Description
Enjoy the flavors of fall with this vibrant Fall Fruit Salad, featuring fresh seasonal fruits tossed in a spiced orange dressing. Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any cozy autumn gathering, this refreshing salad balances sweet, tart, and nutty elements with a warm hint of apple pie spice.
Ingredients
For the Dressing
- ½ cup orange juice (freshly squeezed or store-bought, not from concentrate)
- ¼ cup white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon apple pie spice (can substitute cinnamon)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
For the Salad
- 1 cup pecans
- 3 navel oranges
- 2 green apples (such as Granny Smith or Golden Delicious for a sweeter taste)
- 2 red apples (recommended: Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp)
- 1 cup red seedless grapes
- ¾ cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Toast the Pecans (Optional): Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place pecans on a baking sheet and put them in the oven while it’s heating. Remove the pecans once you can smell them, about the time the oven is fully heated. Allow them to cool before using.
- Make the Dressing: In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together orange juice, sugar, apple pie spice, lemon zest, and orange zest. Let the mixture simmer gently for 3 to 4 minutes to meld the flavors. Strain the dressing through a fine mesh sieve into a heat-safe jar or bowl. Set aside to cool completely.
- Prepare the Fruit: Core and slice the apples into bite-sized pieces. Peel the oranges by removing all pith and slice or dice into bite-sized pieces. If serving to young children, slice grapes in half lengthwise for easier eating.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the apples, grapes, oranges, dried cranberries, and toasted pecans. Drizzle the cooled dressing over the fruit mixture and toss gently until all the fruit is evenly coated.
- Serve or Store: Serve the salad immediately for best freshness. If preparing ahead, cover and refrigerate. Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consumed within 1-2 days.
Notes
- Apple varieties: Green apples provide tartness; Golden Delicious offers a sweeter alternative. For reds, Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp are recommended.
- How to supreme an orange: Remove all white pith for the best texture and flavor. If preferred, simply dice peeled orange slices to save time, though pith may be present.
- Zesting: Only grate the colorful outer peel using a microplane for fine zest. Avoid the bitter white pith underneath.
- Fruit variations: Pear and pomegranate seeds make excellent additions—feel free to customize your fruit mix.
- Prep ahead: The dressing can be made and refrigerated in a sealed container up to two days in advance. Pecans may be toasted ahead and stored until ready to use.
- Serving size: This recipe yields about 8 servings with approximately 1.5 cups per serving. Smaller portions can accommodate more guests.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
