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Festive Fall Fruit Salad for Holiday Gatherings

This fall fruit salad is a beautiful and tasty addition to your holiday spread. Combining fresh apples, cranberries, grapes, and toasted pecans with a simple spiced citrus dressing, it’s a refreshing complement to richer holiday dishes. The dressing, made with orange juice, apple pie spice, and citrus zest, brings a touch of warmth and sweetness that balances the fresh fruit flavors. This salad is ideal for Thanksgiving or Christmas, adding a pop of color and a burst of freshness to your table.
A woman in an apron is preparing a meal in a sunny kitchen filled with fresh vegetables and herbs.
Updated on Sat, 04 Jan 2025 13:22:25 GMT
Fall Fruit Salad for Thanksgiving and Christmas
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Fall Fruit Salad for Thanksgiving and Christmas | myhomemaderecipe.com

Fall Fruit Salad: A Festive and Refreshing Recipe

This Fall Fruit Salad is a refreshing and festive dish, perfect for adding a touch of brightness to your Thanksgiving or Christmas table. With a blend of crisp apples, juicy grapes, and toasted pecans, it's both vibrant and delicious, making it an ideal complement to rich holiday dishes.

INGREDIENTS

  • Green Apples: 2 medium, for a tart and crisp bite.
  • Red Apples: 2 medium, adding a sweet contrast to the green apples.
  • Dried Cranberries: ¾ cup, offering a chewy and tart element.
  • Pecans: 1 cup, toasted for extra flavor and crunch.
  • Grapes: 1 cup, halved if desired for easy eating.
  • Navel Oranges: 3 medium, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces.
  • Lemon Juice: 1 medium lemon, juiced to prevent apple browning.
  • Dressing: A blend of ½ cup orange juice, ¼ cup white sugar, ¼ teaspoon apple pie spice, and zest of 1 lemon and 1 orange.

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and place them in the oven. Toast until fragrant, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely.
Step 2:
In a small saucepan, combine ½ cup orange juice, ¼ cup white sugar, ¼ teaspoon apple pie spice, and the zest of 1 lemon and 1 orange. Place over medium heat and bring to a low boil. Simmer for 3-4 minutes, whisking occasionally. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and let the dressing cool completely.
Step 3:
Core and slice the green and red apples into bite-sized pieces. Toss the apple slices with the juice from half a lemon to prevent browning.
Step 4:
Peel the oranges and cut them into bite-sized pieces.
Step 5:
In a large bowl, combine the apple slices, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, grapes, and orange pieces.
Step 6:
Drizzle the cooled dressing over the fruit mixture and gently toss to coat evenly. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Serving and Storage Tips

  • Serve the salad chilled for a refreshing taste, making it an excellent side dish for rich holiday meals.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The dressing may soften the apples slightly, but the flavors will remain delicious.
  • If making in advance, keep the dressing separate and toss just before serving to maintain the freshest texture.

Helpful Notes

  • Toasting the pecans enhances their flavor and adds a delightful crunch to the salad.
  • Mixing the apple slices with lemon juice helps prevent browning, keeping the salad looking fresh and vibrant.
  • Feel free to substitute dried cranberries with dried cherries or raisins for a different twist.

Tips from Well-Known Chefs

  • Chef Ina Garten suggests adding a pinch of salt to the dressing for a balanced flavor.
  • Chef Alton Brown recommends using a variety of apples to create a more complex flavor profile.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

  • It’s quick and easy to prepare, making it a perfect last-minute addition to your holiday menu.
  • The fresh, vibrant flavors balance well with rich, savory dishes typically served during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
  • It’s customizable with your favorite seasonal fruits and nuts.

VARIATIONS

  • Add pomegranate seeds for a burst of color and a tart flavor.
  • Use honey or maple syrup in place of sugar for a more natural sweetness in the dressing.
  • Incorporate sliced pears or persimmons for a seasonal twist.

Holiday Fruit Salad

A delightful fall fruit salad with apples, cranberries, and pecans, tossed in a spiced citrus dressing. Perfect for adding a fresh and colorful touch to your holiday table.

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
5 Minutes
Total Time
25 Minutes
By: Zaho

Category: Salads

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 6 Servings (1 large bowl of salad)

Dietary: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

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

Step 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.

Step 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.

Step 03

Core and slice the apples into bite-sized pieces. Toss them with the juice from half a lemon to prevent browning.

Step 04

Cut the peel off the oranges and slice them into bite-sized pieces.

Step 05

In a large bowl, combine the apples, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, grapes, and orange pieces.

Step 06

Drizzle the cooled dressing over the fruit mixture and toss to coat evenly. Serve immediately.

Notes

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

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 180
  • Total Fat: 10 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 22 g
  • Protein: 2 g