Holiday Fruit Salad Recipe
A vibrant and festive Holiday Fruit Salad featuring a delightful mix of apples, oranges, grapes, dried cranberries, and toasted pecans, all tossed in a zesty spiced citrus dressing. Perfect for holiday gatherings or as a refreshing side dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit
- 2 medium green apples
- 2 medium red apples
- ¾ cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 cup grapes
- 3 medium navel oranges
- 1 medium lemon, juiced
Dressing
- ½ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon apple pie spice
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Zest of 1 orange
Instructions
- Toast Pecans: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven until fragrant, about 8-10 minutes or the time it takes the oven to fully preheat. Remove and let cool completely.
- Prepare Dressing: In a small saucepan, combine the orange juice, white sugar, apple pie spice, lemon zest, and orange zest. Place over medium heat and whisk to combine. Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Strain the dressing through a fine mesh strainer and allow it to cool completely.
- Prepare Apples: Core and slice both green and red apples into bite-sized pieces. Toss them with the juice from half a lemon to prevent them from browning and maintain freshness.
- Prepare Oranges: Peel the navel oranges, removing all white pith, then slice them into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the lemon-coated apple slices, dried cranberries, cooled toasted pecans, grapes, and orange pieces. Gently toss to mix all the fruits together evenly.
- Add Dressing: Drizzle the cooled spiced orange dressing over the fruit mixture. Toss gently but thoroughly to coat all the ingredients evenly. Serve the salad immediately to enjoy its fresh flavors.
Notes
- Toasting pecans enhances their flavor and adds a nice crunch to the salad.
- Coating apples with lemon juice prevents browning and keeps the salad looking fresh.
- The dressing can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- This salad is best served fresh to maintain the crisp texture of the fruits and nuts.
- For a nut-free version, omit the pecans or replace them with toasted sunflower seeds.
Keywords: holiday fruit salad, festive fruit salad, toasted pecans, spiced orange dressing, fresh fruit salad
Find it online: https://reemcook.com/holiday-fruit-salad-recipe/
