This light and refreshing winter fruit salad is packed with the seasonal flavors of mandarin oranges, kiwis, green apples, and pomegranate arils, all tied together with the most delicious (yet totally simple and easy!) honey lemon poppy seed dressing!

Winter Fruit Salad

I don't know about you all, but it's always a good week or two (or three!) before I really feel like cooking after Thanksgiving. There's just something about that 48-hour cooking marathon that zaps every ounce of my desire. Thank goodness for leftovers, right?

But until my cooking drive returns, I still have to figure out how to feed my family once the leftovers have all been consumed — which surely does not take long around here... And take out every night is simply NOT in my budget!

RELATED: Creamy Grape Salad with Toasted Pecans

So what's the best solution for getting a nutritious meal on the table quickly and easily? While hopefully incorporating a little fresh fruit (like in this easy winter fruit salad), because we definitely struggle with eating the rainbow during the colder months...

Winter Fruit Salad Ingredients

A fresh fruit salad is always the perfect complement to dinner, but it's also ideal for special occasions, holidays, and potlucks. And this easy fruit salad is a TOTAL showstopper. It's filled with seasonal winter fruits, which are then drizzled with the most delicious honey lemon poppy seed dressing. I mean how gorgeous is it?!

Here are my favorite seasonal fruits to use in my winter fruit salad:

🍊 mandarin oranges — fresh mandarin oranges are a winter staple in our house, so using them in this fresh fruit salad makes perfect sense! Look for clementines, which are the seedless variety that are always sweet and juicy. Also, you can use canned in a pinch, but the mandarin slices will fall apart much more easily.

🥝 kiwis — one of my favorite fruits to pair with mandarins, and they're available year round! Do make sure they're ripe before slicing them. You can tell by pressing gently on the side. If they give ever so slightly, they're ready to slice.

RELATED: Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

🍏 green apple — thinly sliced green apple provides a touch of tartness and a little crunchier texture to contrast with the softer texture of the mandarins and kiwi. No worries about them starting to turn brown! The lemon in the dressing will help prevent them from turning.

🔴 pomegranate arils — I'm not a fan of straight pomegranate juice, but give me a bowl of pomegranate arils any day! First there's that OMG pop of color they provide, but second, they also add a bright burst of flavor with every bite. Don't skip them!

Honey Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

Finally, the zingy honey lemon poppy seed dressing is simply equal parts honey and lemon, with a touch of lemon zest and a good measure of poppy seeds. So simple, yet SO DELICIOUS! I seriously want to drizzle it on everything...

easy winter fruit salad recipe in a white enamel bowl

Fresh Winter Fruit Salad

When it's cold and snowy outside, this fresh winter fruit salad is such a welcome sight! Its delightful light and bright flavor will keep kids and adults alike coming back for more. Let's just say that if you take this to a potluck or party, I would not count on taking home any leftovers...

Printable Recipe ↓

winter fruit salad recipe with honey lemon poppy seed dressing

Winter Fruit Salad with Honey Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

4.91 from 20 votes

This light and refreshing winter fruit salad is packed with the seasonal flavors of mandarin oranges, kiwis, green apples, and pomegranate arils, all tied together with the most delicious (yet totally simple & easy!) honey lemon poppy seed dressing!

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time 15

Total Time 15

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Servings 12 servings

Calories 76 kcal

Ingredients

for the winter fruit salad:

▢ 12 mandarin oranges - peeled and segmented
▢ 4 medium kiwis - peeled and diced
▢ 1 medium green apple - thinly sliced
▢ 1 cup pomegranate arils

for the honey lemon poppy seed dressing:

▢ 1 large lemon - zested and juiced (about ¼ cup)
▢ ¼ cup honey
▢ 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Instructions

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, honey, poppy seeds, and 2 teaspoons of lemon zest. Set aside.
Add the mandarin oranges, kiwis, green apple, and pomegranate arils to a large mixing bowl.
Pour the honey lemon poppy seed dressing over the top of the fruit, and toss gently to coat.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes

This winter fruit salad is best served fresh, but it can be refrigerated for up to five days.

Nutrition information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment & tag @unsophisticook on social

I'd love to see how your winter fruit salad turns out... Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!

Comments

4.91 from 20 votes (20 ratings without comment)

Winter Fruit Salad

Winter Fruit Salad Ingredients

Honey Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

Fresh Winter Fruit Salad

Printable Recipe ↓