitamin C! What’s not to love?
- pomegranate seeds – All you need is one ripe pomegranate to provide enough seeds for this salad.
- maple syrup – Maple always adds an earthy, winter inspired flavor to any dish. However, you can substitute this ingredient with raw honey if you’d like!
- orange juice – Get your own juice by squeezing the orange rinds and the remaining ½ of the orange. Freshly squeezed is the BEST!
- cinnamon – I only use a small amount, but you can add more if you’re a big cinnamon fan. It has antioxidants in it, so it’s both healthy and delicious!
Can I add anything else to this Thanksgiving Fruit Salad?
Cranberries are one of my favorite additions! I toss in a few of these superfoods whenever I have some leftover from Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Also, a sprinkle of ground nutmeg would add a richer flavor, if that’s what you’re craving.
Feel free to make additional swaps based on what you have on hand, as this salad could go in different directions!
How to make Winter Fruit Salad
Like any salad, these instructions are almost too easy!
- First, combine the freshly squeezed orange juice, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Rejoice at how heavenly your kitchen smells, then toss all of the fruits in the aromatic mixture.
- Serve immediately and enjoy! If you’re saving the salad for later, simply cover and leave it in the refrigerator until you’re ready.
As I mentioned earlier, I love using this as a fresh side dish during holiday dinners. With so many hearty options on your plate, it’s so nice to have a refreshing bite of fruit salad, too.
Have any leftovers? Even better! Enjoy this juicy dish all on its own, or throw some on top of overnight Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats or with some Whipped Ricotta. It would also be yummy with my Granola and some yogurt!
Are you craving more fruit? I’ve got you covered! Satisfy your sweet tooth in the best way with my favorite berry crisp, apple crisp, or peach crisp!
Winter Fruit Salad
Ingredients
- 2 large honey crisp red apples cored and diced
- 2 pears or granny smith apples cored and diced
- 2 1/2 oranges cut away from rinds and quartered
- 4 kiwi fruit peeled and sliced into quarters
- 1 cup raspberries 8 oz container
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds from 1 ripe pomegranate
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- Juice from orange rinds and remaining ½ orange
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon or more to taste
Instructions
- Combine orange juice, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Gently toss fruit together and drizzle on the maple orange dressing. Lightly stir.
- Serve immediately or cover and place in your refrigerator until it's time to enjoy.
Brittney says
This is the second year in a row I have brought this salad to the Thanksgiving feast at the school I work at. For the second year in a row, people have asked me for the recipe afterwards. This year I was told it was the best side of the feast.
Personally, it takes me a little more time to prepare all of the fruits compared to what the recipe says, but overall it is a wonderful recipe and I cannot wait to make it again!
Nancylynn says
Wow, Brittney! This made my day! Thank you for sharing with your coworkers!!
Erin says
This is a fruit salad the whole family loves. It quickly became a must have at holiday meals as well!!
Nancylynn says
AHH Erin! This is so nice to hear, thank you!