Holiday Fruit Salad (Print Version)

Ingredients:

01 - 2 medium green apples.
02 - 2 medium red apples.
03 - ¾ cup dried cranberries.
04 - 1 cup pecans.
05 - 1 cup grapes.
06 - 3 medium navel oranges.
07 - 1 medium lemon, juiced.
08 - ½ cup orange juice (for dressing).
09 - ¼ cup white sugar (for dressing).
10 - ¼ teaspoon apple pie spice (for dressing).
11 - Zest of 1 lemon (for dressing).
12 - Zest of 1 orange (for dressing).

Instructions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and place in the oven. Toast them until fragrant, about the time the oven is fully heated. Remove and let cool.
02 - In a small saucepan, combine orange juice, sugar, apple pie spice, lemon zest, and orange zest. Place over medium heat, whisking to combine. Bring to a low boil and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and allow to cool completely.
03 - Core and slice the apples into bite-sized pieces. Toss them with the juice from half a lemon to prevent browning.
04 - Cut the peel off the oranges and slice them into bite-sized pieces.
05 - In a large bowl, combine the apples, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, grapes, and orange pieces.
06 - Drizzle the cooled dressing over the fruit mixture and toss to coat evenly. Serve immediately.

Notes:

01 - Toasting the pecans brings out their natural flavor and adds a nice crunch to the salad.
02 - Tossing apples with lemon juice helps to prevent them from browning, keeping the salad looking fresh.
03 - The dressing can be made ahead and refrigerated until ready to use.