Tropical Fruit Salad

Kick off your summer with this refreshing tropical fruit salad that's both delicious and easy to make. Packed with juicy orange slices, cherries, strawberries, and kiwi, this vibrant dish is perfect for any gathering or a healthy snack!
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A serving platter of tropical fruit salad with chopped kiwi, mandarin slices, strawberries, and cherries tossed in a sweet and zesty dressing.
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Who doesn’t love fruit? Even if you don’t crave fruit all year long, that fresh-fruit-feeling seems to start as soon as the spring months hit. It must be the growing light of golden sunshine and warming wafts of fresh air that stimulate the hunger part of our brains. This easy tropical fruit salad recipe satisfies any sweet (and tart!) tooth. We think you’ll like it berry much!

Bonus—this simple recipe requires only a few fruits, a little lime juice, and a minute of mixing. After that, it’s all done and ready to be devoured! Take advantage of pick-your-own farm stands that sell fresh berries and other in-season fruits. You’ll get a bit of much-needed vitamin D, time with friends and family, and a delicious dessert to boot. You might find this colorful, sweet salad holds the kiwi to your heart!

Why This Tropical Fruit Salad is So Awesome

A tropical fruit salad is a burst of flavor and color that can brighten up any meal. It’s fresh, tasty, and super easy to make. Here are seven reasons why this salad is a great choice for any time of day:

  • So delicious. Fruits like strawberries (as in this fresh strawberry juice), oranges, cherries, and kiwi mix to create a sweet and tangy flavor.
  • Healthy. These fruits are full of vitamins and nutrients that are great for your body.
  • Easy to Make. Just chop up the fruits and mix them together for a quick and simple dish.
  • Colorful. These bright colors make the salad look amazing on any table—making the recipe even more appealing with sight, as well as taste.
  • Hydrating. These fruits have high water content, keeping you hydrated, especially in hot weather.
  • Versatile: Enjoy it as a snack, a side dish, or even a light dessert.
  • Kid-Friendly. The sweet flavors and fun colors make it a hit with kids.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

Fruit is the most fantastic and filling of all foods. Not only are most fruits low in calories, fat-free, sodium-free, and cholesterol-free, they are all high in water, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Here are a few tips and substitutions when making this refreshing fresh fruit salad:

Gathered ingredients for this tropical fruit salad recipe including strawberries, kiwis, mandarin oranges, limes, cherries, and agave syrup.
  • Strawberries – Adds a sweet and slightly tart flavor, along with a vibrant red color. They also bring a juicy texture. If you don’t have strawberries, try raspberries or blueberries.
  • Cherries – Provides a deep, sweet flavor and a lovely dark red hue. They also add a bit of crunch. If cherries are not available, try grapes or pomegranate seeds.
  • Oranges – Orange slices give a burst of citrusy sweetness and add a refreshing juiciness. Their bright color also makes the salad look cheerful. You can use mandarins or grapefruit if you need a substitute.
  • Kiwi – Lends a tangy and slightly sweet taste, with a unique green color and tiny seeds for a bit of crunch. If you can’t find kiwi, use green grapes or even diced green apples.

NOTE: Freshly picked fruit is always the goal for the best flavor, with farmer’s market finds a close second. Use the best quality you can find if you are out shopping at your local grocery store (and organic, if possible, especially if the fruit is one of the dirty dozen. If fresh fruit is not available, you may use frozen (thawed overnight), but the texture may tend to be slightly mushy.

How To Make This Fresh Fruit Salad

Making a fruit salad with strawberries, cherries, orange slices, and kiwi is super easy and delicious. It’s perfect for a quick snack or a light dessert. Follow these simple steps to create a fresh and tasty fruit salad:

Step 1: Wash and Prep the Fruits. Wash the strawberries, cherries, and kiwi thoroughly. Remove the stems from the strawberries and cherries, and peel the kiwi.

A bowl with chopped strawberries, halved cherries, sliced mandarin oranges, and sliced kiwi.

Step 2: Slice and Dice. Slice the strawberries and cherries in half. Cut the kiwi into thin slices or cute shapes, and drain the orange segments. Use mini cookie cutters to create simple and adorable shapes for an even prettier presentation.

A hand squeezing a lime over the bowl of chopped and sliced fruit.

Then, Step 3: Mix the Fruits. In a large bowl, combine the strawberries, cherries, orange segments, and kiwi slices. Gently toss to mix them together with the lime juice. Use your choice of sweetener, if desired.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy. Serve the fruit salad immediately for the best taste and freshness. Enjoy it on its own or with a dollop of dairy-free yogurt or vegan whipped cream.

Three small serving bowls filled with tropical fruit salad.

How to Serve Up This Easy Fruit Salad

I love to find new ways of managing mini meals and dishing up desserts. To serve up a simple dish as something special is really magical. Here a few ideas to make your fruit salad flourish:

  • Beautiful Bowl – Nothing beats a gorgeous glass or pretty pottery bowl for presentation. Choose a contrasting color or neutral (white or black) for the most impressive background. You could even use the inside of a watermelon, pineapple, or other large melon or gourd!
  • Call On the Cups – For kids, using silicone baking cups is not only colorful and fun, but makes for super easy clean up. Just add a few tablespoons to each cup and off they go with a portable snack.
  • Grab a Garnish – Garnishes are usually for appearance only, but they can sometimes be a tasty treat. Mint leaves go really well with fruit and also freshen your breath at the same time. Also consider candied walnuts, whipped coconut cream, or coconut flakes.
  • Alluring Ambrosia – Turn your sweet tropical fruit salad into a delightful and decadent dessert! Add a half cup each of It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken’s vegan marshmallow fluff and Savanna Mehrad’s vegan sour cream to your salad. So delicious!
Summer Fruit Salad Recipe With Kiwi Strawberries Cherries and Mandarins

Fruit Salad FAQs

How long does fruit salad last in the fridge?

Sadly, fruit salad never stays fresh for long. However, there are a couple of ways that you can make it last a little longer. Drain any excess liquid that accumulates at the bottom of the bowl and then add a small splash of lime juice before storing. If you keep the fruit covered in the fridge, it should last about two to three days.

Can you freeze this fruit salad?

Any leftover fruit can also be frozen, but I would use the frozen fruit in a smoothie or smoothie bowl instead of defrosting it and eating it that way. In short, making a new batch of fruit salad (perhaps trying a new fruit combination?) is your best bet.

Can I make this tropical fruit salad ahead of time?

Yes, you sure can! Making this sweet fruit combination the day before is the best for timing. But, if you’re low on time and opportunity, it can be made two days before as well. Just make sure to add the lime juice (helps keep the fruit fresher longer), mix well, and store in a covered container in the fridge. Give it a quick stir before serving for the best flavor.

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Easy Tropical Fruit Salad

5 from 7 votes
Bring a little spring sunshine into your day with this easy tropical fruit salad. Quick to make, super versatile, and full of antioxidants. You’ll fall in love with its sweet, tart taste!
A serving platter of tropical fruit salad with chopped kiwi, mandarin slices, strawberries, and cherries tossed in a sweet and zesty dressing.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4 cups

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sliced strawberries, tops removed
  • 1 cup sweet cherries, pitted and cut in half
  • 1 cup chopped kiwi, about 2-3 kiwis
  • 1 can mandarin orange slices, preferably, in fruit juice, not syrup or 1 cup of fresh orange segments with pith removed.
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon your favorite sweetener or mandarin orange juice, maple syrup, brown sugar, agave, etc., optional

Instructions

  • Wash and dry all of the fruit, except the canned oranges.
  • As you prepare the fruit, you can add the pieces directly to the mixing bowl.
  • Peel the kiwi, cut into small chunks.
  • Open up the can of mandarin oranges and drain (you can keep the juice to add to the fruit salad instead of the lime juice and sweetener, if you wish). If using fresh oranges, follow this tutorial on how to get pith-free segments.
  • Take the top off of the strawberries and slice.
  • Pull the stems off the cherries, take out the pits, and slice in half.
  • Cut the lime in half and squeeze one tablespoon of the juice right into the bowl.
  • Stir the mixture well and taste.
  • For a sweeter fruit salad, add one tablespoon (or to your liking) of a natural sweetener. Mix again.
  • If not serving immediately, place the bowl covered in the fridge for up to a day or two. Before serving, let the fruit come to room temperature, if possible.

Notes

  • This recipe is very versatile! Substitute any fruits that you wish. Try to have a mix of two sweet fruits and two slightly sour fruits for the best flavor.
  • If you don’t want to add the lime juice or sweetener, feel free to leave them out. You can also use lemon or orange juice, as well.
  • This can be made with frozen fruit, if you don’t have a lot of time. Take the fruit out of the freezer the night before and place each fruit into its own bowl or covered container. The next day, measure out your fruit and mix it all up. You can either drain the extra juice or keep it for your fruit salad. It’s up to you. Keep in mind that your fruit salad will be softer and not as fresh looking if you use frozen, but it will still taste delicious.
  • Other fruits that would go well in this salad: apples, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, pineapple, or mango.

Nutrition

Calories: 85kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 317mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 892IU | Vitamin C: 81mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg
Course — Dessert
Cuisine — American
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5 from 7 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Recipe Rating




6 comments
  1. 5 stars
    Love the twist on the classic fruit salad!

  2. 5 stars
    This fruit salad is of my favorite ways to celebrate cherry season! Oh how I wish it was all year round.

  3. Beatriz Buono-Core says:

    5 stars
    OMG! This fruit salad looks amazing! So colorful 🙂

  4. 5 stars
    So happy to share my sweet and tart fruit salad recipe! I love to make this often during spring and summer (or really any time of year!) and the flavors really hit the spot. You could even add a scoop on top of ice cream or your morning oatmeal. Hope you find this recipe as delicious as I do!

  5. Andrea White says:

    5 stars
    Fruit salads are the best. Love the selection of this mix!

  6. 5 stars
    This looks so refreshing and perfect for summer! Yum!

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