This Winter Fruit Salad recipe is refreshing, simple, stunning and totally delicious. Made with brightly colored winter fruits and finished with a tangy citrus glaze drizzle, it makes the perfect holiday dinner side dish.
If you’re looking for more easy salad recipes, be sure to try our Berry Fruit Salad, Classic Fruit Salad or this Caramel Apple Snickers Salad which is always a crowd pleaser.
Winter Fruit Salad Recipe
In the dead of winter when I’m craving something bright, cheery, and refreshing, this this winter citrus fruit salad hits the spot. It’s chock full of bright and tangy pineapple, kiwi, tangerines, and apples, sprinkled with pomegranate seeds, and finished with a drizzle of homemade citrus glaze.
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Need even more reasons to love this fruit salad? It can be made the night before, is naturally gluten free, and even makes an amazing centerpiece to a fruit board for the holidays.
Plus, it works for kids, adults, and picky eaters—you name it. Feel free to swap out different winter fruits, add a different dressing, top with mint for garnish, or make whatever changes you see fit.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Pineapple – remove the rind and dice or slice the pineapple into bite-sized pieces. Be sure and remove the little black “eyes.”
- Apples – you can remove the peels or leave them on, slicing and dicing into bite-sized pieces to your liking. You could also substitute pears, or use a combination of apples and pears.
- Kiwi Fruit – these add a great pop of color and a bright and tangy flavor. Be sure and remove the peel before cutting, and if the kiwi aren’t ripe do not bother adding them.
- Tangerines – you can either cut segments of the tangerines or slice them. Mandarin oranges would also taste great, either fresh or canned.
- Pomegranate Seeds – remove the seeds with a spoon, saving any juice and adding it to the salad as well.
- Orange Juice – you can use fresh squeezed orange juice or from the bottle.
- Sugar – this glaze recipe calls for white granulated sugar. A bit of honey would also make for a super tasty honey lime glaze.
- Lime Juice – fresh lime juice tastes far better than from the bottle. You can also substitute key lime juice or lemon juice.
How to Make This Winter Fruit Salad
- Prepare the fruit. Prepare the pineapple, apples, kiwi and tangerine by slicing and dicing as desired into bite-sized pieces. Transfer to a large bowl, then remove the seeds from the pomegranate and toss them in with the rest of the fruit. Set aside.
- Make the fruit salad glaze. In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, add the orange juice and sugar. Bring to a boil and continue to boil for 1 minute. Remove the glaze from the heat and add the fresh lime juice. Stir, then let the glaze cool to room temperature. Transfer the glaze to the fridge until you are ready to use.
- Serve. To serve, arrange fruit in a bowl or serving dish and drizzle the citrus glaze over the top. Add enough to just lightly coat the fruit. Toss and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- Add poppy seed dressing. Toss the fruit in a light layer of poppy seed dressing before drizzling on the citrus glaze.
- Substitute different tropical fruits. Try adding mangoes, papaya or star fruit.
- Cut decorative shapes. You can slice a couple large star shapes out of the pineapple for a beautiful and simple decor.
- Bulk it up with bananas. If you plan to serve this fruit salad recipe to a crowd, adding sliced bananas is a cost-effective way to bulk it up. Just be sure you don’t cut them up ahead of time because bananas turn brown super quickly.
- Add fresh mint. This makes a beautiful garnish and adds a nice, fresh flavor to your salad.
- Add chili lime seasoning. For a Mexican twist, sprinkle the salad with a little chili lime seasoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Slice the pomegranate in half. Then, over the bowl of fruit, hold one half in your hand with the cut side down and hit the back of the pomegranate with a wooden spoon. The seeds should all fall right into the bowl.
You can make this fruit salad up to the night before. If you do make this ahead of time, gently toss a bit of the citrus glaze over the fruit in the bowl to help keep the apples from browning. Just before serving the next day, drizzle on the rest of the glaze.
The best fall and winter fruits to use in this salad are those that are the ripest, most colorful and will hold up the best. If you are looking to switch up the winter fruit medley, we recommend mangoes, papaya, pears or any other fruits that taste good in the winter months at the grocery store.
Storing Instructions
- Refrigerator: store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Winter Fruit Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups pineapple, diced
- 2 cups apples, diced
- 5 large kiwi, sliced
- 3 large tangerine, sliced
- 2 cups pomegranate seeds, (about 1 pomegrante)
Citrus Glaze
- 2/3 cup orange juice
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
Instructions
- Prepare the pineapple, apples, kiwi, and tangerine, then transfer to a large bowl. Add the pomegranate seeds and toss together, then set aside.
- In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, add the orange juice and sugar. Bring to a boil, then continue to simmer for 1 minute.
- Remove the glaze from the heat and add the fresh lime juice. Stir, then let the glaze cool to room temperature. Transfer the glaze to the fridge until you are ready to use.
- To serve, arrange fruit in a bowl or serving dish and drizzle the citrus glaze over the top. Add enough to just lightly coat the fruit. Toss and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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This easy Winter Fruit Salad is just as refreshing and delicious as it is beautiful. Filled to the brim with season winter fruits, sprinkled with pomegranate seeds and finished with a drizzle of citrus glaze, this is sure to be your new favorite holiday fruit salad.
Categories:
Christmas, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Healthy, Holiday Favorites, Nut-Free, Salads, Sides, Thanksgiving, Vegan, Vegetarian, Winter Recipes,
Love this for a healthier choice at the dessert table. The star cut outs make it festive too!
This is the perfect salad to have around especially when we tend to be overloaded with sweets during the holiday season! So flavorful!