Mom’s Fruit Salad
Last Updated on January 16, 2022 by Annie
A beautiful blend of fresh fruit, maraschino cherries, and marshmallows make this delicious fruit salad one-of-a-kind. This light and fresh salad is the perfect addition to summer cookouts, potlucks, or weekend brunches.
One of my favorite dishes my mom made to take to potlucks or dinners was her fresh fruit salad. As someone who didn’t eat too many fruits or vegetables this sweet salad spoke to me because it had two ingredients that didn’t quite fit the mold when it came to fresh fruit or salad- maraschino cherries and marshmallows.
Now you are probably thinking I only ate these two ingredients and left the rest of the fruit salad untouched but, you would be wrong. I loved how the cherries stuck to the banana slices and how the marshmallows soaked up the fresh fruit juice after sitting in the salad longer than 30 minutes. Every bite of the fruit salad was different and delicious in its own way.
Fresh vs. Frozen Fruit
For a fruit salad like this one, I would strongly recommend using fresh fruit. Frozen fruit adds additional moisture to the dish and won’t be as firm in the salad the same way fresh fruit would be. Instead of using your frozen fruit in this recipe save it for:
- Use as the filling for fruit pies
- Fold into muffins
- Add them into baked oatmeal
- Mix them into pancakes
- Or simply blend them into smoothies
How to Make Fruit Salad
Fruit Salad Ingredients
- Pineapple- Fresh and chopped into 1-inch pieces.
- Strawberries- Fresh, not frozen, trimmed, and quartered strawberries.
- Banana- Use ripe bananas, but not banana bread ripe.
- Apple- Pick your favorite apple, I used a gala apple.
- Grapes- You can use any grape you fancy, I went with a green grape in this version.
- Blueberries- Washed and tossed in whole.
- Maraschino Cherries- Feel free to swap these for fresh cherries if that’s your thing but these maraschinos are what I grew up on in fruit salad.
- Juice Blend– This makes the dressing for the fruit salad. It’s a blend of orange juice, lemon juice, and maraschino cherry juice.
- Marshmallows- Totally optional but also not really…
Fruit Salad Directions
I tend to work from the messiest fruit to the least messy but you are more than welcome to chop your fruits in any order you wish, this easy fruit salad does not need to be chopped in any particular order.
Chop your pineapple into 1-inch bite sized pieces. You will need 2 cups of chopped pineapple. Put the pineapple in a large bowl.
Wash and quarter strawberries. You will use 2 cups of quartered strawberry. Mix into the bowl with the pineapple.
Next, slice 2 bananas in half lengthwise before cutting into 1/4 inch slices. Add them into the bowl.
Then wash and chop your apple into 1/2-inch bite sized pieces. Toss your chopped apple into the fruit salad bowl.
Measure out 1 cup of grapes then wash and slice in half. Add to the bowl.
Wash 1 cup of blueberries and toss into the fruit salad.
Next, fish out 12 maraschino cherries, remove the stems and slice in half. Add to the fruit salad and toss to combine.
For the “dressing” mix together one tablespoon orange juice, 1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice, and 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice. Pour over the fruit salad and toss to coat.
Top with 1 cup of marshmallows and serve!
Storing + Making Ahead
- Storing- Keep this dish in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezing- If you have left-overs after 3 days pour into a freezer-safe ziplock. Freeze and use in smoothies!
- Making Ahead- If you are planning to make this fruit salad in advance I would suggest mixing together everything except the banana and marshmallow no more than one day ahead. Add the banana and marshmallow just before serving.
Serving Suggestions
- My favorite way is to simply eat a small bowl of fruit salad as it is.
- Loft a scoop on top of a bowl of oatmeal for a fruit-filled breakfast.
- Serve some with coconut whipped cream for a sweet dessert treat.
Ingredient Substitutions by Diet
- Paleo- If you want to keep this dish paleo use regular cherries in place of maraschino cherries and omit the marshmallows.
- Vegan- To keep this delicious recipe vegan, use a vegan marshmallow such as Dandies.
Other Potluck Recipes
- Brussels Sprouts Salad– This Brussels Sprouts Salad features raw Brussels sprouts, cabbage, onion, apple, and craisins coated in a delicious olive oil and balsamic dressing.
- Texas Caviar– This quick and easy Texas Caviar can be made for any potluck or cookout. It is packed with fresh ingredients, filling, and best of all, dairy-free!
- Black Bean Dip– This easy to make black bean dip is a 5-minute recipe. Use this raw vegan dip for chip dunking or taco topping!
If you tried this Fruit Salad recipe and enjoyed it feel free to leave a comment below! I would love to hear how it went! You can also snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @mylifeafterdairy to share all your life after dairy adventures!
You can also get delicious dairy-free recipes and tips by signing up for my newsletter!
Mom’s Fruit Salad
This light and flavorful blend of fresh fruits are studded with mini marshmallows in a family favorite fruit salad.
Ingredients
- 2 c. Pineapple chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 2 c. Strawberries washed and quartered
- 2 Bananas sliced lengthwise and into 1/4 inch slices
- 1 Apple washed and chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1 c. Grapes washed and cut in half
- 1 c. Blueberries washed
- 12 Maraschino Cherries stems removed and cut in half
- 1 Tbsp. Orange Juice
- 1 Tbsp. Maraschino Cherry Juice
- ½ Tbsp. Lemon Juice
- 1 c. Marshmallows
Instructions
-
I tend to work from the messiest fruit to the least messy but you are more than welcome to chop your fruits in any order you wish, this easy fruit salad does not need to be chopped in any particular order.
-
Chop your pineapple into 1-inch bite sized pieces. You will need 2 cups of chopped pineapple. Put the pineapple in a large bowl.
-
Wash and quarter strawberries. You will use 2 cups of quartered strawberry. Mix into the bowl with the pineapple.
-
Next, slice 2 bananas in half lengthwise before cutting into 1/4 inch slices. Add them into the bowl.
-
Then wash and chop your apple into 1/2-inch bite sized pieces. Toss your chopped apple into the fruit salad bowl.
-
Measure out 1 cup of grapes then wash and slice in half. Add to the bowl.
-
Wash 1 cup of blueberries and toss into the fruit salad.
-
Next, fish out 12 maraschino cherries, remove the stems and slice in half. Add to the fruit salad and toss to combine.
-
For the "dressing" mix together one tablespoon orange juice, 1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice, and 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice. Pour over the fruit salad and toss to coat.
-
Top with 1 cup of marshmallows and serve!
Recipe Notes
Ingredient Substitutions by Diet
- Paleo- If you want to keep this dish paleo use regular cherries in place of maraschino cherries and omit the marshmallows.
- Vegan- To keep this delicious fruit salad vegan, use a vegan marshmallow such as Dandies.