Description

This vibrant Fall Fruit Salad combines crisp apples, ripe pears, juicy grapes, and pomegranate seeds with crunchy nuts and a sweet lemon-honey dressing. Perfect for a refreshing and healthy snack or side dish, this salad celebrates the flavors of autumn with a hint of cinnamon and fresh mint garnish.

Ingredients

Scale

Fruits

2 cups apples (diced; any variety, such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
2 cups pears (diced; ripe but firm)
1 cup grapes (halved; red or green)
1 cup pomegranate seeds
1 cup dried cranberries (or raisins)

Nuts

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans (chopped)

Dressing

1 tablespoon lemon juice (to prevent browning)
1 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup for a vegan option)
1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Garnish

Fresh mint leaves (optional)

Instructions

Prepare the Fruits: In a large mixing bowl, combine the diced apples, diced pears, halved grapes, pomegranate seeds, and dried cranberries. Gently fold in the chopped walnuts or pecans to distribute the nuts evenly without bruising the fruit.
Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, honey (or maple syrup for a vegan alternative), and cinnamon if using. This dressing adds a sweet and tangy flavor while preventing the fruit from browning.
Combine: Pour the dressing over the fruit mixture. Gently toss everything together until all the ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing, ensuring full flavor integration.
Serve: Garnish the salad with fresh mint leaves if desired. Serve immediately for the freshest taste, or chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and enhance.

Notes

Use firm but ripe pears to avoid a mushy texture in the salad.
Choose lemon juice to keep apples and pears from browning quickly after cutting.
For a vegan option, substitute honey with maple syrup.
Chilling the salad before serving helps the flavors meld together nicely.
Feel free to swap nuts for seeds if allergies are a concern.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Fall fruit salad, autumn salad, healthy fruit salad, apple pear salad, no-cook salad, cranberry fruit salad, pomegranate salad