Creamy Vanilla Fruit Salad

Creamy Vanilla Fruit Salad

This Creamy Vanilla Fruit Salad is a colorful, refreshing dessert filled with juicy fresh fruit and a smooth vanilla cream. It’s an easy-to-prepare-at-home recipe from deesviral that works beautifully for summer gatherings, potlucks, holidays, or a simple family dessert.

Ingredients

2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
2 cups seedless grapes, red and green
2 kiwis, peeled and chopped
1 cup pineapple chunks, well drained
1 cup mandarin orange segments, drained
1 cup mango or peaches, diced
1 medium banana, sliced
1/2 cup shredded white chocolate or sweetened coconut, for topping

For the Vanilla Cream

1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 1/2 cups cold whole milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preparation Steps

1. Wash the strawberries, grapes, and other fresh fruit thoroughly. Pat everything dry before cutting. Removing excess moisture helps keep the finished salad thick and creamy.
2. Hull and slice the strawberries. Cut the grapes in half if desired, peel and chop the kiwi, and dice the mango or peaches into bite-size pieces.
3. Drain the pineapple and mandarin oranges very well. Set all of the prepared fruit aside while making the vanilla cream.
4. Place the softened cream cheese in a large mixing bowl and beat until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, then continue mixing until creamy and free of lumps.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk the instant vanilla pudding mix with the cold milk for about 2 minutes, or until it begins to thicken.
6. Slowly blend the prepared vanilla pudding into the cream cheese mixture until completely smooth.
7. Whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Gently fold it into the vanilla mixture to create a light, fluffy cream.
8. Add the strawberries, grapes, kiwi, pineapple, mandarin oranges, and mango to a large serving bowl. Gently fold in the vanilla cream until the fruit is evenly coated.
9. Add the banana last so it stays fresh and does not become overly soft. Fold it into the salad carefully.
10. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Chilling gives the cream time to set and allows the flavors to come together.
11. Just before serving, garnish the top with a few reserved pieces of colorful fruit and sprinkle with shredded white chocolate or coconut.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this fruit salad well chilled. It makes a beautiful dessert for cookouts, birthday parties, family gatherings, Easter, Mother’s Day, or any occasion that calls for something creamy and fruity.

For an elegant presentation, serve it in a large clear glass bowl so the colorful pieces of fruit can be seen throughout the vanilla cream.

Storage

Cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days. The salad is best during the first day because the fresh fruit remains firm and colorful. Avoid freezing, as thawing can make both the fruit and cream watery.

Sweet, creamy, colorful, and packed with fresh fruit, this Creamy Vanilla Fruit Salad is a simple homemade treat that looks just as inviting as it tastes.