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Fall Fruit Salad Recipe: Easy Holiday Side with Pecans & Cranberries

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This cozy fall fruit salad combines crisp apples, mellow pears, juicy grapes, toasted pecans, and tart cranberries in a honey-citrus dressing. It’s a quick, festive side perfect for holidays or everyday comfort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 crisp apples, diced (Honeycrisp or Gala)
  • 2 ripe pears, diced (Bosc or Anjou)
  • 1 cup seedless grapes, halved (red or green)
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup toasted pecans, roughly chopped
  • 1 small orange, segmented and chopped (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Wash and dry all fruit thoroughly.
  2. Dice apples and pears into small, bite-sized pieces. Halve grapes. Segment and chop orange.
  3. Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden. Set aside to cool, then roughly chop.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, lemon juice, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until well combined.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, add diced apples, pears, halved grapes, chopped orange, and dried cranberries. Gently toss to mix.
  6. Sprinkle toasted, chopped pecans over the fruit and toss gently.
  7. Drizzle the honey-lemon dressing evenly over the salad and toss just until everything is coated.
  8. Optional: Cover and refrigerate for 15-30 minutes before serving to let flavors meld.
  9. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with extra pecans or cranberries.

Notes

Use firm, ripe fruit for best texture. Toasting pecans enhances flavor. Only toss with dressing right before serving to keep fruit crisp. For nut-free, substitute pumpkin or sunflower seeds. For vegan, swap honey for maple syrup. Seasonal fruit swaps are welcome.

Nutrition

Keywords: fall fruit salad, holiday side, pecans, cranberries, Thanksgiving, easy fruit salad, gluten-free, vegetarian, autumn salad, honey dressing

Find it online: https://atomicbite.com/fall-fruit-salad-recipe-easy-holiday-side-with-pecans-and-cranberries/