Celebrate the fall harvest with this delicious Autumn Fruit Salad! Made with seasonal fruits, a honey dressing, and a hint of spice.
September is the BEST month of the year!! September has my birthday, my husband Jon’s birthday, Ivy’s gotcha day, and the start of football season! I was never much into football growing up… I would watch it sometimes with my grandpa, but I got so frustrated that the game kept pausing after, like, 10 seconds of play. But then when I met Jon, I immediately started hearing more about it. Jon walked on to our college’s football team in our senior year as a wide receiver. UConn’s football team has never been terribly successful (sorry guys) but I was so impressed with Jon’s athleticism ;)
Jon’s also a huge Titans fan, and for his birthday in 2017 I surprised him for a trip down to Nashville to see his first NFL game. We had such a blast together! It definitely got me more interested in football, and I would say I can actually hold a semi-intelligent conversation about it now. Thanks Jon!!
Fall has football, cooler temperatures, leaves, and delicious seasonal produce! This Autumn Fruit Salad has a delicious mix of in-season fruit and a perfectly spiced honey cinnamon dressing. I’ve included tips and tricks in the recipe to make sure your fruit salad comes out perfect. I hope you love it as much as I (and Jon) do! :)
For some savory fall options, try this Pumpkin Apple Stew or Festive Fall Sangria!
Autumn Fruit Salad FAQs
What is the best autumn fruit salad recipe?
I would argue that this one is :) I mindfully created a blend of in-season, autumn fruits that will hold their shape and stay fresh for as long as possible. Also, by adding lemon into the dressing, it prevents the apples from browning for longer.
Is this a harvest fruit salad?
Absolutely! Fruits harvested in autumn are well-represented here, with apples, grapes, and blackberries.
What fruit is freshest in autumn?
Apples are obviously one of the most iconic fall fruits! Here in Connecticut, we have a ton of orchards that offer delicious juicy and crisp apples. Other fruits that are fresh in autumn are cranberries, pears, blackberries (in late summer / early fall), pumpkins, and figs.
What fruits should not be mixed in a fruit salad?
It’s not so much what fruits should or shouldn’t be mixed in a fruit salad; rather, it’s the ratios. Softer, watery-er fruits like apples, melons, or pineapples shouldn’t be combined without sturdy fruits to balance them out. Grapes, for example, are a great sturdy option because their skin keeps the water content inside them. The key is having the fruits stay crisp for as long as possible while still being able to absorb the dressing. In this salad, the sturdy grapes, semi-sturdy blackberries, and soft-ish apples create a good balance.
Can I cut up the fruit for a fruit salad the night before?
In this recipe, you only have to cut up the apples – the grapes and blackberries go in as-is. But because apples can brown over time, I recommend waiting until serving to cut them. However, you can make the dressing ahead of time and store it in the fridge until ready to serve.
Is this an easy autumn fruit salad?
Yes, this is a super easy recipe and takes only minutes to make!
Autumn Fruit Salad
Ingredients
Honey Cinnamon Dressing
- Juice from 1/2 Lemon
- Juice from 1/2 Orange
- 1 1/2 Tsp Honey
- 1/4 Tsp Cinnamon
- Pinch Salt
Autumn Fruit Salad
- 1/2 Cup Red Grapes
- 1/2 Cup Purple Grapes
- 1 1/2 Cups Blackberries about 6 oz package
- 2 Apples
- 1/2 Cup Pecans
Instructions
- To a large bowl, add the grapes and blackberries. Set aside.
- To a medium bowl, add all of the dressing ingredients. Mix well with a whisk.
- Then, cut up your apples into thin slices and add into the bowl with the dressing. Mix well so that all apple slices are coated.
- Then, pour the bowl with the apples and dressing into the larger bowl with the rest of the fruit. Mix well.
- Top the salad with pecans, and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- Don’t skip the step of coating the apples in the dressing – the lemon juice helps prevent the apple from browning!
- If preparing this fruit salad ahead of time, be sure to leave cutting the apples until the very last moment. But you can of course make the dressing ahead of time!
- This fruit salad is best fresh, but will keep in the fridge for 1-2 days.
- For a fun twist, add the fruit salad leftovers to a freezer-safe bag then freeze. To make a delicious fruity fall smoothie, add about 1 cup of the salad to a blender with 1/2 frozen banana and vanilla almond milk!
P.S.
For more plant-forward recipes and New England lifestyle inspiration, be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok! If you make a recipe, please tag me in the photo and use the hashtag #wellandfull so I can see! I love seeing your creations!
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