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Creamy Fruit Salad is deliciously creamy, surprisingly light, and not too sweet. This is a very easy fruit salad recipe to make, with fruit cocktail and other tasty ingredients! This is our favorite Holiday and special occasion side salad recipe.
Originally Published 11/12/2018
Creamy Fruit Salad
This fruit salad recipe is rich, creamy, and has just the right amount of sweetness. I really like the simplicity of this recipe, and it can be jazzed up as you like with other add-ins.
This is a family recipe from my late husband’s side. When I first tasted it, I was surprised! I had never had a fruit salad like this before, and it was so creamy and had a savory hint to it.
Ingredients in this Fruit Salad Recipe
This delicious 4-ingredient salad is made with pantry staples like fruit cocktail and mandarin oranges, and made extra luscious with cream cheese and whipped topping.
Tips & Variations
- Use fruit in juice, not heavy syrup for a lighter version.
- Add mini marshmallows or shredded coconut for a more classic ambrosia-style fruit salad.
- Add in some chopped nuts, such as pecans for a nice crunch (add just before serving).
- Fresh pineapple chunks, halved grapes, or fresh strawberries make for a more customized mix.
- To make it even richer, fold in a spoonful of sour cream or vanilla yogurt with the cream cheese.
It is a wonderful Thanksgiving fruit salad recipe. With such a heavy meal, the lightness of this salad is so nice.
How to Make This Fruit Salad
- Add the cream cheese to a bowl and mix it until smooth and fluffy.
- Add the whipped topping and fold it in.
- Mix in the drained fruit.
- Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
Make Ahead
• You can make this fruit salad up to a day in advance. Keep it tightly covered in the fridge and give it a gentle stir before serving.
• Garnish right before serving.
Creamy Fruit Salad Storage Tips
- Refrigerate: Store the salad in an airtight container in the fridge. It should be refrigerated within 2 hours of serving.
- Shelf Life: Best enjoyed within 2–3 days. The texture may start to change after that as the fruit releases more juice and the creamy base thins out.
- Do Not Freeze: This salad doesn’t freeze well. The texture of the whipped topping and fruit becomes watery and grainy after thawing.
- Stir Before Serving: If stored overnight or longer, give it a gentle stir before serving to redistribute the cream and fruit.
It’s hard for me to decide if this is a dessert salad, or if it’s more of a side dish fruit salad. I tend to treat it as a side dish because it isn’t overly sweet.
This easy fruit salad goes with anything on the Thanksgiving, Holiday, or potluck table!
Here are a few more Fruit Desserts to try:
Fresh Plum Cake
Yogurt Parfait
Easy Apple Galette
Instant Pot Baked Apples
Fresh Fruit Pizza
Creamy Fruit Salad
Equipment
- Hand mixer
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cans Fruit Cocktail in Light Syrup, well drained
- 1 can Mandarin Oranges, well drained
- 1 (8 oz) block Cream Cheese, room temperature
- 1 (8 oz) tub Whipped Topping, thawed
- Maraschino Cherries, optional garnish
Instructions
- Drain the cans of fruit and let them sit in the strainer while you make the creamy dressing. The drier the fruit, the better.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until it is creamy and fluffy.
- Fold in the tub of whipped topping. Mix well.
- Add the fruit cocktail and ⅔ of the Mandarin oranges. Gently mix.
- Garnish with the extra slices of Mandarin oranges, and Maraschino cherries, if you have any.
- Chill at least 1 hour before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can I substitute the cream cheese with cottage cheese?
Yes you can, the thicker, the better. Maybe add the cottage cheese to a sieve and let it sit and drain a bit before adding to the salad. If you like it smoother, you can blend it. Lots of options!
This was the best fruit salad I have ever had! I’m bringing this to every family gathering!
Awesome! I’ll let Paul know how much you like his recipe! Thank you!