This Thanksgiving Fruit Salad is the perfect fruit side dish for thanksgiving. It’s a fluffy, creamy, crowd-pleaser that’s welcomed at any holiday meal.
Looking for a fruit side dish for the big feast? You’re in the right place! This fruit salad is EASY-to-make from scratch with no Jell-O or Cool-Whip in sight.
(PS – It’s my kids favorite part of Thanksgiving!)
To me Thanksgiving is all about the sides and the side line-up wouldn’t be complete without a creamy, fruit salad.
This thanksgiving fruit salad is my favorite combination – with sweet chunks of pineapple, mandarin oranges, cherries, grapes and bananas.
It is a crowd-pleaser and always one of the first dishes to go at any get-together!
You also might like this easter fruit salad or 4th of july fruit salad!
Why You’ll LOVE fruit salad for a Thanksgiving side!
- Make-ahead dish
- Perfect balance of sweet and tart
- Creamy
- Kid-approved
- Best way to add a fruit side to your spread!
For more Thanksgiving sides, try this gluten-free sweet potato casserole, this gluten-free stuffing or this gluten-free cornbread stuffing. You also might like this full collection of gluten-free thanksgiving desserts.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Pineapple Custard: This recipe includes an easy, homemade custard made with pineapple juice from the canned pineapple.
- Whipped cream: Use the real deal! This is a no cool-whip fruit salad.
- Cherries: You want to use jarred or canned cherries packed in juice. You don’t want cherry pie filling or cherry topping. Royal Anne cherries are best if you can find them!
- Apples/Banana: Save these two to add right before you serve the salad so they don’t get brown.
How to Make It
- In the bowl of a double boiler, combine the pineapple juice, lemon juice, sugar, egg yolks, cornstarch and butter.
- Set over a double boiler and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon. This usually takes 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool before adding to the fruit salad.
- Combine all the ingredients except the whipped cream and bananas. Fold in the cooled pineapple custard and whipped cream.
- Refrigerate overnight.
Before serving you’ll add the apples and banana. This way they’ll stay fresh and not brown.
Tips for Making Thanksgiving Fruit Salad
- What makes this salad especially special is the addition of marshmallows that get soft and sponge-like as the salad sits overnight. Be sure to let it sit for at least 6 hours.
- Use the right kind of cherries! You want jarred or canned cherries packed in thin, liquid juice. Do not use cherry pie filling or topping.
- This fruit salad is incredibly versatile! You can use any fruit you have on hand. I also sometimes like to add 1/2 cup shredded coconut.
More Thanksgiving Recipes
If you try this recipe be sure to leave me a comment/rating below! I’d also be happy to help with any questions. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Fruit Salad
Video
Ingredients
For the Pineapple Custard:
- 3 tablespoons pineapple juice from the can of Dole Pineapple Chunks
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon butter
For the Fruit Salad:
- 20 oz pineapple tidbits drained (save 3 tablespoons for the pineapple custard)
- 1 cup jarred cherries drained (not cherry pie filling or topping)
- 15 oz mandarin oranges drained
- 1 cup grapes
- 2 cups marshmallows mini or large (halved if using large)
- 1 cup whipped cream beat into firm peaks
- 2 bananas sliced
- 1 green apple diced
Instructions
For the Pineapple Custard:
- In the bowl of a double boiler, combine the pineapple juice, lemon juice, sugar, egg yolks, cornstarch and butter.
- Set over a double boiler and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon. This usually takes 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool before adding to the fruit salad.
For the Fruit Salad:
- Combine all the ingredients except the whipped cream and bananas. Fold in the cooled pineapple custard and whipped cream.
- Refrigerate overnight or at least 6 hours. Add the sliced bananas and apples just before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- What makes this salad especially special is the addition of marshmallows that get soft and sponge-like as the salad sits overnight. Be sure to let it sit for at least 6 hours.
- Use the right kind of cherries! You want jarred or canned cherries packed in thin, liquid juice. Do not use cherry pie filling or topping.
- This fruit salad is incredibly versatile! You can use any fruit you have on hand. I also sometimes like to add 1/2 cup shredded coconut.
Thank you, I was trying to remember all ingredients on what I would call a good Southern Fruit Salad. Which you helped
I personally would not use pineapple custard, or marshmallows. I would add the coconut but also some crushed pecans. But again thanks you have me back on track
How do you make the egg mixture if you don’t have a double boiler? Is there a way? I have made a fruit salad like this before and it was amazing. Thank you.
Yes! I place a glass pyrex bowl over a pot of boiling water. You don’t want it to touch the boiling water. I hope this helps!
What do you mean strain the pineapple custard? Is there chunks after heating?
I was asked to make a fruit salad for Thanksgiving this year. This recipe sounds good.
You just strain the custard so there aren’t any pieces of egg after cooking the custard. You don’t have to do this step though. Hope that makes sense!
I am so excited to make this and take it to Thanksgiving this year. My beloved aunt, who passed away this year, always made a fruit salad with fruit cocktail, Cool Whip, and marshmallows. I will bring this recipe in honor of her. ❤️
My condolences to you and your family. I’m so honored you’re making this fruit salad to remember her – so sweet!
I’m definitely going to make this for our Thanksgiving meal. One question I have. Can you use fresh cherries instead of canned cherries? Of course I would remove the pits and probably cut them in half.
The crowd loves this salad! I brought this to our family gathering and I’m glad I got positive comments from them. Highly recommended!
This is my daughter’s favorite recipe ever! There is never a week where she is not asking when is the next time we get to have it.
Do you cut the grapes in half? Or leave whole?
I cut the grapes in half 🙂
Can you use maraschino cherries?
Yes those will work great!
Could I make this dairy free also?
Yes! You can use cocowhip in place of the whipped cream mixture. It turns out great!
What can I use to replace the cherries. My family dislikes them.
You can simply leave them out! There’s enough to the other fruit that you don’t need them.
So do you drain the canned fruit or not? You said to drain the cherries, but nothing about the other fruit!
Yes you drain all the fruit! Sorry for the confusion.
This looks amazing! Can you make the custard in advance?
I love fruit salad. It’s like healthy treat that is a perfect compliment to any meal! Canned fruit is the best- makes it so easy!
This looks SO good! I could definitely eat my fruit every day if I had this on hand. Beautiful photography, too
I was looking for a sweet and juicy fruit salad with marshmallows for my 4 boys. We all loved it and will make it for every holiday from now on! Thank you so much for this recipe!!!!! PS: My husband insisted on some extra slices of green apple!
Green apples sounds like a delicious addition! So glad you all liked it!
Can u ad walnuts
Yes you can definitely add walnuts!
This looks so good! I can’t find canned cherries, what would be a good sub for them?
I think I might have to make this. I enjoy your posts, Erin.
It sounds amazing, should I make homemade whipped cream or store bought?
You can use either one! I use homemade so it isn’t too sweet. Store bought often has extra sugar added.