Who said fruit salads are only for summer? This festive Christmas fruit salad combines popular winter fruit with 2-ingredient lightly sweet and tart syrup. It’s perfect for holidays and potlucks.
Christmas fruit salad is a well-loved, familiar crowd-pleaser at potlucks, parties, and brunch. It combines some of the best winter fruit with a sweet and tart syrup. You taste both the unique flavors of the fruit with hints of honey and lemon from the syrup.
What fruit is ripe in December?
The secret to a delicious tasting fruit salad recipe is to use a combination of sweet and tart in-season winter fruit.
Fruits such as apples and bananas are seemingly always in season and easy to find at just about any grocery store. So feel free to combine them with any of the following fruit:
- Clementines: sweeter than tangerines and easy to peel.
- Grapefruit: flavor can range from bittersweet to sour taste.
- Kiwifruit: the riper the fruit, the sweeter and less tart it is.
- Pears: different varieties of pears ranging from mild to sweet tasting.
- Persimmon: known for sugary sweet taste. Let them ripen at room temperature until they are soft.
- Pomegranates: sweet and tart, and very festive looking.
- Satsuma oranges: sweet, juicy, seedless, and easiest variety to peel.
- Tangerines: variety of mandarins, known for its sweet flavor and soft, easy to peel skins.
How to Make Christmas Fruit Salad
Instructions for making this winter fruit salad are almost too easy!
Prep the fruit: First, wash the fruit. If necessary, remove stems, pits, and peel the skin. Chop the fruit into bite-size pieces and add to a large bowl.
Make the honey lemon syrup: In a separate bowl, whisk together the honey and lemon juice.
Toss the salad: Pour the syrup over the salad and toss it all together. Serve immediately. If desired, garnish with fresh mint leaves.
Tips for Making Fruit Salad Better
- Use seasonal ripe fresh fruit.
- Avoid using pre-chopped fruit from the supermarket. It’s not always fresh!
- Mix fruit of different colors and texture.
- Use a variety of sweet and tart fruit.
- Chop the fruit into similar size pieces.
- Remove stems, pits, and skin when necessarily.
- Do not use frozen fruit as it will turn mushy as soon as it thaws.
How long will fruit salad last in fridge?
Fruit salad is best enjoyed immediately or on the same day that it is made.
If you plan to save leftover fruit salad, transfer the fruit salad to the refrigerator as quickly as possible after cutting and mixing the fruit. It will last for 3-4 days before becoming too soft.
More Fruit Recipes to Try
- Pineapple Mango Salsa
- Strawberry Blueberry Jam
- Watermelon Cucumber Salad
- Strawberry Yogurt Popsicles
- Breakfast Fruit Toast
Christmas Fruit Salad
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 10–12 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Chop
- Cuisine: American
Description
Who said fruit salads are only for summer? This festive Christmas fruit salad combines popular winter fruit with 2-ingredient lightly sweet and tart syrup. It’s perfect for holidays and potlucks.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup pomegranate arils (from about 1 large pomegranate)
- 2 Asian pears, seeded and chopped
- 3 persimmons, chopped
- 4 mandarin oranges, peeled and segmented
- 1 large Honeycrisp apple, seeded and chopped
Syrup
- 1 Tbsp. liquid honey, plus extra for drizzling
- 1–2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine all the fruit together.
- Whisk together the honey and lemon juice and pour the syrup over the fruit salad. Gently toss to combine. This salad is meant to be lightly sweet and tart. If desired, drizzle with additional honey and garnish with fresh mint leaves. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Leftovers: Fruit salad is best served immediately. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days in a sealed container. Or transfer the fruit into single-serving Ziploc bags and freeze for later to use in smoothies.
Keywords: healthy, easy, fruit dessert
Susan says
Perfect for Christmas in Australia! Salads, BBQ and seafood.
olga says
I am so craving this allll the time. love my persimmons and pomegranates. i wish they were in season all year ’round!
★★★★★