This fresh fruit salad is loaded with all kinds of fruit. The condensed milk brings it together in a creamy treat that makes it perfect with breakfast, as a simple side dish, or as a lighter dessert.
Adding sweetened condensed milk to a fruit salad brings it all together in a creamy treat. It is perfect for a party, brunch, and so much more.
Fruit salad is a welcome addition to almost any occasion. It is also wonderful any time of day.
You can serve it with breakfast. It’s wonderful at Easter breakfast or Mother’s Day brunch.
It is great at lunchtime as a fresh side. Or you can enjoy it as an afternoon snack.
The creamy condensed milk addition in this recipe even makes it welcome as a dessert. Add a dollop of whipped cream to make it extra special.
If the only fruit salad you know is fruit cocktail, you are really missing out. You have to give this recipe a try!
Why We Love This Fruit Salad
Fresh berries are one of our favorite fruits. But it is hard to get them at their peek.
They can go from underripe to overripe quickly. The condensed milk helps to give slightly underripe fruit that extra sweetness.
Tossing the fruit in lemon juice helps to keep them from oxidizing and turning brown to quickly. This is especially helpful for fruit like bananas and apples.
The acid also gives balance to the sugar in the dressing. Not to mention it reacts with the condensed milk and helps to give it even more body.
You can adjust the fruit to match whatever you have on hand, or use your favorites. We like this mix of fruit because it gives all sorts of textures and flavors.
Add maraschino cherries if you want a retro flare. Or try adding marshmallows if you want it to be even more of a dessert salad.
What other fruits would be good in this fruit salad?
You can either substitute some fruit, or add more fruit to this tasty fruit salad recipe. Some great options would be blackberries, raspberries, mango, kiwi, peaches and more.
More Great Fruity Salad Recipes
If you are looking for more of a dinner salad, try making a salad with fruit, chicken and poppy seed dressing. The recipe is based off of one of my favorite lunches at Portillos.
Or try making chicken salad with pineapple and grapes. It is perfect served over greens, as a sandwich or on crackers.
Mixing fruit cocktail with pudding mix is another easy way to make fruit extra special. We love a mix of oranges, pineapple and fruit cocktail.
For a vintage fluff style salad, try making frog eye salad. The name is silly and the thought of adding pasta to a fruit salad is strange too, but it really is so delicious.
My great-grandma’s frozen fruit salad is another great option. This old fashioned recipe is a staple at our extended family gatherings. Or make a creamy ambrosia salad that is similar in a lot of ways, but not frozen.
Condensed Milk Fruit Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 large apple
- 2 bananas
- 1 lb. strawberries
- 1 pint blueberries
- 2 cups grapes
- 15 oz. can mandarin oranges
- 20 oz. can pineapple tidbits
- 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Pour lemon juice in the bottom of a large bowl.¼ cup lemon juice
- Wash and core the apple. Chop it into bite sized pieces and add to bowl.1 large apple
- Peel and slice bananas and place in bowl. Toss bananas and apples in the lemon juice to coat and prevent browning.2 bananas
- Wash grapes, strawberries and blueberries. Add blueberries to bowl. Cut strawberries into bite sized pieces and place in bowl. If grapes are large, cut in half, otherwise add to the bowl.1 lb. strawberries, 1 pint blueberries, 2 cups grapes
- Drain the pineapple, but reserve the juice. Add 1/4 cup of pineapple juice and the pineapple bits to the bowl along with the drained oranges.20 oz. can pineapple tidbits, 15 oz. can mandarin oranges
- Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the fruit and toss to coat. Add more pineapple juice if you want to thin out the dressing a bit.14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
- Cover and chill until ready to serve.
Sandra
Wednesday 1st of May 2024
Carlie I made this fruit salad tonight and it is so delicious!! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. Everyone absolutely loved it. I would like to ask if this can be made ahead and frozen. Just thought maybe it could be used as a frozen desert especially in the hot summer. Thanks again!!
Carlee
Wednesday 1st of May 2024
I am so glad you liked it! I have never tried freezing it, but I bet that would be refreshing. I think it would be fun to try freezing a little portion at least and see how it goes.
Kat
Thursday 25th of April 2024
Haven’t made this fruit salad yet, plan on it soon, but I want to say THANK YOU for repeating the ingredient amounts in the directions. It’s such a pain to keep scrolling up & down from the ingredients to the directions when trying a new recipe!
Carlee Scharnhorst
Thursday 25th of April 2024
I am so glad you find it helpful!
Carlee
Monday 26th of September 2016
It is such a simple side, but for some reason is one of those things I can overthink. This is a great way to get it ready for the new season!
Carlee
Friday 23rd of September 2016
You definitely could have it year round, I just fall in love with berries during the spring and summer and forget all other fruit even exist (other than local peaches when they're in season of course!) Thank you!
Jess
Wednesday 21st of September 2016
This looks so fresh and delicious! :)
Carlee
Wednesday 21st of September 2016
Thanks!