🍓🍍 Creamy Fruit Salad Delight
A luscious medley of fresh fruits tossed in a smooth, lightly sweet cream – perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a cool, healthy treat any time of day!
📜 Description:
This Creamy Fruit Salad Delight is a nostalgic classic with a nutritious twist. A colorful mix of fresh fruits—strawberries, grapes, pineapple, and banana—is coated in a creamy dressing made with tangy sour cream or Greek yogurt, sweetened just right with honey or condensed milk and flavored with vanilla. Mini marshmallows add a fun texture contrast, making this salad loved by kids and adults alike. It’s quick, versatile, and effortlessly satisfying!
🧺 Ingredients:
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced
- 1 cup grapes, halved (red or green)
- 1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned, drained)
- 1 banana, sliced
- ½ cup mini marshmallows
- ½ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp honey or sweetened condensed milk (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
🍽️ Instructions:
🔹 1. Prepare the Fruits:
Wash and slice all fruits. Pat them dry gently with a paper towel to prevent the dressing from becoming watery.
🔹 2. Make the Creamy Dressing:
In a medium bowl, mix the sour cream (or Greek yogurt), honey or condensed milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
🔹 3. Combine:
In a large mixing bowl, gently fold together the fruits, marshmallows, and creamy dressing until all pieces are coated evenly.
🔹 4. Chill and Serve:
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and for the salad to cool. Serve cold.
🍴 Servings:
Makes 4–6 servings
Great as a side dish, dessert, or light snack.
💡 Notes & Tips:
- Make it lighter: Use Greek yogurt and honey for a more protein-rich, less sugary version.
- Add-ins: Try chopped apples, blueberries, mandarin oranges, or kiwi for extra variety.
- No banana browning: Slice the banana just before mixing in or toss in a bit of lemon juice.
- Vegan option: Use coconut yogurt and maple syrup instead of dairy-based options.
- Make-ahead tip: Prep everything except the banana and dressing ahead of time. Mix right before serving.
🧠 Health Benefits:
- Vitamins & Fiber: Fresh fruits provide a wide range of vitamins (A, C, K) and dietary fiber for digestion and immunity.
- Protein Boost: Greek yogurt adds protein and probiotics for gut health.
- Moderate Sweetness: Natural sugars from fruits + a small amount of honey or condensed milk = satisfying without being overly sugary.
🧾 Nutritional Info (per serving – approx. based on 5 servings):
- Calories: 180
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Sugar: 24g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sodium: 30mg
(Based on using Greek yogurt and honey. Values vary slightly with ingredient choices.)
❓ Q&A:
Q: Can I make this a day in advance?
A: Yes – but for best texture, add banana and marshmallows just before serving.
Q: Can I use frozen fruit?
A: It’s not recommended — frozen fruit can release too much moisture and make the salad watery once thawed.
Q: What if I don’t have mini marshmallows?
A: You can omit them or replace with chopped dried fruit like dates or raisins for added sweetness.
Q: Can I make this sugar-free?
A: Yes! Use plain Greek yogurt and skip the honey/sweetener or replace with stevia or monk fruit.
Q: What goes well with this salad?
A: Perfect with brunch dishes like quiche, pancakes, grilled chicken, or even as a light dessert after BBQ meals.