Easy Fruit Salad Made With Winter Fruit

This easy winter fruit salad combines fresh seasonal fruit with a squeeze of lime. Serve it for holiday brunch or prep it for easy breakfasts all week.

I make a batch of fruit salad almost every week. It’s an easy, fiber-filled and hydrating way to add something sweet to breakfast or snack prep, but it’s also pretty enough to serve when you’re hosting brunch. I used to be someone who demonized fruit because of the sugar, but these days? It’s literally nature’s candy, and I’m here for it.

For weekday grab-and-go breakfasts, I’ll serve this winter fruit salad alongside chia seed pudding or layer it into my winter yogurt parfaits with Greek yogurt and honey. If I’m hosting a holiday brunch, it’s the fresh, colorful side I want next to something savory like my sausage brunch bake or egg cups.

ingredients to make winter fruit salad

I make some version of this fruit salad almost every week from October through February, so I stick with fruits that are in season, easy to find and typically more affordable during the cooler months. Apples, pears, citrus and kiwi also hold up well once chopped, which makes this combination especially good for meal prep. There’s no added sugar or dressing; just a squeeze of fresh lime juice to brighten everything up and bring the flavors together.

• Apples: Use two crisp red apples for sweetness and crunch. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady or Gala all work well here. I leave the peel on for extra texture and color.
• Pears: Choose pears that are ripe but still firm so they hold their shape once chopped. Bartlett, Bosc or Anjou pears are all good options.
• Kiwi: Adds a little tartness and that bright green color that makes this salad especially pretty for a holiday brunch.
• Mandarin oranges: I use three small mandarins, like Cuties. They’re easy to peel, naturally sweet and especially good during citrus season.
• Pomegranate seeds: You’ll need about 1/4–1/2 cup, depending on how much you like. They add a juicy pop, a little crunch and gorgeous color.
• Fresh lime juice: The juice of one lime brightens all of the fruit and helps keep the chopped apples and pears from browning as quickly.

Ingredient Swaps

• Other winter fruit: Use what looks good and is affordable where you shop. Grapes, grapefruit, blood oranges and persimmons can all work well in this salad. I usually skip berries during the winter when they’re out of season and more expensive.
• Pomegranate: You can absolutely make this winter fruit salad without pomegranate seeds. I love the pop of color and crunch they add, but they’re not essential—especially if they’re expensive or hard to find.
• Lime juice: Fresh lime juice gives this simple fruit salad the best flavor, but bottled lime juice will work in a pinch.

Can I Make Winter Fruit Salad Ahead of Time?

Yes! This is one of my favorite fruit salads for meal prep because the fruit holds up well once chopped. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The lime juice helps slow down browning of the apples and pears, although the fruit will naturally soften and release some juice the longer it sits.

• If I’m serving this for a holiday brunch: I prefer to make it the night before or morning of so the fruit looks and tastes its freshest.
• For weekly meal prep: I’m less picky- a little extra juice at the bottom doesn’t bother me!

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