Description
This beautiful Creamy Fruit Salad combines carefully selected fresh fruits with a light, dreamy cream dressing that enhances rather than masks the natural flavors. Featuring ruby-red strawberries, creamy bananas, emerald kiwi, juicy grapes, and bright mandarin oranges, each component brings its own special texture and taste. The secret lies in the simple but perfectly balanced cream dressing made with chilled heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Ready in just 15 minutes with optional chilling time for enhanced flavor development.
Ingredients
- 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
- ½ cup heavy cream, chilled
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Fresh mint sprigs for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prep Your Fruits: Wash strawberries under cold water, pat dry, hull, and halve. Peel kiwi by slicing off ends and sliding a spoon between flesh and skin. Halve grapes if large. Prep grapes first, then strawberries, then kiwi, saving bananas for last.
- Prevent Browning: 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.
- Create Dreamy Cream: In a chilled bowl, combine heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Using hand mixer on medium speed (or whisk by hand), beat until soft peaks form. Stop before overwhipping to avoid graininess.
- Combine Fruits: 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 Dressing: Add whipped cream mixture to fruit and fold gently using proper technique – slide spatula down side of bowl, across bottom, and up through center. Rotate bowl and repeat 6-8 times until just coated.
- Chill for Best Flavor: Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and fruits to release natural juices that mingle with cream.
- Present with Pride: Serve in individual glass bowls or parfait glasses to showcase colors. Top with reserved fruit pieces and fresh mint sprig for elegant presentation.
Notes
Ingredient Selection Tips: Choose strawberries that are fully red with no white shoulders – the more intense the fragrance, the better the flavor. Select bananas that are yellow with small brown spots for perfect ripeness. Use chilled heavy cream for best whipping volume. Pro Techniques: Use a silicone spatula for gentle fruit handling to prevent unnecessary juice release. Stop whipping cream at soft peaks – overwhipped cream becomes grainy. Make-Ahead: Prep fruits earlier in the day, then assemble with cream closer to serving for maximum freshness. Serving: Individual glass bowls showcase the beautiful colors. Reserve some fruit pieces for elegant topping presentation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- 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
Keywords: creamy fruit salad, fresh fruit salad, whipped cream fruit salad, summer salad, potluck salad