This old fashioned fruit salad is the fruit salad that my grandma made for years and then my mom made for years.
This recipe for old fashioned fruit salad with whipped cream is great for potlucks, barbecues, parties, and holidays. I think someone in my family makes this every Christmas and Easter. It’s also a good recipe to keep on hand and a great way to use up any fruit that you’re not sure what to do with. You can easily swap some of the fruit out for what you have on hand or what is in season.
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What ingredients do I need for this fruit salad recipe?
For this old fashioned fruit salad with whipped cream you’ll need:
- Cream cheese
- Whipped cream
- Chopped pecans
- Powdered sugar
- Mandarin oranges
- Banana
- Grapes
- Apple
- Berries
- Fruit cocktail with cherries
- OR whatever fruit you have on hand or is in season
Mini marshmallows and coconut flakes also go really well in this fruit salad recipe. If you are fan feel free to add some. These are totally optional but ¼ cup of coconut flakes and just a small handful of mini marshmallows are a nice touch to this salad. The great thing about this fruit salad recipe is that the recipe is very forgiving. You can add more or less of what you like. If you don’t have a certain fruit on hand you can use what you have.
How do I make this recipe?
Combine cream cheese and whipped topping in a large bowl and beat well with a blender. Sprinkle the powdered sugar over the berries and add to mixture.
Add the other fruit and gently stir in with a large spoon. Serve immediately if possible.
Can fruit salad sit overnight?
If you’d like to make this fruit salad the night before, you absolutely can. I recommend waiting to add the banana to the next day as it will brown or if you wish to go ahead and add the banana brush it with a small amount of lemon juice to prevent any browning.
Do I have to use the fruits listed?
No, not at all. You can substitute a wide variety of fruit and this recipe will still work. Pineapple, peaches, grapes, pitted cherries, pears, and kiwi are also very good in this salad if that’s what you have on hand. In season fruit is always best for a fruit salad so just use what is in season.
How long is the fruit salad good for in the refrigerator?
You can store this fruit salad for 2-3 days in an air tight container in your refrigerator.
Variations:
- Add one cup of mini marshmallows.
- Add a handful of walnuts or pecans on top.
Other easy dessert recipes:
Old Fashioned Fruit Salad With Whipped Cream {Easy + Delicious}
Equipment
- Hand mixer
Ingredients
- 1 package cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1 tub whipped cream or whipped topping about 8 ounces
- ¼ cup chopped pecans optional
- 2 tablespoon powdered sugar
- 1 can mandarin oranges (about 10.5 ounces) drained
- 1 can fruit cocktail with cherries (about 15 ounces) drained
- 1 banana sliced
- 1 green apple diced
- 1 red apple diced
- 1 cup berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries)
- ½ cup grapes sliced
- OR whatever fruit you have on hand or is in season
Instructions
- Combine cream cheese and whipped topping in a large bowl and beat well with a blender.
- Sprinkle the powdered sugar over the berries and add to mixture.
- Drain your fruit cocktail and mandarin oranges well and gently stir them in.
- Add the other fruit and gently stir in with a large spoon.
- Add the pecans, if desired.
- Serve immediately if possible.
Megan
This reminds me of the one my mom made when we were kids. The only thing different she added, was walnuts. And she made the whipped topping with more powdered sugar. I can’t wait to make this for Easter!!
Lynda Derks
I have always put pineapple in. I really do not see the need for any sugar.
Audrey
You can always leave it out. I recommend using it because people usually make this recipe for Thanksgiving and Christmas when strawberries aren’t in season. Since they’re not in season they can be kind of tart so it helps balance it out. This is a versatile recipe and you can definitely use pineapple or whatever your favorite fruit is.