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This easy Christmas fruit salad is a bright, festive mix of fresh fruit tossed in a light, flavorful dressing—perfect for a holiday brunch, Christmas dinner, or any seasonal gathering where you want something fresh alongside all the rich comfort food.
If you’re putting together your holiday menu, don’t skip these Easy Cheesy Potatoes! They’re one of those sides everyone has room for and they pair perfectly with Baked Ham.
Why you’ll love this Christmas holiday fruit salad recipe!
Holiday meals are heavy. Of course, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m going to fill my plate to the brim with Hashbrown Casserole and Sausage Stuffing and I’m going to enjoy the heck out of it!
But it’s also good to have a lighter dish on the table for balance, and that’s where this easy Christmas fruit salad comes in. It’s a nice little palate cleanser between bites of cheesy, creamy casseroles.
You can also serve this festive fruit salad recipe on its own or paired with Chantilly Cream, ice cream, or plain yogurt. You can even spoon it over moist Cream Cheese Pound Cake for dessert!
- Quick & easy: Just a little chopping and stirring, because the last thing you need is another time-consuming side to make for the holidays!
- Festive and colorful: Red, green, and a cozy cinnamon dressing make it perfect for Christmas.
- Light and refreshing. A welcome balance to heavier holiday dishes.
- Family-approved. Kids and adults both love this sweet, juicy salad.
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Christmas Fruit Salad
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Fresh mixed berries – An assortment of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are great for this fruit salad.
- Red seedless grapes – I love the color of red seedless grapes here, but you can use green if you’d like.
- Diced apples – Use a mix of your favorite green and red apples to add to the festive colors.
- Diced pears – Make sure to select ripe pears. No one wants to chew on hard underripe pear!
- Pomegranate seeds – From a fresh pomegranate or buy a container from the produce section.
- Cranberries – Fresh or thawed from frozen.
- Honey or maple syrup – For a bit of sweetness.
- Fresh lemon juice – This helps to cut through some of the sweetness and also prolongs the fresh look of the fruit.
- Ground cinnamon – I love the warmth this adds. It truly makes this a fruit salad recipe for Christmas!
- Fresh mint leaves – Optional for garnish.
Variations
- For a creamy twist to this Christmas fruit salad, combine the fresh fruit mixture with 1 cup of vanilla yogurt or sour cream.
- Add a decadent twist to this festive fruit salad by combining it with softened cream cheese, Cool Whip, whipped cream, sugar, milk, vanilla, and mini marshmallows, inspired by my Red White and Blue Cheesecake Salad!
- For a Winter Wonderland fruit salad, add 1 cup of cubed pineapple and 1/2 cup of unsweetened coconut flakes for a tropical twist.
- For extra warmth, toss the fruit with a mixture of 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, and a dash of ground ginger.
How to Make Fruit Salad for Christmas
- Combine the fruit: Combine all of the fruit, including the pomegranate seeds, in a large serving bowl.
- Make the drizzle: Combine the honey (or maple syrup), lemon juice, and cinnamon in a separate small bowl.
- Assemble: Drizzle the honey-cinnamon mixture over the fruit, and toss gently to coat and combine.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh mint, if you like. Serve right away, or chill in the fridge for an hour!
How to Store Christmas Fruit Salad
Store leftover Christmas fruit salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–5 days. You can also store the festive fruit salad in a serving bowl covered tightly with plastic wrap to prevent the fruit from drying out.
Be aware that the diced apple and pear pieces are likely to discolor and turn brownish after a day or two!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The mixed berries can be washed and rinsed the night before and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. The apples and pears can also be washed, diced, and soaked in salt water or covered with lemon juice to help prevent them from browning.
Avoid overpowering fruits in this Christmas fruit salad, such as bananas or grapefruit. Unless you are certain that you won’t have leftovers, sliced bananas risk turning super soft and brown quickly.
Avoid overly juicy fruit and drain canned fruit. Toss gently and store covered.
More Festive Recipes
No Bake Desserts
Cranberry Fluff
Christmas
Christmas Crack
Quick & Easy Desserts
Cranberry Jello Salad
No Bake Desserts
Candy Cane Pie
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Easy Christmas Fruit Salad
Equipment
- Large serving bowl
- Small bowl
- whisk
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh mixed berries strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries
- 2 cups red seedless grapes
- 2 apples diced (use a mix of green and red apples for color)
- 2 pears diced
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds
- ½ cup cranberries fresh or frozen, thawed
- ¼ cup honey or maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Fresh mint leaves for garnish optional
Instructions
- In a large serving bowl, combine the mixed berries, red grapes, diced apples, diced pears, pomegranate seeds, and cranberries.4 cups fresh mixed berries, 2 cups red seedless grapes, 2 apples, 2 pears, 1 cup pomegranate seeds, ½ cup cranberries
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the honey or maple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and ground cinnamon until well combined.¼ cup honey or maple syrup, 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Drizzle the honey or maple syrup mixture over the fruit in the large serving bowl.
- Gently toss the fruit and dressing together until all the fruit is well coated.
- If desired, garnish the Christmas fruit salad with fresh mint leaves for a pop of color.Fresh mint leaves for garnish
- Serve immediately, or refrigerate for an hour to let the flavors meld and develop. Give it a gentle stir before serving.
Video
Notes
- Keep the apples and pears from browning: The best way to prevent the browning of the apple and pear is to soak the diced pieces in salt water (half a teaspoon of kosher salt per cup of water) for 10 minutes. This is helpful if you are preparing the fruit ahead of making the salad.
- Cut fruit into similar-sized pieces for even bites: This will make your fruit salad look nicer too!
This looks so fresh and festive 😍 Love that it’s light, easy, and perfect for the holidays!
The hint of cinnamon and honey makes it perfect for the holiday table.
So fresh and festive!
Looks so fresh and flavorful!
Can’t wait to make this again for the holidays—it’s that good!