Creamy Fruit Salad Recipe (Thanksgiving Fruit Salad)

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Creamy Fruit Salad is one of those dishes that will bring you back to childhood. It’s sweet and satisfying – perfectly paired with cherries, apples, pineapple, and mandarin oranges. We like to call it Thanksgiving Fruit Salad because it’s extra special!

I love a good fruit salad. Especially one that I can make ahead of time! This creamy fruit salad recipe is extra special because it has a sweet creamy dressing that makes it feel extra special. That’s why I like to call it Thanksgiving Fruit Salad! 

Other tasty Thanksgiving-inspired recipes you may like are Pumpkin Dip, Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, and Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole.

Jump to:

• What fruit goes in creamy fruit salad?
• How to make Thanksgiving Fruit Salad
• Can you make fruit salad the night before?
• Creamy Fruit Salad Recipe (Thanksgiving Fruit Salad)

What fruit goes in creamy fruit salad?

This creamy fruit salad includes mostly canned fruit with a dose of fresh chopped apples mixed in. It’s a great Fall fruit salad!

I love that this creamy fruit salad is made with mostly pantry items. The only fresh fruit required is an apple. I used a sweet gala apple in this creamy fruit salad, but Granny Smith would work, too.

How to make Thanksgiving Fruit Salad

1. Make the dressing: Mix together vanilla yogurt and thawed whipped topping until fully combined.
2. Fruit: Chop up the apple and mix it into the creamy dressing. Add in the canned fruit – cherries, pineapple, and mandarin oranges.
3. Chill: Refrigerate the creamy fruit salad for at least 1 hour.
4. Serve: Serve the Thanksgiving fruit salad cold. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Can you make fruit salad the night before?

Yes. You can make this Thanksgiving fruit salad the night before and store it in your refrigerator. Although there are apples in this recipe that can brown, they are covered by the creamy dressing, so it’s not something you have to worry about. 

Creamy fruit salad is a great make-ahead Thanksgiving side that is sure to please kids and adults alike! 

How long will fruit salad last in the fridge?

Fruit salad will last in the fridge for about 3 days. Any longer than that, the fruit will start to go rancid and will lose its consistency.

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