This Christmas Fruit Salad is a vibrant, refreshing mix of festive fruits tossed in a sweet, simple dressing that adds just the right sparkle to your holiday table. It's light, colorful, and the perfect balance to all those rich holiday treats-plus, it comes together in minutes!
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Last month I shared my Thanksgiving Fruit Salad and this Christmas I have my favorite Christmas fruit salad! It incorporates delicious in-season fruit as well as a tasty orange dressing.
It is so pretty and very refreshing this time of year, especially with all the easy cookies, delicious cakes, and other fun and easy desserts that are so readily available!
Why This Recipe Works
- Festive Flavors: A mix of winter fruits and warm cinnamon makes this salad taste just like Christmas.
- Gorgeous Presentation: Bright colors and candied cranberries make it stunning on any table.
- Easy to Make: Simply chop, toss, and serve - no cooking required!
- Fresh & Light: A sweet, citrusy side that balances out rich holiday dishes.
What This Recipe Needs
- Green Apple: Adds crisp texture and tart contrast to the sweet fruits.
- Kiwi: Brings a bright green color and tropical tang. I love to cut some into fun star shapes!
- Clementines: Sweet and juicy, they add that classic Christmas citrus flavor.
- Blueberries: Offer pops of sweetness and rich color throughout.
- Pine Nuts: Lightly toasted, they give nutty crunch and depth of flavor.
- Orange Juice: The base of the dressing-adds zest and brightness.
- Sugar: Sweetens and balances the citrus.
- Cinnamon: Adds cozy warmth to the dressing.
- Candied Cranberries: A festive garnish that adds sparkle and a tangy-sweet finish. These do take a little extra time to prepare so I reccomend making them ahead of time! Use extra for garnishing Cranberry Margaritas!
If you like this recipe, make sure to check out my favorite orange jello salad, cheesecake salad, grilled pear salad, and this fancy brie and prosciutto salad!
If you like this recipe, make sure to check out my cranberry jalapeno dip- it is the perfect appetizer for Christmas dinner, along with this fun cranberry julep drink!
Substitutions
- Pine Nuts: Swap for chopped pecans, almonds, or even glazed walnuts for a different crunch.
- Clementines: Use 15 oz of canned mandarins packed in water instead. Drain the mandarins, then add them to the salad.
- Orange Juice: Use clementine or pineapple juice if that's what you have.
- Candied Cranberries: Try dried cranberries or pomegranate seeds instead.
How to Make Christmas Fruit Salad?
- Step 1: Make candied cranberries by bringing water and sugar to a simmer. Add cranberries and stir until full coated.
- Step 2: Remove cranberries and let them air-dry on a wire rack for 1 hour. Then roll in sugar.
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- Step 3: Toast the pine nuts in a skillet over medium-low heat.
- Step 4: Make the dressing by mixing the orange juice, orange zest, and sugar.
- Step 5: Cube apples. Peel and slice kiwis: Peel and separate clementines. In a large bowl, toss the fruit, nuts, and orange dressing.
- Step 6: Place the fruit in a serving dish. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugared cranberries.
Expert Tips
- Add Dressing Just Before Serving: Keeps fruit crisp and fresh.
- Candied Cranberries: A fun way to garnish salads, drinks (like this Cranberry Margarita), or baked goods (like this Gingerbread Bundt Cake). They are very tart on the inside, with a sweet outside. I like to mix some that aren't rolled in extra sugar into the salad, then add sugar-coated ones on top for a beautiful presentation.
- Toast Pine Nuts: Lightly toast them in a skillet for extra flavor.
- Use Cold Fruit: Chill ingredients before mixing for the best texture.
- Garnish Right Before Serving: Candied cranberries and cinnamon look best when added last.
Variations
- Add a Creamy Twist: Toss the salad with a spoonful of vanilla yogurt or whipped topping.
- Citrus Sparkle: Add chopped-up pieces of candied orange peel as a garnish for extra wow!
- Spice It Up: Add nutmeg or cardamom to the dressing for extra warmth.
- Holiday Presentation: Serve in clear cups or a trifle dish to show off the festive colors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Prep the fruit a few hours in advance, and make the candied cranberries at least an hour before ready to serve, but wait to add the dressing, toasted nuts, and toppings until right before serving.
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days - just note the fruit will soften slightly.
Absolutely! Almonds, pecans, or walnuts all work great in place of pine nuts.
Toss the sliced apples in a little orange juice before adding them to the salad.
More Related Recipes
If you want Christmas dinner ideas, check out all my holiday recipes! You don't want to miss my favorite pull-apart Christmas Tree Appetizer, Herb Butter Turkey, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potato Rolls, and Gravy Without Drippings. For my favorite Christmas desserts, try my Christmas Oreo Balls, Christmas Cheesecake, Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Dip, and so much more!
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Video
Christmas Fruit Salad
Ingredients
- 1 Green Apple
- 2 kiwis*
- 4 Clementines or Mandarin Oranges or 15 oz drained canned mandarins in water
- ½ cup blueberries
- ¼ cup pine nuts toasted*
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 oranges zested and juiced ~½ cup juice
Garnish
- Cinnamon
Sugared Cranberries- optional
- ¼ cup Cranberries fresh/frozen if making candied, if not candying see notes below
- ¼ cup sugar plus extra for rolling
- ½ cup water
Instructions
How to make sugared cranberries:
- Rinse Cranberries and remove any soft or bad ones.¼ cup Cranberries
- In a small saucepot combine water and sugar. Heat over medium until sugar is fully dissolved.¼ cup sugar, ½ cup water
- Add cranberries and stir until fully coated.
- Transfer coated cranberries to a wire rack or parchment lined baking sheet and allow cranberries to dry (about an hour), then roll in extra sugar until fully coated.
Christmas Fruit Salad
- In a medium skillet add the pine nuts and heat over medium low, stirring constantly until toasted. Once toasted remove from pan so they don't burn.¼ cup pine nuts
- Cut apple into cubes. Peel kiwis, slice then cut a few into stars (optional). Peel and separate mandarin pieces.1 Green Apple, 2 kiwis*, 4 Clementines or Mandarin Oranges
- In a small bowl mix together orange zest, juice from both oranges, and sugar.2 oranges, ¼ cup sugar
- In a large bowl toss together all fruit, nuts, and orange juice mixture. Sprinkle with cinnamon and garnish with sugared cranberries (if using).½ cup blueberries, Cinnamon
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- *Kiwis peel really well using a vegetable peeler.
- *Nuts- substitute pine nuts with toasted chopped walnuts or pecans.
- *I love using sugared cranberries for this recipe. They are sweet and tart and look amazing. However, if you don't have time to make them, I recommend using 1 cup of pomegranate seeds or dried cranberries to add a nice pop of red.
Lisa says
Everyone loves this salad when I make it!