This dark, moody fruit salad is a great dish to share around the holidays! Sweet + tart with a bit of crunch, you’ll love the flavors that come together in this dish.

Serves: 8ish

Prep time: 15 minutes Total time: 15 minutes

• 1 orange, juiced
• 2 Tablespoons of pure maple syrup
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 lb red seedless grapes
• 12 oz blackberries
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 2 sweet apples of your choice, cubed into bite sized pieces

• Prepare the dressing for the fruit by combining the juice from the orange, the maple syrup, and the cinnamon in a small bowl. Whisk well until combined. Set aside.
• Wash all produce.
• In a medium sized bowl, add grapes, blackberries, cubed apples, and pecans.
• Add dressing to the fruit bowl and gently toss (or carefully stir) fruit to coat.
• Serve immediately or store in fridge until ready to serve.

• My go-to apples are the Pink Lady variety, however you may use any you like. To keep with the aesthetic and appearance, try and pick one that has red or pink coloring on the skin. I used Granny Smith once, which are green, and it totally killed the fall vibe of the salad because the green color of the skin stood out like a sore thumb.
• Don’t use orange juice from a bottle. Not the same, too much sugar, and too thick. If you don’t have an orange, I have used a couple of clementines in a pinch which is just as good. You could also add cubed orange pieces to your fruit salad for an extra layer of flavor, which I have also done and enjoyed.
• I don’t recommend making this more than an hour or so before serving. Some variations of this recipe suggest making it the night before. Tbh, it will just get soggy and the pecans will absorb too much liquid losing their crunch. It is honestly best served immediately or shortly after making it.
• That being said, I have stored it for leftovers, and it’s “fine” the next day. Any day after that and it is a major let down from the freshness you get if you eat it right away.

I hope you enjoy this fall/winter spin on fruit salad! It is a definite crowd-pleaser, so test it out at your next event or holiday get together. It really is a delightful side dish. Enjoy!