Easy Fruit Salad with Vanilla Extract
I love a fresh fruit salad! For spring and summer entertaining, make a spin on a regular fruit salad by adding vanilla, for this Easy Fruit Salad with Vanilla Extract recipe. It’s a party favorite, served for any meal. Change it up by adding whatever fresh fruit is in season with this amazing vanilla glaze!
One thing I love about Easter is pulling out traditional recipes, setting up a buffet, and inviting a group over for brunch or dinner. Whether we’re serving brunch or a ham dinner, this easy Vanilla Fruit Salad is unique because you add a vanilla extract dressing.
Easy Fruit Salad with Vanilla Extract
We started making this recipe years ago, and it’s a family favorite now. Who would have thought to add a tiny bit of vanilla glaze? It completely changes up the flavor of the salad–making it so light and fresh. And note–there is NO pudding in this recipe.
We’re also giving a few tips below on how to set up an Easter brunch.
Read more: Easy Fruit Salad with Vanilla Extract
Each year we do “Easter” differently–inviting new friends, changing it up with a different menu–and how we serve the food buffet-style versus a sit-down dinner. But with this salad – it’s not fancy, and it can be served for any style of entertaining.
Why I love this recipe
- Use fruit in season (vanilla goes with all fruit!)
- You can make it ahead and keep in the fridge.
- It makes a great potluck dish!
- Delicious served for Easter brunch (add to a buffet).
- There is NO pudding mix in this recipe (just a simple vanilla glaze).
Gather these ingredients
- Strawberries, halved
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Pineapple chunks
- Cantaloupe chunks
- Kiwis, peeled and sliced
- Confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar)
- Vanilla extract: use a good quality
How do you make an Easy Fruit Salad with Vanilla Extract?
- In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar and vanilla to make the glaze. Add a tad bit of water if needed. We use a small whisk to mix it well.
- Place the sliced fruit in a bowl and pour the sweet dressing on top. Gently mix together with a large spoon (or you can use your hands). You do not want to break up the fruit.
- Refrigerate 1 hour or until ready to serve.
Tips and substitutions:
- Use fruit in season. Think “holidays” when making this salad. For instance for Fourth of July, you can add watermelon and berries. It’s delicious with the extract. For easter, use melon, kiwi, berries. And for fall or winter you can add grapes, apples, oranges, bananans.
- Use raspberry or lemon extract in place of the vanilla. Give it a try!
- Serve in a glass parfait dish, or any large salad bowl.
- Also, optional to serve a salad board, or any kind of food board. This salad would be delicious in the middle of this Epic Hot Dog Board or Epic Sandwich Charcuterie Board.
Serve a fruit salad on a salad board
Our blog is full of “big board” recipes, and salad boards. This salad is great served in the middle of a board for burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and more. But you can also serve it on the side, as a side dish to a board, for instance, if you are serving a salad luncheon.
- Epic Cobb Salad Board
- Apple Wedge Salad Board Recipe
- Epic Shrimp Louis Salad Board (with dinner rolls)
How to set up an Easter buffet
Here are tips if you want to set up a buffet this year:
- Use your favorite dishes–mine are white. But if you have a variety of colors, mix and match the colors! Do you love Mackenzie-Childs Royal Check dishes or Mackenzie-Child Courtley Check pattern? (hand raised!)
- Depending on your counter or serving space, spread the different dishes out, or create a serving line where your guests can quickly fill their plates.
- You can stack books or turn serving bowls over to add height, but I use different sized pedestals to put serving bowls on.
- Each year, make it unique and different for the season! Make it your style, not someone else’s!
- Serve the food on a board!
A perfect spread is not what people are looking for. Good food? Hopefully. But remember, don’t worry if there’s a food goof-up. It happens to all of us (hand raised)! A good time? Love and authenticity? Yes, yes, and yes! Those are what really create a desirable atmosphere.
One thing we always serve for Easter brunch: a refreshing fruit salad!
And who says you can’t put your guests to work in the kitchen, especially in making a fresh fruit salad?
Today’s recipe I think you will love, especially with the hint of vanilla! ENJOY!
More delicioius Easter recipes to try:
- Crock Pot Ham
- Moist Buttermilk Whole Chicken with with Parsley Herb Salsa Potatoes
- Potato-Fennel Gratin Recipe
- Roasted Lemon Thyme Balsamic Marble Potatoes
- Layered Bacon Pea Salad Recipe
- Banana Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Lemon Truffle Cake [RecipeGirl]
Get the Recipe:
Easy Fruit Salad with Vanilla Extract
Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries, halved
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup fresh blackberries
- 1 cup fresh or canned pineapple chunks
- 1 cup cantaloupe chunks
- 2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
Make the vanilla dressing:
- ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Add a tad bit of water if needed. Use a small whisk to combine.
- Place the sliced fruit in a large bowl and pour the sweet dressing on top. Gently mix together with a large spoon (to not break up the fruit).
- Refrigerate 1 hour or until ready to serve.
- Optional to add fresh chopped basil or mint (or for garnish).
Notes
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
