Have you ever been overrun with fruit? That happened to me one year. My mother-in-law discovered a roadside farmer’s market that sold fresh peaches. At first, this was wonderful. Each week she purchased a bushel of fresh peaches. These were divided evenly between Bryan’s brother, Bryan, and herself. We enjoyed these peaches straight from the bag.
After a few weeks, the kids were tired of fresh peaches. I experimented, trying other recipes, like fresh peach cobbler, peach pie, and peach jam. The peaches continued to arrive. I made peach salsa, peach tarts, and more jam. Then peaches began to pile up in my fridge faster than I could use them. I offered peaches to anyone who visited. “You aren’t leaving without taking a few fresh peaches, are you?” I would ask. I began to wonder if I would have to sneak peaches onto people’s doorsteps, ring the bell, and run.
I wasn’t sure what else to do with the peaches. Then, I remembered this easy peasy fruit salad recipe. I first tried this recipe at a family reunion when a cousin brought it, exclaiming, “I needed to use my fresh fruit!” It’s the perfect way to use up peaches or any other fruit you’ve been overrun with.
Easy Peasy Fruit Salad
I love this recipe because it’s so versatile. You can substitute different fruit combinations or use more of one type of fruit your family enjoys. Just experiment to find the combination your family likes best. This fruit salad is naturally gluten-free and is a major hit at our house, even with people who don’t care for fruit. The pudding adds a touch of sweetness and makes it thicken to a delicious consistency.
Prep time for this salad is around ten minutes. How’s that for Easy-peasy? It’s a great side dish or dessert for those days you don’t feel like heating up the kitchen or spending a lot of time cooking. And if you feel like that every day, no problem. This is a judgment-free zone!
Ingredients You Need:
- fresh peaches
- fresh strawberries
- bananas
- A package of instant vanilla pudding mix
Cooking Tips:
- Substitute your favorite fruit combinations: I like to use strawberries, blueberries, and bananas to make a patriotic-themed fruit salad for the 4th of July. Other good summertime fruit choices are watermelon and raspberries.
- If you don’t have fresh fruit on hand, you can substitute canned fruit.
- If you are using canned fruit, choose the large size (28-ounce). Drain the juice from the fruit before using. You can save the juice from the fruit to use in smoothies.
- You can also substitute frozen fruit in this dish. Use a large bag of mixed frozen fruit and mix it with the pudding mix. Before mixing the fruit with the pudding mix, allow it to thaw in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
- Choose firm, large peaches with no soft spots or bruises for this recipe.
- Use firm, slightly underripe, or just ripened bananas in this salad.
- Plan ahead- This salad needs to sit in the fridge for approximately 30 minutes before serving.
Printable Recipe:
Easy Peasy Fruit Salad Recipe
15
minutesGluten-free and easy to assemble fruit salad.
Ingredients
4 large peaches, peeled and cubed
1 (16-ounce) container of strawberries, washed, stems removed, and sliced
3 large bananas, peeled and sliced
1 package (3 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
Directions
- In a medium bowl, mix the peaches, strawberries, and bananas together gently.
- Stir in the vanilla pudding mix until the fruit mixture is coated. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
This recipe is sure to be a hit with both you and your family. It’s a great addition to potlucks and impromptu family get-togethers. You can always keep frozen fruit in the freezer to whip this up in a hurry. What are your favorite fruit salad combinations?
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First off, I love that it’s easy. Second, I love that it looks delicious! I would love to try making this sometime!
I love fruit salad! But i am tired of eating it in a regular recipe. I think I might be needing this one!
This does look like an easy recipe! People better enjoy these summer treat before fall takes over.
I’m up for a good fruit salad anytime. My girls will love this recipe. I’ve never made one with vanilla pudding in it. Great idea.
I absolutely love fresh fruit salad! They’re so good and you don’t have to feel guilty about having too much! This really looks good, thanks for the recipe!
Fruit salad is my fave!! I haven’t made one for awhile and this one looks really good
It looks fabulous! Can’t wait to give this a try!
We just were gifted an entire 5 gallon bucket of peaches. Looks like we will be making some fruit salad!
I love fresh peaches, especially white peaches. My favorite fruit salad recipe is using the frozen fruit I have in the house, thawing it and topping it with a tiny bit of ice cream. Love the idea of fruit and pudding.
I bet my kids would love this! Never thought to put pudding in fruit salad!
It sounds amazing! Love everything in your recipe!
Nothing is better than a refreshing fruit salad! I never thought to use pudding, I can’t wait to make this. A perfect recipe for a BBQ or picnic.
Wow, peach salad sounds really good! I love peaches so much and would really love to recreate this!
I’ll have to remember this when I have an abundance of fruit in my house. It’s a delicious way to get it eaten.
We eat fruit salad every night with dinner – and this is an AMAZING take on it! I’ll definitely try it. Putting pudding in fruit salad… who knew!?
Yum! This looks so good. My kids are huge fans of fruit salad, and i know they’d love this. What a fun treat!
My kids would live off of fruit salad if I let then. I am so gonna make this for them for a mid afternoon snack this week
There is nothing better than the fruit in the summmer. This recipe for fruit salad takes it to the next level and I will try and make some for my family.
I love a good fruit salad. We live in Georgia, and right not is the time to make anything fruit because it’s all in season. Yummo!
Fruit salad is always a winner in our house. I am looking forward to making your recipe one day soon.