Welcome to a delightful culinary journey where fresh, vibrant fruits meet a creamy, subtly sweet dressing to create the ultimate Apple Fruit Salad. This particular recipe takes a cherished classic and elevates it with the rich tang of Greek vanilla yogurt, a hint of warm cinnamon, and a medley of crisp apples, juicy grapes, and bright mandarin oranges. More than just a simple side dish, this fruit salad is a versatile masterpiece, perfect as a refreshing dessert, a light lunch accompaniment, or a beautiful addition to any brunch spread.
Whether you’re looking for a refreshing bite on a warm summer day or a comforting dish to complement the cozy vibes of autumn, this Apple Fruit Salad delivers. Its balanced flavors and appealing textures make it an instant crowd-pleaser, easy to prepare, and even easier to enjoy.
A Fall-Inspired Fruit Salad That Shines Year-Round
While the combination of crisp apples and warming cinnamon often evokes images of autumn, this fruit salad transcends seasonal boundaries, making it a truly versatile dish for any time of year. Its core ingredients, readily available throughout the year, ensure that you can whip up this delightful creation whenever the craving strikes. The vibrant colors and refreshing flavors are a welcome addition to any table, from spring picnics to winter holidays.
What makes this particular fruit salad stand out is its unique dressing. Unlike heavier, calorie-laden alternatives, our Greek yogurt dressing offers a lighter, yet incredibly creamy, texture. It provides just the right amount of sweetness without being overpowering, allowing the natural sugars and tangy notes of the fruits to truly shine. The vanilla Greek yogurt provides a rich, smooth base, while a touch of brown sugar and a whisper of cinnamon infuse it with a comforting warmth that is simply irresistible. For those who prefer an alternative sweetener, honey can be seamlessly substituted for the brown sugar, offering a different, yet equally delicious, depth of flavor. This dressing not only binds the fruits together but also adds a luxurious feel, transforming a simple fruit medley into an elegant dish.
Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Fruit Salad
Preparing a perfect fruit salad can sometimes come with questions, especially when aiming for freshness and optimal flavor. Here are some common inquiries to help you master this delightful Apple Fruit Salad:
Preventing apples from browning, a process known as oxidation, is crucial for maintaining the visual appeal of your fruit salad. The most effective methods involve a mild acid. Lemon juice is a popular choice; its citric acid acts as a natural antioxidant. A simple trick is to toss your chopped apples with a tablespoon or two of fresh lemon juice immediately after cutting them. Powdered vitamin C (ascorbic acid) also works similarly. Many pre-packaged sliced apples already contain vitamin C to prolong their freshness. For this recipe, even if using pre-sliced apples, a splash of lemon juice is added as an extra precaution to ensure your salad stays vibrant and appealing for longer.
While you can use other types of yogurt, Greek yogurt is highly recommended for this dressing due to its significantly thicker consistency. This thickness is key to preventing the dressing from becoming too thin or “soupy,” ensuring it coats the fruit beautifully without dripping to the bottom of the bowl. Its rich, creamy texture also contributes to a more luxurious mouthfeel. Additionally, Greek yogurt offers a pleasant tang that is less tart than sour cream, providing a perfect balance to the sweetness of the fruit and brown sugar, resulting in a perfectly blended flavor profile.
The beauty of this fruit salad dressing is its incredible versatility. It pairs wonderfully with almost any fruit you enjoy! Feel free to customize your salad based on seasonal availability or personal preference. Excellent additions include blueberries, sliced strawberries, kiwi, pineapple chunks, or even pear slices. When incorporating canned fruits, it’s vital to choose varieties packed in 100% juice, rather than heavy syrup. Fruits packed in syrup will make your salad excessively sweet and can alter the desired consistency of the dressing. Always drain canned fruits thoroughly before adding them to ensure the best flavor and texture.
For optimal freshness, it’s best to consume this Apple Fruit Salad within 24-48 hours. While it can last a little longer, the apples and other fruits are at their crispest and most flavorful shortly after preparation. To store, transfer any leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate promptly. This will help maintain the fruit’s texture and prevent further oxidation. Stir gently before serving any refrigerated leftovers to redistribute the dressing.
Absolutely! This fruit salad is an excellent make-ahead option, particularly beneficial for parties or gatherings. You can prepare all the salad ingredients (chopping apples, halving grapes, draining oranges) and the dressing separately. Store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator. About 1-2 hours before serving, combine the fruits in a large bowl, pour the dressing over them, and gently toss to combine. This method ensures that the fruits remain crisp and the dressing doesn’t make them soggy, providing a fresh and appealing salad for your guests.
Ingredients Needed: The Sweet & Tangy Ensemble
Crafting this irresistible Apple Fruit Salad requires a blend of fresh produce and simple pantry staples. Here’s a detailed list of what you’ll need to gather:
- Apples: The star of the show! Choose firm, crisp varieties like Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, or Granny Smith for a delightful crunch. A mix of sweet and tart apples can add complexity.
- Seedless Grapes: Green or red seedless grapes, halved, add bursts of sweetness and a lovely texture.
- Mandarin Oranges: Canned mandarin oranges, well-drained, contribute a bright, citrusy note and a tender bite. Ensure they are packed in 100% juice, not heavy syrup.
- Walnuts: Chopped walnuts provide a wonderful crunch and a nutty flavor that complements the fruits and dressing. Pecans or almonds could also be used.
- Raisins: Sweet and chewy, raisins add another layer of texture and natural sweetness.
- Greek Vanilla Yogurt: The creamy base for our dressing. The vanilla flavor enhances the overall sweetness and provides a smooth, thick consistency.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a rich, caramel-like sweetness to the dressing.
- Mayonnaise: A small amount of mayonnaise contributes to the dressing’s creamy texture and helps emulsify the ingredients, providing a subtle tang and richness.
- Ground Cinnamon: A touch of cinnamon infuses the dressing with a warm, aromatic spice that beautifully highlights the apples, making it perfect for any season.
- Lemon Juice: Essential for preventing the apples from browning, preserving the salad’s fresh appearance.
How to Make Apple Fruit Salad: A Simple Guide
Creating this delicious Apple Fruit Salad is remarkably straightforward, requiring minimal effort for maximum flavor payoff. Follow these simple steps to assemble your vibrant fruit masterpiece:
Prepare the Dressing: In a medium-sized bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients: Greek vanilla yogurt, brown sugar, mayonnaise, ground cinnamon, and lemon juice. Whisk vigorously until all ingredients are thoroughly blended and the dressing is smooth and creamy. Set this aside to allow the flavors to meld.
Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add your prepared fruit and nut ingredients: chopped apples, halved seedless grapes, well-drained mandarin oranges, chopped walnuts, and raisins. Ensure the apples have been tossed with lemon juice if they weren’t pre-treated.
Dress the Salad: Pour the freshly prepared creamy cinnamon dressing generously over the mixed fruit ingredients in the large bowl. Using a rubber spatula or large spoon, gently fold and stir the fruit salad until all the ingredients are evenly coated with the luscious dressing. Be careful not to mash the fruit.
Serve and Store: Your Apple Fruit Salad is now ready to be served! For best results, chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving, allowing the flavors to fully develop and the salad to become delightfully refreshing. Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consumed within 1-2 days.
This simple process ensures a perfect balance of flavors and textures in every spoonful, making this Apple Fruit Salad a truly memorable dish.
Craving More Delicious Recipes?
If you’ve fallen in love with the fresh, fruity, and creamy goodness of this Apple Fruit Salad, you’re in for a treat! We have a plethora of other delightful recipes that celebrate the joy of fruits and wholesome ingredients. Explore these culinary inspirations for your next meal or gathering:
- Homemade Fruit Pizza: A visually stunning and incredibly delicious dessert featuring a cookie crust topped with a sweet cream cheese frosting and an array of fresh, colorful fruits. Perfect for parties!
- The Best Fruit Salad: A classic, vibrant fruit medley that’s simple, refreshing, and always a hit. This recipe focuses on the natural sweetness of fruits with a light, invigorating dressing.
- Fruit Cocktail Cake: A delightfully moist and tender cake infused with the sweet flavors of canned fruit cocktail, offering a nostalgic taste of home baking.
- Ambrosia Fruit Salad: A creamy, Southern-inspired fruit salad traditionally made with coconut, marshmallows, and a variety of canned and fresh fruits, often dressed in a whipped topping or sour cream base.
- Creamy Fruit Salad: Another take on a creamy fruit salad, this recipe offers a different dressing profile, perhaps leaning into a more decadent, dessert-like experience.
- 2-Ingredient Fruit Dip: The ultimate easy companion for any fruit platter. This incredibly simple, yet irresistible dip is perfect for encouraging fruit consumption, especially among kids.
- Orange Creamsicle Fruit Salad: A nostalgic and refreshing salad that captures the essence of a classic orange creamsicle, often featuring mandarin oranges and a sweet, creamy, orange-flavored dressing.
Originally published: June 2012
Updated & republished June 2019
Apple Fruit Salad
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (Based on 9 Reviews)
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Prep Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6 | Author: Brandie Skibinski
Ingredients
For the Dressing:
- 1 cup Greek vanilla yogurt
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
For the Salad:
- 4 cups chopped apples
- 2 cups seedless grapes, halved
- 11 ounce can mandarin oranges (drained really well)
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- ⅓ cup raisins
Instructions
- Whisk together all the dressing ingredients in a bowl until thoroughly combined. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add all the salad ingredients.
- Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently stir to combine.
- Serve and refrigerate any leftovers.
Video
Notes
- Use your favorite apples here. I think a mix of green and red works perfectly for both color and flavor, providing a balance of sweetness and tartness. Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, and Granny Smith are all excellent choices.
- The lemon juice is a key ingredient, helping to keep the apples from turning brown and maintaining the salad’s fresh appearance. Don’t skip it!
- For the best texture and flavor, it’s recommended not to make this salad more than 24 hours in advance. While it can last longer, the fruit might become softer.
- Feel free to toast your walnuts lightly before adding them for an enhanced nutty flavor and extra crunch.
- If you’re not a fan of raisins, dried cranberries or chopped dates can be a great alternative for sweetness and chewiness.
Course: Dessert, Salad | Cuisine: American
Nutrition
Calories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 18g | Sodium: 64mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 39g
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used. This information is provided for convenience and should not be considered a substitute for professional nutritional advice.
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