• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Crowded Kitchen
MENUMENU
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Sign Up
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About Us
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
×

Home » Recipes » Salads

Summer Fruit Salad

Published: Aug 3, 2021 by Lexi

325 shares
Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

This gorgeous summer fruit salad is made with stone fruit like peaches, nectarines and cherries, fresh berries and a delicious lemon maple thyme dressing. The dressing elevates everything to a whole new level for a salad you won't be able to stop eating! Perfect as a light side dish, snack or even healthy dessert.

overhead view of summer fruit salad with stone fruit and berries on large white platter.
Jump to:
  • 🍑 Why We Love This Recipe
  • 🍒 Ingredients
  • 📋 Ingredient Notes
  • 🔪 Step-by-step Instructions
  • 💭 Expert Tips and FAQs
  • 🍽 Related Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Reviews

🍑 Why We Love This Recipe

  • Great use of seasonal fruit: Have a lot of various leftover fresh stone fruit and berries? This is the perfect way to use everything up in one recipe!
  • Endless combinations: you can go crazy with every stone fruit out there (like we did!), or stick to just one or two of your favorites. This would be delicious with just cherries and peaches, or any combination of your favorite summer stone fruit and berries!
  • Fruit salad, elevated! You might think perfectly ripe summer fruit is perfect as is, but the maple lemon thyme dressing in this salad truly elevates everything and brings out even more intense flavor. Seriously, it's SO good. I couldn't stop eating this – so much more interesting than plain fruit!

🍒 Ingredients

Here are the key ingredients you'll need for this summer fruit salad:

overhead view of fresh summer fruit like peaches, nectarines, cherries, blueberries, etc. on a pan.

📋 Ingredient Notes

  • Stone fruit: Again, feel free to pick and choose your favorites here, or use a wide variety like we did. Any of the following are great options: peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, pluots and cherries. We definitely suggest keeping cherries in the mix – they can be a pain to pit, but they're especially good with the dressing.
  • Berries: we stick to blueberries and blackberries in our version, but you could definitely use another berry (strawberries, raspberries, etc.) if preferred.
  • Maple syrup: make sure to use the good stuff here. Pure maple syrup adds a wonderful pop of flavor and brings out the natural sweetness of the fruit even more. If you don't have any, you can sub with another liquid sweetener like honey or agave.
  • Thyme: fresh thyme has a delicate herbal flavor that takes this summer fruit salad to the next level. You can also use basil, mint, tarragon, or another summer herb of choice. We don't suggest subbing with dried – this salad is really best with a fresh herb.
  • Vanilla extract: It may seem like an unusual ingredient for a dressing, but wow, it packs a huge punch! It also makes this summer fruit salad lean more towards the dessert side, which we love. If you have any, vanilla bean paste would be excellent here.
side view of summer fruit salad with stone fruit and berries on large white platter on wood table.

🔪 Step-by-step Instructions

(1) Prepare all stone fruit by slicing thinly. If using cherries, be sure to remove pits.
Add all fruit to a large mixing bowl.

(2) In a separate small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, salt and thyme until well combined.

on the left: sliced stone fruit and berries on a large platter. on the right: maple cinnamon thyme dressing in small pink bowl.

(3) Pour dressing over fruit.

(4) Toss gently to coat. Enjoy right away or chill for 1 hour in the refrigerator before enjoying.

overhead view of summer fruit salad with stone fruit and berries on large white platter before and after mixing together.

💭 Expert Tips and FAQs

  • Stone fruit yield: One large peach or nectarine will yield about 1 cup of sliced fruit. For smaller stone fruit like apricots or plums, you'll need about 3-4 to equal 1 cup sliced.
  • Serving suggestions: this summer fruit salad is absolutely delicious plain as a snack or side dish. It's also fantastic over ice cream or with whipped cream for a light dessert. It's a great unique fruit salad to bring to a summer bbq or special event!
  • Change it up: don't feel pressured to stick exactly to the recipe. Give it a try with various combinations of fruit or a different herb like basil or mint.
  • Storage: this summer fruit salad is best enjoyed within about 2 days. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and stir well again before serving.
  • Make ahead: this salad actually tastes even better when it has a chance to sit and soak up the dressing. We suggest making this salad no more than 24 hours before serving. Stir well before serving!
  • Make it more savory: serve over a bed of lettuce like baby kale or arugula and add in a cup of cooked quinoa or wild rice. You'll also want to double the dressing.
What's the best way to pit cherries?

If you don't have an actual cherry pitter, you can use a chopstick or stainless steel straw to remove the pit. Insert through the stem hole and push all the way through. Check to make sure the pit has been removed, then slice in half.

close up view of summer fruit salad with stone fruit and berries on large white platter.

🍽 Related Recipes

  • Watermelon Fruit Salad
  • Stone Fruit Salad
  • Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Strawberries and Feta
  • Blackberry, Avocado and Arugula Salad

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook or by subscribing to our newsletter.

Print

📖 Recipe

clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
overhead view of summer fruit salad with stone fruit and berries on large white platter.

Summer Fruit Salad


★★★★★

5 from 4 reviews

  • Author: Lexi
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

This gorgeous summer fruit salad is made with stone fruit like peaches, nectarines and cherries, fresh berries and a delicious lemon maple thyme dressing. The dressing elevates everything to a whole new level for a salad you won't be able to stop eating!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4-6 cups sliced stone fruit of choice* (cherries, peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, etc)
  • 2 cups blueberries
  • 2 cups blackberries
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme, finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Prepare all stone fruit by slicing thinly. If using cherries, be sure to remove pits. 
  2. Add all fruit to a large mixing bowl. 
  3. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, salt and thyme until well combined. 
  4. Pour dressing over fruit and toss gently to coat. Enjoy right away or chill for 1 hour in the refrigerator before enjoying. 

Notes

*Generally one large peach or nectarine will yield about 1 cup of sliced fruit, whereas you'll need about 3-4 apricots or plums for 1 cup. 

Feel free to use any combination of fresh fruit – you can keep it super simple with just one or two, or use a few different types. 

If you don't like (or don't have) any fresh thyme, feel free to sub with mint or basil. 

Serving suggestions: this salad is absolutely delicious plain as a snack or side dish. It's also fantastic over ice cream or with whipped cream for a light dessert. 

Storage: this salad is best enjoyed within about 2 days. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and stir well again before serving. 

Make ahead: this salad actually tastes even better when it has a chance to sit and soak up the dressing. We suggest making this salad no more than 24 hours before serving. Stir well before serving! 

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Salads
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 82
  • Sugar: 15.1 g
  • Sodium: 292.1 mg
  • Fat: 0.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 19.9 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 1.5 g

Keywords: summer fruit salad

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @crowded_kitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #crowdedkitchen

More Salad Recipes

  • Pumpkin Quinoa Salad
  • Pomegranate Couscous Salad
  • Pumpkin Salad
  • Fall Kale Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Let us know what you think! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Joan

    August 18, 2021 at 6:44 pm

    Fantastic. Nice change of taste an a real arty look.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. Jeanne shaw

    August 13, 2021 at 9:45 am

    Affordable, colorful, seasonal

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Betsy

      September 30, 2021 at 10:31 pm

      This has become one of my favorite go-to recipes! I love the flexibility of mixing and matching fruits, and I can even sub in frozen fruit in a pinch. The dressing adds a rich, delicious flavor. Love it!!

      Reply
      • Lexi

        October 01, 2021 at 9:37 am

        Thank you so much, Betsy! I am so glad you love this recipe.

        Reply
      • Kat

        July 20, 2022 at 12:38 pm

        Would goat cheese be good in this?

        Reply
        • Lexi

          July 21, 2022 at 9:00 pm

          For sure!

          Reply
  3. Alison Richman

    August 12, 2021 at 10:57 pm

    Simply delicious!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amy

      September 05, 2021 at 6:46 pm

      This was delightful! Will make again for sure!

      ★★★★★

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Lexi and Beth toasting with wine.

Hi, we're Lexi and Beth, a mother-daughter team from Michigan. The recipes you'll find here are a reflection of how we bring our family together around the dinner table despite various dietary differences.

More about us →

Featured in:

Featured in Buzzfeed, yahoo, Men's Journal, Huffpost, MSN, Food & Wine, Country Living, yummly, and Parade.

Winter Recipes

  • Vegan Mushroom Stew over Mashed Potatoes
  • Vegan Coq au Vin
  • Vegetable Stew
  • Vegan Meatloaf
  • Vegan Pumpkin Chili
  • Vegan Broccoli Casserole

Most popular recipes

  • Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Creamy Beet Pasta
  • Super Green Vegetable Soup
  • Vegan Miso Soup
  • Vegan Jalapeño Poppers
  • Limoncello Spritz

See more-->

Footer

Back to top ↑

About

  • Learn About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • See our Portfolio

Newsletter

  • Sign up for weekly emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact Us
  • Work With Us
  • As Seen In

Copyright © 2022 Crowded Kitchen