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Thanksgiving Fruit Salad Recipe

Thanksgiving Fruit Salad Recipe
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★★★★★

5.3 from 19 reviews

A refreshing and vibrant Thanksgiving fruit salad combining crisp apples, juicy oranges, sweet grapes, tart dried cranberries, and toasted pecans, all tossed in a spiced citrus dressing. This salad brings a perfect balance of sweet, tart, and nutty flavors to your holiday table and is a delightful, healthy addition to any festive meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Fruits

  • 2 medium green apples, cored and sliced into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 medium red apples, cored and sliced into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 cup grapes, halved if large
  • 3 medium navel oranges, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
  • ¾ cup dried cranberries

Nuts

  • 1 cup pecans

Dressing

  • ½ cup orange juice
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon apple pie spice
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • Juice of 1 medium lemon (used partly to toss apples)

Instructions

  1. Toast Pecans: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Place pecans evenly on a baking sheet and put them in the oven as it heats. Toast them until fragrant, about 5-7 minutes, then remove and let cool.
  2. Prepare Dressing: In a small saucepan, combine orange juice, sugar, apple pie spice, lemon zest, and orange zest. Place over medium heat and whisk to blend all ingredients smoothly. Bring to a low boil and let simmer for 3-4 minutes to meld flavors.
  3. Strain and Cool Dressing: Remove the saucepan from heat and strain the dressing through a fine mesh strainer to remove zest and spice bits. Allow the dressing to cool completely.
  4. Prepare Apples: Core and slice both green and red apples into bite-sized pieces. Toss the apple slices with juice from half the lemon to prevent them from browning and maintain freshness.
  5. Prepare Oranges: Peel the oranges carefully, removing all white pith, and cut the segments into bite-sized pieces.
  6. Combine Fruit and Nuts: In a large mixing bowl, combine the prepared apples, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, grapes, and orange pieces.
  7. Dress and Toss: Drizzle the cooled spiced citrus dressing over the fruit and nuts. Gently toss everything together until evenly coated with the dressing.
  8. Serve: Transfer the fruit salad to a serving dish or individual bowls and serve immediately or chill briefly before serving for extra refreshment.

Notes

  • Toast the pecans carefully to avoid burning — they should be aromatic and slightly darker, not blackened.
  • Lemon juice on apples is crucial to prevent browning and keep the salad looking fresh.
  • The apple pie spice in the dressing adds warmth and a subtle autumn flavor; you can substitute with a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice if unavailable.
  • For a vegan version, ensure the sugar used is vegan-friendly.
  • To make ahead, prepare and chill the dressing separately and toast the pecans in advance; assemble just before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: Thanksgiving fruit salad, holiday fruit salad, pecan fruit salad, spiced citrus dressing, healthy Thanksgiving sides

Find it online: https://cheflenacooks.com/thanksgiving-fruit-salad-recipe/