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Autumn Harvest Fruit Salad with Maple Cinnamon

A colorful and refreshing fruit salad, enhanced with a sweet maple cinnamon dressing, perfect for fall gatherings.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dessert, Salad
Cuisine: American, Healthy
Calories: 180
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 3 whole apples (Gala, Honeycrisp, or crisp) Avoid mealy apples.
  • 2 whole ripe pears (Bartlett or Anjou) Firm and juicy for best taste.
  • 1 whole pomegranate Or use just the seeds for ease.
  • 1 cup red grapes, halved
  • 1-2 whole mandarins, peeled and split Regular oranges can be subbed if needed.
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries Optional but adds tang.
  • 1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts Skip if nut allergies are a concern.
  • 1/2 whole orange zest Zest of half an orange for added flavor.
Dressing
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup Use real maple syrup for best flavor.
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • a pinch salt A tiny pinch to balance flavors.
  • 1/2 whole lemon, juiced Juice from half a lemon to brighten the salad.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Chop the apples and pears into bite-size pieces, leaving the skin on for extra crunch and color.
  2. Add the chopped apples and pears to a large mixing bowl.
  3. Immediately squeeze the juice from half a lemon over the fruit to prevent browning.
  4. Halve the grapes and add to the bowl.
  5. Peel and break apart the mandarins, or chunk up a regular orange if using.
  6. Add pomegranate seeds, cranberries, and nuts (if using) to the mixture.
  7. Sprinkle orange zest over the mixture, if available.
Dressing
  1. In a small bowl, mix together the maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.
  2. Drizzle the dressing over the fruit and stir gently to coat everything evenly.
Chill and Serve
  1. Chill the fruit salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
  2. Serve and enjoy the freshness of your autumn harvest fruit salad.

Notes

For added aesthetics, sprinkle extra pomegranate seeds and nuts on top before serving. Mix right before serving for the best texture, as letting it sit overnight could affect quality. If you have kids, chop everything small and consider omitting nuts for younger guests.