How to make fruit salas

This delicious fruit salad with whipped cream is just the thing your next party needs! It’s a side dish and a dessert in one, and is always a crowd-pleasing favorite.

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There’s something so comforting about this whipped cream fruit salad. It’s a staple at family get-togethers, summer barbecues, and holiday parties. It’s one of my personal favorites!

Everyone who makes this fruit salad with creamy dressing and marshmallows makes it a little bit differently, and that makes it both comforting and exciting at the same time.

Of course, I think my recipe for creamy fruit salad is the best, packed with bananas, apples, grapes, and strawberries!

This dessert salad is typically made with the whipped topping that comes in a tub, but we’re making it today with fresh sweetened whipped cream. I love making creamy fruit salad from scratch! It’s made with so much love, nobody will be able to resist it.

Similar to Ambrosia Salad, but Not The Same

You might be familiar with the classic Ambrosia Salad with fruit and marshmallows in a creamy whipped cream base. Ambrosia Salad is a specific version of a fruit salad with whipped cream and marshmallows that includes pineapple, mandarin oranges, cherries, and often chopped nuts.

Ambrosia also typically has sour cream or yogurt added to give it a tangier flavor. Take a look at both recipes and make whichever one sounds tastier! Both are amazing, along with my Watergate Salad and Creamy Grape Salad which are similar takes on the same concept: a tasty no-bake dessert salad made with fruit and cream.

You should also try Orange Jello Salad – it’s the best dessert!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. Fresh Fruit Salad – My homemade version of fruit salad with whipped cream uses all fresh fruits, nothing from a can. Of course, you can feel free to add in some maraschino cherries or mandarin oranges if you enjoy them!
2. Delicious Creamy Fruit Salad Dressing – Heavy cream, powdered sugar, and a splash of pure vanilla extract make a luscious cream that tastes so amazing wrapped around marshmallows, coconut, and fruit.
3. Versatile Recipe – You can dress this fruity side dish up with anything that you like! Don’t like bananas? It’s ok, use some pineapple. Strawberries aren’t as sweet as you’d like this week? Sub in some tasty raspberries instead. In a hurry? Open up a can of fruit cocktail and call it a day!

Ingredients In Fruit Salad with Whipped Cream

Here’s what you need to make this creamy fruit salad:

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Fruit: the main ingredients in this tasty sweet salad are fresh fruits. You can use what I used, or substitute it with your favorites. Bananas, strawberries, apples, and grapes are my go-to fruit salad ingredients. Prepare the fruit by cutting it into bite-sized pieces.
• Heavy Whipping Cream: To make a fresh, homemade whipped cream for fruit salad, start with a cup of heavy cream.
• Powdered Sugar and Vanilla Extract: to give the cream flavor, a small amount of sugar and pure vanilla extract are just perfect.
• Mini Marshmallows: These add additional sweetness, and bulk to the salad. Feel free to use the multi-color mini marshmallows if you can find them!
• Shredded Coconut: Sweetened coconut gives creamy fruit salad a more delicious texture.

You can make this salad with Cool Whip if you like! Use one small tub of whipped topping in place of the cream, sugar, and vanilla.

How To Make Fruit Salad with Whipped Cream

1. Prep The Fruit: Cut all of your fruit into bite-sized pieces. I slice the bananas, dice the apples, and cut the grapes and strawberries into halves or quarters depending on their size.

1. Mix the Fruit: Start with the apples and the bananas. Place them into a large bowl, and toss with fresh lemon juice to avoid browning. Then mix in the other chopped fruit.
2. Make Whipped Cream: In a mixing bowl, combine the heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract and whip until it’s whipped and airy. You can do this by hand with a whisk, or use an electric mixer, but be careful not to overwhip or the cream will turn buttery.
3. Assemble the Salad: Add the whipped cream to the fruit mixture along with the mini marshmallows and shredded coconut. Stir to combine. Chill until ready to serve, topped with extra marshmallows and coconut for garnish.

The whipped cream should be creamy. If it gets too thick, add a bit of water or extra cream and gently stir it in to get the fruit salad dressing to the right consistency.

Recipe Tips

• Lemon Juice: The acidic juice from a fresh lemon adds protection to cut apples and bananas to keep them from turning brown. If you aren’t using apples or bananas in your salad, you can skip this step. Otherwise it’s very important!
• Enjoy shortly after making: Fruit salad with fresh whipped cream is best enjoyed the same day that you make it, within an hour or two of mixing it all up.
• Add Other Fruits: As long as you end up with approximately 4 cups of fruit you can swap in any of your favorites. Canned fruits like fruit cocktail, pineapple tidbits, peaches, cherries, or mandarin oranges are great additions.

Storing Tips

Store fruit salad with fresh whipped cream in the refridgerator until you’re ready to serve. It can be made up to a few hours ahead of time.

You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Eat them as soon as possible, since the fruit will soften quickly.

What To Serve With Fruit Salad with Whipped Cream

This dessert salad is delicious and can be served with almost anything. I specifically enjoy it in the summer months with BBQ and Grilled meats.

Add a side of fruit salad to a dinner that starts with Grilled Steak, Grilled Shrimp Kabobs, or a fun-to-make Beer Can Chicken.

Or get out the smoker for some real BBQ like Smoked Whole Chicken or Smoked Brisket.

My favorite summer meal side dishes include this Strawberry Spinach Salad, Creamy Cucumber Salad, and the popular and easy Ramen Noodle Salad.

FAQs

What’s the difference between heavy cream and whipping cream?

You’ll encounter at least two different types of cream when shopping. In the US, Heavy Cream or Heavy Whipping Cream is cream with the highest amount of fat in it, and it’s the best choice for whipping into a creamy dressing for fruit salad. Whipping Cream or Light Whipping Cream is lower in fat. It will still whip into cream, but it will be less stable and will deflate more quickly.

Can I make fruit salad with cool whip instead of whipped cream?

Yes you can. Use an 8 ounce tub of cool whip in place of the cream, vanilla, and powdered sugar used in this recipe.

When do people eat creamy fruit salad?

This dessert can be enjoyed all year round! It’s common to find it at Thanksgiving or Christmas tables, Easter brunch, and Summer meals.

What else can I add to fruit salad with whipped cream?

The sky is the limit when it comes to add-ins for this recipe. Try chopped walnuts or pecans, raisens, mangoes, pomegranate seeds, white chocolate shavings, a pinch of cinnamon, or anything else that sounds good to you!

I can’t wait to hear how you like this recipe! I know that it will be a new favorite for you and your family. Be sure to Pin the recipe for later.

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!