Nothing says "summer celebration" quite like a vibrant, colorful fruit salad. This recipe for a Patriotic Red, White, and Blue Fruit Salad is not only a healthy and refreshing addition to any party table, but it’s also a stunning visual tribute to a festive theme. It's a simple, no-fuss dessert that's perfect for a barbecue, a picnic, or any gathering where you want to serve something fresh and delicious.

The beauty of this salad lies in its simplicity. It relies on the natural sweetness of ripe, in-season fruit to create a dish that is both light and satisfying. With a simple, zesty dressing that enhances the flavors without weighing them down, this salad is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for all ages.

Patriotic Red, White, and Blue Fruit Salad

For Your Summer Party

Yields: 6-8 servings

Prep time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • For the Fruit:

    • 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced

    • 2 cups blueberries1

    • 2 cups raspberries

    • 2 ripe bananas, sliced2

    • 2 apples, cored and diced

  • For the Dressing:

    • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice

    • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup

  • Optional Garnish:

    • Fresh mint leaves

Instructions

1. Prepare the Fruit

  1. Wash and Dry: Gently wash all the fruit and pat it completely dry. This is important to prevent the salad from becoming watery.

  2. Chop: Slice the strawberries, and dice the apples.

  3. Prevent Browning: Place the sliced bananas and diced apples in a medium bowl. Squeeze the lemon or lime juice over them immediately and toss to coat. The acid in the citrus juice will prevent the fruit from browning.3

2. Assemble the Salad

  1. In a large bowl, add the prepared strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and the coated bananas and apples.

  2. Drizzle the honey or maple syrup over the fruit.

  3. Gently toss everything together until the fruit is well combined and lightly coated in the dressing.

3. Serve

  • Serve the fruit salad immediately for the freshest taste.

  • For a beautiful presentation, you can arrange the fruit in rows in a large, clear glass serving bowl, or in a decorative pattern on a platter.

  • Garnish with fresh mint leaves for a final touch of color and freshness.

Pro-Tips for a Perfect Fruit Salad

  • Use Ripe, In-Season Fruit: The flavor of this salad depends on the sweetness of the fruit. Use fresh, ripe fruit for the best results.

  • Prep Just Before Serving: To keep the salad looking its best, prepare and assemble it no more than 1-2 hours before serving. This prevents the fruit from getting mushy.

  • A Simple Dressing is Best: The citrus and honey dressing is light and allows the fruit's natural sweetness to be the star.

  • Customize It! You can easily swap out fruits to your liking. Try adding seedless red grapes for more red, or a few white chunks of dragon fruit for a striking white element.

  • Make it a Dessert: Serve the fruit salad with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a more decadent treat.

  • Keep it Cool: To keep the salad fresh during a party, place the serving bowl over a larger bowl filled with ice.