Ginger Honey Fall Fruit Salad

Fall Fruit Salad with Ginger, Honey and Lemon Syrup is a mildly sweet, not too citrus but still full of flavor winter fruit salad recipe that your entire family with love. Unlike our Hawaiian Cheesecake Salad recipe with cheesecake or our regular fruit salad with maple syrup, this fall fruit salad rides the line with one foot on the dessert tray and one foot on the side dish tray and is truly an “adult” fruit salad full of flavor.

Unlike a fruit cocktail that can be super sticky and sweet, this fruit salad balances fruits available in the winter time with the fall flavors of ginger.

And since preparation is as simple as cutting fruits and a short simple syrup,  this recipe is also an easy fruit salad that can be done quickly and is totally adjustable.

Fall Fruit Salad Recipe

I think its often hard to really consider fruit side dishes in the winter months.

In fact, so many fruits are actually unavailable so I have put together the perfect combination of available fresh fruit and canned fruits so you can still enjoy your favorites all winter long.

Combining produce available fruits like fresh Kiwi and Mango (I just bought some and its December so I know they are available) with year round canned fruits like pineapples and mandarin oranges, make a large colorful and flavorful fruit bowl that is awesome for your upcoming holiday menus.

This is a perfect fruit salad, and the ginger added makes the recipe a wonderful balance of the natural sweetness of your fruit with your honey, lemon, and ginger flavors.

To get the most out of your fruit salad, you should use fresh fruits when possible, but don’t stress too much if you have to use cans either!  I often find working with citrus fruits so much easier in cans so grab oranges and pineapples that way, even if fresh are out there.

Suggested Fruit Ingredients

• 1 can, 11 oz, mandarin oranges
• 1 can, 20 oz, pineapple chunks
• 1/2 pound fresh strawberries, sliced thin (more if you love them like I do!)
• 3 kiwi fruits, skins removed and sliced into rounds and then halves
• 1 mango, sliced into bite sized chunks

Ginger Honey Dressing

• 1/2 cup honey
• (SEE NOTE ABOUT GINGER) 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• juice of 1/2 fresh lemon (Translates to about 2 tablespoons of lemon if you use bottled lemon juice over fresh)

Optional Ingredients

• Mini Marshmallows
• Poppy seeds
• Mint sprigs

Equipment

• Lemon Squeezer
• Fruit Slicer
• Whisk
• Jelly Mason Jars

How to make Fall Fruit Salad

• Drain – To make your fruit salad you first want to drain your fruits and set aside in a bowl so they can mingle
• Create- Now make your fresh homemade honey and lemon dressing. Ginger is a strong spice, but I am a fan, so I include it. Start with just a bit and work your way up as it can really take over the recipe.
• Combine – Mix everything well together, soaking the fruits in the delicious and sweet coating
• Chill – Put in fridge so you can chill the salad and allow the flavors to work together for perfection.  Your fruit will produce plenty of juice once given a time to rest, so mix before serving.

Can I used Canned Fruit in Fruit Salad?

I think you can do anything you want when it comes to a recipe. The only issue with canned fruit is it can be really juicy and getting out all the liquids, which can be syrupy and sweet, can be pretty hard. Just make sure to drain well as your fruits let out their own juices as they sit in the bowl.

Other fruit choices that you can add:

• Starfruit
• Papaya
• Raspberries
• Seedless Watermelon
• Honey Dew
• Cantaloupe
• Banana (only add day of because it turns brown)
• Gauva
• Grapefruit

Can I substitute the honey?

Sure, you can substitute the honey!

There are other choices like maple syrup (which we use in this Fruit Salad), or feel free to try Agave. When you change out to different syrups or citrus (like Lime) you just change the flavoring. You would need to test out the levels to make sure you have the right balance.

Ground Ginger

Ginger is a really strong spice and absolutely makes this tropical salad unique. That being said, its not for everyone. The honey and lemon dressing is just fine on its own or you can lower the ginger to just a sprinkle and adjust more to your liking.

Serving a Fall Tropical Fruit Salad for a Crowd

Serve Tropical fruit salad to a crowd in mini mason jars, over yogurt or granola or even over vanilla pudding.

Fruit salad is also super fun with added marshmallows. It also doesn’t hurt to have a can of whipped cream or cool whip if you are serving tropical salad as a side dessert. Pretty much any time you have fruit, its special, so you can really up the special!

Apple a Day

Another great choice for this fruit salad is to add a green apple for color and tartness. I use an apple corer and slicer to cut apples quickly and I LOVE it. Its also made packing school lunches that much more tolerable.

More Easy Fruit Recipes

• Try these 20 Easy Side Dish Recipes!
• Fruit Salad with Cool Whip and Marshmallows
• Easy Fruit Salad Recipe
• Frog Eye Salad for a Crowd
• Easy Mandarin Salad