30 Summer Fruit Salads That Are Sweet as Can Be (2024)

1/30

Grape Salad

Everyone raves when I bring this refreshing, creamy grape salad to potlucks. For a special finishing touch, sprinkle it with brown sugar and pecans. —Marge Elling, Jenison, Michigan

2/30

Snickers Salad

This creamy, sweet salad with crisp apple crunch is a real people-pleaser. It makes a lot, which is good, because it will go fast! —Cyndi Fynaardt, Oskaloosa, Iowa

3/30

Overnight Fruit Salad

I first tasted this rich, old-fashioned fruit salad at my wedding reception many years ago. The ladies who did the cooking wouldn’t share the recipe at the time, but eventually I got it. I’ve made it for many meals, and our daughters copied the recipe when they married. —Eileen Duffeck, Lena, Wisconsin

4/30

Pistachio Salad

This fluffy salad is a real treat since it’s creamy but not overly sweet. It’s easy to mix up, and the flavor gets better the longer it stands. It’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, served in a green bowl. —Pattie Ann Forssberg, Logan, Kansas

5/30

Ambrosia Fruit Salad

I start this with plenty of fruit, add the yogurt for dressing, then mix in just enough marshmallows and coconut so it tastes like the fresh and creamy version I grew up with. It’s a well-loved recipe in my home now. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

6/30

Glazed Fruit Medley

The homemade orange dressing on this salad complements the fresh fruit flavors beautifully. It’s perfect for a spring or summer brunch. —Karen Bourne, Magrath, Alberta

7/30

Sparkling Fruit Salad

Pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, strawberries and grapes are treated to a dressing of wine and sparkling club soda in this delightful salad. Serve in dessert dishes or set the whole bowl on the table for a fetching presentation. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

8/30

Swift Strawberry Salad

A simple blend of syrup, orange juice and caramel topping forms the light dressing for the fresh berries and the crunchy cashews found in this sensational salad. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

9/30

Watermelon-Blueberry Salad

People love the unique combination of flavors in the dressing that tops the fresh fruit in this salad. It’s so refreshing on a hot summer evening. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

10/30

Lime-Honey Fruit Salad

Nothing is more refreshing to me than a seasonal fruit salad enhanced with this simple honey-lime dressing. —Victoria Shevlin, Cape Coral, Florida

11/30

Honey Poppy Seed Fruit Salad

This colorful fruit salad with poppy seed dressing pairs well with any morning entree and takes just 10 minutes to prepare. The subtle honey sauce in this salad steals the show. —Dorothy Dinnean, Harrison, Arkansas

12/30

Frozen Waldorf Salad

While I was growing up on a farm in western Kansas, we always had lots of hungry men around during harvesttime. This salad is one we served often since it was easy to increase and we could prepare it ahead of time.

13/30

Fruit Salad in a Pineapple Boat

A sweet, summery treat that looks as good as it tastes! No one, young or old, will be able to resist this healthy fruit salad.
Amy Short, Lesage, WV

14/30

Berry Nectarine Salad

I’ve been making this recipe for years. Whenever my family has a summer get-together, everyone requests it. The nectarines and berries look beautiful together, and the topping is the perfect accent. —Mindee Myers, Lincoln, Nebraska

15/30

Mixed Fruit with Lemon-Basil Dressing

A slightly savory dressing really complements the sweet fruit in this recipe. I also use the dressing on salad greens. —Dixie Terry, Goreville, Illinois

16/30

Favorite Fruit Salad

I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, especially when our four children and nine grandchildren come to visit. They always ask for this salad when they’re here for dinner. —Doris Dion, Lake Ozark, Missouri

17/30

Rainbow Fruit Salad

When my children were young, I would often dress up fresh fruit in this easy salad. Decades later, my grandchildren and great-grandchildren still love digging in to the fruity layers. The salad goes well with barbecued meats or cold sandwiches. —Jonnie Adams Sisler, Stevensville, Montana

18/30

Special Fruit Salad

Dress up a sweet fruit salad with this drizzle of citrusy flavor. —Alice Orton in Big Bear Lake, California.

19/30

Coconut Tropical Fruit Salad

Add a serving of fruit to breakfast with this delicious medley. Toasted coconut, mango and more bring the flavor of the tropics to any menu. —Katie Covington, Blacksburg, South Carolina

20/30

Minted Fruit Salad

Filled with the season’s best, freshest fruit, this salad shouts summer. The hint of mint adds a refreshing note to the colorful melon compote. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah

21/30

Fruit Salad Dressing

“I like to top seasonal fruit with this smooth citrusy dressing,” notes Frances Poste of Wall, South Dakota. “It makes a cool colorful salad for breakfast, lunch or picnics in the summer.”

22/30

Frog Eye Salad

This frog eye salad recipe gets its name from the tiny acini di pepe pasta that looks like frog eyes when folded in with fruit and a creamy dressing.As much or as little Cool Whip can be added to taste, and if I have some mandarin oranges or maraschino cherries, I add a few to the top. My friends say this side dish is good enough to be a dessert! —Elaine Bailey, Bloomfield, Indiana

23/30

Slushy Fruit Salad

A fresh fruit salad can take some time to prepare and needs last-minute assembly. That’s why I often rely on this make-ahead frozen fruit salad when entertaining a crowd. —Judy McHone, Springfield, Illinois

24/30

Mango Salad with Mint Yogurt Dressing

An abundant planter full of mint inspired me to create this summery salad. The flavors pair together so well, and really let the freshness of the mint shine. —Natalie Klein, Albuquerque, New Mexico

25/30

Watermelon Salad with Cinnamon Pretzel Crunch

This is such a wonderful side dish to enjoy during a hot summer, especially here in Texas. My family loves watermelon, fresh peaches and nectarines, and I made a pretzel crunch to give the salad something special. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

26/30

Fruity Orange Dream

I learned this recipe from a fellow teacher when I was living in West Virginia. It’s a standout for a morning party, since it’s even better when made the night before, so the flavors have time to mix. Plus, kids love it—it tastes like a Creamsicle in a bowl! —Georgeanna Wellings, Dacula, Georgia

27/30

Sunflower Strawberry Salad

We have an annual strawberry festival in our town, so recipes with strawberries are popular here. I have served this salad at luncheons and have always received compliments. —Betty Malone, Humboldt, Tennessee

28/30

Watermelon Mint Salad

I invented this refreshing fruit salad one sultry afternoon while my friends were gathered around my pool. It was quick to prepare and disappeared from their plates even quicker. The kids loved it too! —Antoinette DuBeck, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania

29/30

Banana Split Fluff

This pretty pink mixture, rich with yummy fruit and nuts, is sure to disappear in a hurry. It’s a sweet and speedy treat that can be served as a dessert or salad. —Anne Powers, Munford, Alabama

30/30

Watermelon Tomato Salad

Watermelon and tomatoes may seem an unlikely pair, but they team up to make a winning combination in this eye-catching salad. —Matthew Denton, Seattle, Washington

Summer Fruit Salads FAQ

What are the best fruits to mix for a summer fruit salad?

Summer is the season for beautiful fresh fruit, so making a fruit salad is as easy as grabbing what looks best at the farmers market. You can always depend on the fruit MVPs: strawberries, blueberries and raspberries for their delightful flavor, melons for their juicy water content, and peaches and cherries for a more profound sweetness.

Citrus is always welcome, but watch out for grapefruit or any super acidic fruit like kiwi and pomegranate; they can take over the flavor profile of the whole dish. Bananas are another challenging ingredient, sometimes becoming brown and mushy and disrupting the texture of your salad; keep them separate until you are ready to serve.

How do I keep fruit salad cold when serving?

There are some fantastic insulated bowls on the market these days that work well to keep things cool, but chilling any bowl in the fridge or freezer before putting your fruit salad in it will also do the trick. Setting your salad bowl in a bigger ice-filled bowl or cooler is another excellent solution if you are packing a picnic or patio party. For some of the creamier salads, you want to keep a close eye on their temperature; no one wants soured milk or yogurt, and bacteria can begin to form in less than an hour on a hot day.

How long does fruit salad last?

The beauty of summer fruit salads is that they can be enjoyed for up to five days if stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. There are some shortcuts to keeping your fruit salads fresh too. Citrus juice or pineapple juice will help keep your fruit from browning, simple syrup can keep your berries bright, and salad dressings with vinegar will preserve the color and flavor of the fruit (but the latter two options also add a bit of their own personality to the flavor). Find the right method for your summer salad, and you will be munching on it all week!

Originally Published: April 02, 2019