Description
A delightful and refreshing creamy fruit salad featuring a blend of fresh fruits tossed in a light, dreamy cream dressing. Perfect for any occasion, this salad is easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup strawberries, hulled and halved
- 2 medium bananas, sliced
- 1 kiwi, peeled and diced
- 1 cup grapes (red or green), halved if large
- 1 cup mandarin orange segments, drained
- 1/2 cup heavy cream, chilled
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Fresh mint sprigs for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Wash strawberries, pat dry, hull, and halve. Peel kiwi by slicing off ends and sliding a spoon between flesh and skin. Halve grapes if large. Prepare grapes first, then strawberries, then kiwi, saving bananas for last.
- Mix lemon juice with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl. Slice bananas and gently toss in the lemon mixture to prevent browning and add brightness.
- In a chilled bowl, combine heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Stop before overwhipping to avoid graininess.
- In a large mixing bowl, gently combine all prepped fruits using a silicone spatula. Reserve a few strawberry halves and mandarin segments for topping.
- Add the whipped cream mixture to the fruit and fold gently. Slide the spatula down the side of the bowl, across the bottom, and up through the center. Rotate the bowl and repeat 6-8 times until just coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and fruits to release natural juices that mingle with the cream.
- Serve in individual glass bowls or parfait glasses to showcase colors. Top with reserved fruit pieces and a fresh mint sprig for an elegant presentation.
Notes
- Choose strawberries that are fully red with no white shoulders for the best flavor.
- Select bananas that are yellow with small brown spots for perfect ripeness.
- Use chilled heavy cream for optimal whipping volume.
- A silicone spatula is recommended for gentle fruit handling to prevent unnecessary juice release.
- Stop whipping cream at soft peaks to avoid a grainy texture.
- Fruits can be prepped earlier in the day, but assemble with cream closer to serving for maximum freshness.
- Individual glass bowls showcase the beautiful colors of the salad.
- Reserve some fruit pieces for an elegant topping presentation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/6th of recipe)
- Calories: 135
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 8mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg