Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (2024)

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What is Fruit Salad? What is the secret ingredient in this fruit salad? What fruits don’t go together in fruit salad? Can I use other pie fillings? What fruit can you cut the night before? Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad Ingredients Instructions Related Posts Hey, y’all! I’m Stacey… Reader Interactions Rate & Comment Comments FAQs References

Stacey – 93 Comments

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The perfect summer fruit salad with a surprise, secret ingredient. This delicious fruit salad is easy to make, delicious, and so refreshing.

Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (1)

The bright colors of a fruit salad are perfect any time of the year, so I love having a great fruit salad recipe at the ready. And while most fruit salads don’t really need a recipe, it’s always nice to have one to get the quantities of fruit right.

This Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad has been a family favorite ever since my sister-in-law introduced it to us quite a few years ago. It’s easy, quick, and affordable – because some fruit salads can cost a small fortune in fruit.

This fruit salad simply calls for blueberries, strawberries, green seedless grapes and that secret ingredient. (We’ll get to that big secret here in a sec…)

Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (2)

What is Fruit Salad?

Fruit salad is a dish typically made of a combination of various fresh fruits as a dessert, appetizer, or side dish. Not all fruit salads are the same but most commonly feature fresh fruits like grapes, blueberries, strawberries, apple slices, and pineapple slices. A refreshing and cold dish, fruit salad traditionally is mixed with honey, a yogurt-based dressing, or pie/fruit filling. It may be served on its own or over ice cream, yogurt, and pancakes or waffles. Fruit salad is a popular dish during the hot summer months at potlucks, parties, and picnics.

Fruit salad is beautiful, vibrant, and relatively affordable because of the ingredients. Other less common ingredients are raspberries, bananas, kiwi, and blackberries. Most recommend refraining from including apples and bananas because they can brown and darken the vibrancy of fruit salad! Enjoy!

Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (3)

What is the secret ingredient in this fruit salad?

Okay. I’ll let you in on the secret… Every fruit salad needs a great dressing, right? It adds a pop of flavor and a little sweetness to fruit that might not be at its peak. It also helps to pull it all together.

So what does that in this recipe? Simple. A can of peach pie filling. Seriously. The pie filling not only adds some delicious peaches (already peeled and sliced I might add), it also works perfectly as the sauce to make this simple salad sing!

I know! I was just as surprised the first time I had it, too! But it works beautifully and tastes amazing!

Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (4)

What fruits don’t go together in fruit salad?

While, I don’t like to tell people what they can’t put in their fruit salad, there are a few fruits, I would suggest you refrain from using. Truth is, some fruits are generally considered less suitable for fruit salads due to their texture, flavor, or tendency to overpower other fruits. Here are a few fruits I recommend you avoid using in your fruit salad:

Citrus fruits,likesoranges and grapefruits: Citrus fruits with membranes can make the texture of the fruit salad less appealing. It’s just not a texture I think goes well in a fruit salad.

Very ripe bananas: While I love a banana, ripe bananas can cause a mushy mess in a fruit salad. They can also turn brown and make it just look less pretty. And, you want a pretty fruit salad, am I right?!

Melons, like watermelon and cantaloupe: Now, don’t come at me! I love watermelon and cantaloupe. The issue here is that they have a high water content. This leads to the release of excess moisture, making the salad watery and diluted.

Can I use other pie fillings?

I often get asked about using other pie fillings and while I think they’d taste great, a blueberry or strawberry pie filling is going to turn the whole dish a different color because of the colored filling. Since the peach is relatively clear, you get to see all the pretty fruit colors through. And while apple would be pretty clear too, it’s going to have cinnamon in it, and that might not be the best flavor to add to your fruit salad.

What fruit can you cut the night before?

If you are following this exact recipe, then you can cut the strawberries the night before. You could even cut up the grapes. I don’t recommend cutting up blueberries. I really don’t know why you would want to, but also because they can get a little mushy when cut.

Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (5)

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5 from 43 votes

Recipe Card

Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad

Course Dessert, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 1 pint blueberries, about 2 cups
  • 1 lb strawberries
  • 1 lb seedless green grapes, about 3 cups
  • 1 (21-ounce) can peach pie filling

Instructions

  • Wash the fruit well and place it on paper towels to dry completely. Hull and slice the strawberries. Combine the fruit in a large bowl and pour the peach pie filling over. Stir gently to combine. Refrigerate for about an hour. Serve chilled.

* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.

Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (6)

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Reader Interactions

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Comments

  2. Jane

    I was a little disappointed in this recipe due to the peach pie filling not having many peaches in it. It added too much of the sweet filling & not enough peaches to the salad. What brand peach pie filling did you use? I used Duncan Hines Simply peach pie filling.

    Reply

    • Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (17)Stacey

      Unfortunately, I can’t control that. I have found that to be the case with some brands, though. I normally use the Comstock brand because that’s usually all I can find locally.

  8. Karen Boehlert

    Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (24)
    I have been making this for quite some time. It is delicious and a definite “keeper”

    Reply

  9. Sylvia

    Sounds wonderful and I hope to try it soon.
    By the way, I live in Monroeville and I want you to know that you did a great job on GGG. You should have won in my opinion. We were having some bad weather that night and weather alerts kept knowing the show off. Just as they were going to announce the winner, an alert knocked the show off. I was so glad that I had recorded it for later that night and I was able to watch the ending the next day. Hopefully you’ll be invited back one day and I know you would be the big winner.

    Reply

  10. Stella Burton

    Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (27)
    I’ve made this in the past, and it is outstanding! Thanks for the reminder; I believe I will make it again, to go with our July 4th barbecue. 😀

    Reply

  11. Betty

    My mom made this a lot. She used a can of maAdrian oranges and bananas will not turn in this salad Also put red cherries in it

    Reply

    • Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (29)Stacey

      Hmmm… I’m glad to hear she didn’t have trouble with them turning. Might want to eat it quickly after making if adding the bananas. I’ve not had much success keeping them from turning.

  12. Kelly Ronk

    Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (30)
    I’ve made this salad twice now for family get togethers. It was a big hit! When people ask what the glaze is, they can’t believe it’s that simple.
    Simply delicious!

    Reply

  13. Carolyn LeBrun

    Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (32)
    This so Good! A suggestion for individual servings, spoon it over a glazed donut, then top with whip cream. Voila! Fruit Salad Shortcake!

    Reply

  14. Marjorie Lohr

    Do you think watermellon would be good to add also. they are so sweet this year.

    Reply

  15. Aly

    Can you use frozen fruit instead of fresh…there isn’t much fresh fruit in season right now

    Reply

  16. Debe Savage

    This has been our family fruit salad for years now! Sometimes just before I serve it I
    will add a banana especially if I’m pretty sure there will not be any leftover.

    Reply

  17. Brenda

    I never thought about peach pie filling. Good to know. I will use the juice or light syrup from canned mandarin oranges.

    Reply

  21. Teresa Barronton

    I made this today for a family get together! It was the hit of the day! Will make very often this summer Thank you!

    Reply

  22. Nancy Ruth

    I made this for an extended family event and it was an instant hit! I doubled the ingredients as it was a larger crowd and every spoonful was eaten! I used a combination of blueberries and blackberries which was a nice addition to the mix. I will make this again!

    Reply

  23. Mar mur

    Has any one ever used cherry pie filling or apple pie filling just to change flavor once in awhile

    Reply

  24. Deneen

    Is this peach pie filling ? Or canned peaches. I can’t find pie filling in my stores.

    Reply

  25. Carol Johnston

    Haven’t tried yet, but it looks very appealing. I just have a question about cinnamon. NMHO, I think there is very little that cinnamon can’t be used with. To me it enhances the flavor of whatever it is used with.

    Reply

  28. Jane McLaughlin

    Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (48)
    BEST EVER FRIUT SALAD! PEACH PIE FILLING WAS A LITTLE HARD TO FIND BUT WELL WORTH IT! DID NOT DISAPPOINT!

    Reply

  30. Brenda

    I have been looking for a fruit salad recipe to switch out with the one I have made for year’s. I think this one sound’s and look’s Perfectly Splendid.
    Thank you

    Reply

  31. Reese

    Sounds great, but actually cinnamon and honey gives the fruit salad an excellent taste too. I never thought of peach pie filling….sounds amazing.

    Reply

  32. Debby

    Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (55)
    One of my aunts used to make this, and I always thought it was so good! Thank you for reminding me with this delicious memory!

    Reply

  33. Kimberly

    Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (57)
    Hi, Stacey!!
    We like to add a splash (or three) of Amaretto or rum and serve this over toasted slices of pound cake for dessert…of course, a plop of freshly whipped cream on top, too. It is soo good!

    Reply

  35. Beverly Blissitt

    I made this fruit salad for a dessert course when we had friends over for dinner. It was a hit. Thanks for a super easy and tasty fruit salad recipe.

    Reply

  37. Kathy

    We love this fruit salad! We stretch it even further by starting with two cans of drained fruit co*cktail with the peach pie filling. We then add strawberries, grapes, blueberries, etc. My grandkids love it!!!

    Reply

  38. Linda

    We have used this recipe for fruit salads at my church for years. It is amazing how big a salad you can make with just one can of the pie filling. We use either peach or apricot. One of the best things is you can use bananas or apples and the pie filling coats them so they don’t turn brown as quickly.

    Reply

  39. Sherry

    Peach pie filling is also used in what we call “stained glass fruit salad”. We use bananas, strawberries, pineapple chunks and any other fruit you like. It is at almost every church dinner! Sooo good!

    Reply

  40. Vanessa

    How many ounces were those dishes in the picture? And how many dishes did you fill with this recipes or how many does this recipes serve?

    Reply

  42. Ivy Davis

    Hi Stacey,
    My family has loved this recipe for years, but some couldn’t eat it because they were diabetic.
    I came up with a low sugar alternative I wanted to share.
    Take a jar of the Simply Fruit Jam and mix with a drained can of no-sugar added sliced peaches.
    Mix well and then add fresh fruit as directed. Taste like the original recipe without the sugar.

    Love your recipes!!

    Reply

  44. Mimi

    This is my “go to” fruit recipe, I used it this week when I took breakfast to a family who had lost a loved one. I freeze it and use it for tailgating at AU, War Eagle:) It stays in the frig when my children and grandchildren come to visit… etc. etc etc!

    Reply

  46. Claudine

    Now this is what I call plumb larrapin!! It is easy and with the fesh fruit coming into season everything is easy to get. Thanks for the easy recipe.
    Claudine in Fort Worth, TX

    Reply

Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad (2024)

FAQs

What not to put in a fruit salad? ›

It should not contain EITHER apple or banana (although an apple-only salad would be fine)(I hate bananas). Here's the thing – when you add banana to a fruit salad, everything just ends up tasting like different textures of banana. And apple is way too texturally different to all the other fruits.

Explore More ›
What ingredient could you add to a fruit salad to keep the fruit from oxidizing? ›

This is known as enzymatic browning. Keep cut fruits, such as apples, pears, bananas, and peaches from turning brown by: Coating them with an acidic juice such as lemon, orange, or pineapple juice.

View Details ›
How to level up a fruit salad? ›

Add extra flavor

You can do this in several ways. For even coverage and a boost of sweetness, use a simple syrup flavored with herbs or citrus zest/peel. Bring equal parts of water and sugar to a boil, cook until the sugar has dissolved, and then remove from the heat. Add your herbs or citrus to steep for half an hour.

Continue Reading ›
What are the rules for fruit salad? ›

In the simplest form of the game, each person is assigned a fruit name: apple, orange, pear, banana, etc. 3. The player in the middle calls out the name of one of the chosen fruits, and each person assigned to that fruit jumps up and rushes around like a headless chicken trying to find an empty seat to sit in.

Read On ›
What is a creamy fruit salad made of? ›

Mix pineapple juice and dry instant vanilla pudding together and set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Mix the pineapple, fruit co*cktail, mandarin oranges, bananas & marshmallows together. Gently fold in pudding mixture. Lastly, fold in cool whip.

Get More Info ›
What does lemon juice do to fruit? ›

To prevent the effects of oxidation, fruit needs citric acid, and lemons are full of it. As a natural antioxidant, lemon juice can help prolong the life of fruit salad (as well as its visual appeal) by inactivating the enzyme polyphenol oxidase, which is responsible for the browning.

Learn More ›
How to stop bananas from going brown in fruit salad? ›

To keep bananas in a fruit salad from turning brown, squeeze the juice of an orange, lemon or lime into a bowl and then slice the banana right into it. Stir gently to coat all sides, and remove the banana slices with a slotted spoon just before adding to your salad.

See Details ›
What to put on fruit to make it taste better? ›

Macerate with lemon juice and sugar

Together, lemon juice and sugar are a pair that takes the concept of "fruit enhancement" to an entirely new level. The acid in lemon juice brightens the natural flavors of fruit and prevents oxidation, which makes fruits like apples and bananas go brown after being cut.

Read The Full Story ›
How do you take the bitterness out of fruit salad? ›

Salt and lemon juice also help a great deal, if you can't eat much salt use a bit more of the lemon.

Read The Full Story ›
How do you keep fruit salad from getting watery? ›

The acidity in the lemon and the orange will keep the fruit from turning brown and keep it crisp and refreshing. This will also concentrate the juice and give it a thicker, syrupy consistency, instead of a thin, watery consistency.

Explore More ›

What makes fruit salad last longer? ›

How to keep fruit salad fresh: 7 food preservation techniques that (actually) work
  1. Use citrus juice, like orange or lemon juice. One of the best fruit salad ingredient secrets, coming right up. ...
  2. Keep it covered. ...
  3. Always refrigerate it. ...
  4. Use sturdy fruits. ...
  5. Reduce chopping. ...
  6. Utilize vacuum sealing. ...
  7. Give the fruit a water bath.
Oct 2, 2023

View Details ›
Is it OK to cut up fruit the night before? ›

Most fruits will last about five days after being sliced (some vegetables a few days longer) as long as you follow a few rules: store them in an airtight container and always refrigerate cut produce. Fruits like apples, pears, bananas and avocados are not the best candidates for slicing ahead of time since they brown ...

Discover More Details ›
What fruits should you not put together in a fruit bowl? ›

Avoid mixing your watermelons, muskmelons, cantaloupe and honeydews with other fruits. Try not to mix acidic fruits, such as grapefruits and strawberries, or sub-acidic foods such as apples, pomegranates and peaches, with sweet fruits, such as bananas and raisins for a better digestion.

Discover More Details ›
What fruits do not go in fruit salad? ›

Fruit salad is beautiful, vibrant, and relatively affordable because of the ingredients. Other less common ingredients are raspberries, bananas, kiwi, and blackberries. Most recommend refraining from including apples and bananas because they can brown and darken the vibrancy of fruit salad!

View Details ›
What fruits don't go together in a fruit salad? ›

And some textures and flavors just don't go together. Those little blackberry drupelets are just going to be popped and generally destroyed by filler honeydew. Pineapple juice is going to make grapes slimy. Kiwi and cantaloupe that sit out together are going to start to taste muddy.

View More ›
What fruit should not be in a fruit bowl? ›

The fruits that produce ethylene, including peaches, bananas, apples, and honeydew melons shouldn't be kept in the same place as avocados, grapes, lemons, onions and other fruit and vegetables intolerant to this chemical.

Know More ›

References

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