5 from 1 votes

Fresh Berry Fruit Salad

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Summer is coming, and with that comes all the poolside, BBQ, and beach get-togethers. Whether you are preparing for your kids to be home for summer vacation or getting ready for the first holiday of the season (Mother’s Day!), this mixed berry salad is a family favorite.

large bowl of fruit with a wooden spoon.

Prep Dressing First

Before starting the fruit salad, you will need to create the raspberry vinaigrette.

Our homemade dressing is a light, summery, and fresh homemade vinaigrette with a great ratio between the berries and the oil. It is perfect for smothering the berries but keeping it from being too similar to a traditional salad with spinach leaves.

You can see all the amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post. Once you have all the ingredients prepped, move on to creating your berry-only fruit salad.

a mason jar of homemade dressing.

Fresh Ingredients: 

  • fresh strawberries, tops removed and cut into quarters
  • fresh blueberries
  • fresh raspberries
  • fresh blackberries
  • granulated sugar (optional)
  • raspberry vinaigrette
  • chopped fresh mint leaves
berries in measuring cups.

While we used colorful berries only in our salad, if you want to add additional fruits, we recommend seedless green or purple grapes.

Just make sure to quarter them, as many grapes left large are a choking hazard. You can also add champagne grapes, which are much smaller and typically do not need to be cut (use your judgment).

How to make Summer Berry Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette

  1. Mix together strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and sugar.
  2. Drizzle homemade dressing over the fruit and mix well.
  3. Let stand for 10 minutes.
  4. Stir and top with chopped fresh mint leaves before serving. 
collage with four images of assembling berry salad and vinaigrette

Options for garnish: If you want to make this fruit salad recipe look fancier, the additions are pretty easy. Add some candied walnuts or pecans, a little bit of fresh lemon zest grated on top, or swap out the mint leaves for basil instead.

Another slightly more creative option is to use edible flowers. Edible flowers can be eaten, but make no mistake – they do not taste good.

However, they do look beautiful as extra special decor and are food-safe if you are looking to impress at the table.

You can find several options on Amazon, but we like these.

How to Cut Strawberries into Quarters

One thing I love about this salad is that it requires very little prep. The only fruit you really need to cut is the strawberries.

  1. Begin by washing the strawberries under cold water to remove any dirt. Pat them dry.
  2. Use a small knife to slice off the tops of each strawberry.
  3. Place the strawberry on a cutting board with the flat side down (where the top was removed). Slice the strawberry vertically down the center to create two equal halves. Take each half and place it flat side down on the cutting board. Slice it again vertically to end up with four equal pieces.
quartered strawberries in a bowl.

More Incredible Summer Fruit Salad Recipes

It’s easy to get into a salad rut and serve the same old thing time and time again. I’m guilty of it; we all are.

While ambrosia salad is usually a huge hit, mix it up this season and try one of our other delicious and easy fruit salad recipes to find your favorite.

5 from 1 votes

Mixed Berry Fruit Salad


Prep Time 10 minutes
Summer Berry salad with fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries paired with a homemade raspberry vinaigrette.

Ingredients
 

For the Fruit Salad:

  • 1 cup fresh strawberries tops removed and quartered
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries
  • 1 cup fresh raspberries
  • 1 cup fresh blackberries
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar optional
  • Chopped fresh mint leaves for garnish

For the Raspberry Vinaigrette:

  • 1 cup fresh raspberries
  • 2/3 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Prepare the Vinaigrette:

  • In a food processor, combine 1 cup fresh raspberries, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, granulated sugar, honey, and salt.
  • Process for 10 seconds until the mixture is smooth.
  • Transfer to a container. Use immediately or cover and refrigerate. Shake well before using.

Assemble the Summer Salad:

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and granulated sugar (if using).
  • Drizzle the raspberry vinaigrette over the mixed berries and toss gently to coat evenly. You can use as little or as much as you want or simply serve on the side so everyone can add their own.
  • Let the fruit stand for 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
  • Just before serving, stir and garnish with chopped fresh mint leaves.

Notes

While berry salad fruits tend to do better in the summer sun on the beach or at a picnic, keeping your salad cool will keep it fresh longer and make it taste better. Here are a few suggestions: 
  • If you’re serving fruit salad outdoors, keep it in a cooler filled with ice or ice packs. 
  • Put a serving bowl inside another bowl of ice. 
  • Chill the serving bowl itself before adding the fruit. 
  • Keep the main bowl in the fridge and serve smaller portions, refilling as needed. 
See full article for topping and alternative fruit variations.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 180kcal

Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.

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