This Fruit Salad with Whipped Cream is bright and refreshing. It is an easy-to-make dessert that is sure to impress. This fruit salad is packed with all the good flavors of Summer.
*Originally published June 22, 2021 and updated with new copy and photos 4/26/22.
Don't you love when you get invited to a BBQ and you ask the host what you can bring and they say "Oh just bring a dessert?" I feel like a lot of times, making a dessert requires a lot more effort than just picking up a pasta or potato salad at the local deli and bringing it to a BBQ. When it comes to Summer desserts, there are so many that you can choose from! So many different fruits are in season and there is no shortage of what you can make! I love this Fruit Salad with Whipped Cream. It is so easy to make and the flavor is so so so good. I could eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is just something about fresh watermelon, strawberries, and blueberries all tossed together in a yogurt dressing. Oh, it is so good!
For some other delicious dessert recipes, check out this Banana Peach Smoothie, this Red, White and Blue Pound Cake, this Blackberry Strawberry Banana Smoothie, this Banana Pudding Lasagna, these Vegan Lemon Bars or this Blackberry Lemon Bread!
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Why This Fruit Salad with Whipped Cream is the Best
- Easy to Make- This fruit salad is so easy to make! All that is required is to chop the fruit and mix it with some ready-made whipped cream!
- Light and Refreshing- This fruit salad is light and refreshing. It doesn't get much lighter than fresh fruit and whipped cream. It makes for the perfect easy dessert after a heavy BBQ meal!
- Diet Friendly-This fruit salad is vegan, gluten-free and depending on what whipped cream that you use, paleo as well!
Ingredient Notes
- Watermelon- The base of this fruit salad is Watermelon. Sliced thick and bite-sized, this watermelon will bring a fresh Summer flavor.
- Cherries-Depending on how early you make this recipe, cherries may or may not be in season. You can use either fresh cherries (just remember to remove the pits!) or you can use frozen cherries as I did. I made sure to thaw the cherries completely and drain them in a colander before putting them in the fruit salad.
- Mixed Berries-For the rest of the fruit salad I used a variety of mixed berries, fresh blueberries, and blackberries.
- Whipped Cream-To make this recipe easy, I used a tub of pre-made vegan whipped cream. It was perfect for a simple recipe. However, you can make your own whipped cream by creaming two cans of coconut cream together with a little bit of sugar.
See the recipe card for the full ingredient list and quantities.
Instructions
- Peel and chop fruit and set them aside in a large mixing bowl.
- Add whipped cream to your fruit and stir to coat the fruit.
- Then transfer to a serving bowl. Refrigerate if not serving right away.
Hint: Make sure the whipped cream is thawed but still ice cold when adding it to the fruit. You don't want it to melt.
Substitutions and Variations
- Fruit - Feel free to swap the fruit for whatever you like! I always use what is in season for this recipe and it is great because it means we can eat fruit all season long. We love to use citrus in the winter!
- Additional Toppings - Additional toppings for this fruit salad can include:
- mini marshmallows
- chopped dates
- walnuts or pecans
- strawberries, or raspberries
- grapes
- Homemade Whipped Cream - I love easy recipes so I use a tub of pre-made whipped cream to make this Cool Whip Salad, however you can easily make your own dairy-free whipped cream by using coconut cream!
FAQ's
Most fruits taste good with whipped cream. Strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, peaches and grapes are all good additions!
Store the fruit salad in an airtight container to keep it from getting soggy. It will help the fruit stay fresh and crisp for longer.
To keep bananas and apples in a fruit salad from turning brown, squeeze the juice of an orange, lemon or lime into a bowl and then slice the fruit right into it. Stir gently to coat all sides, and remove the banana and apple slices with a slotted spoon just before adding to your salad
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. See below for the equipment you will need to make this recipe.
- Chef Knife
- Cutting Board
- Glass Mixing Bowls
Storage
Store this fruit salad in an airtight container for up to four days. I do not recommend freezing this fruit salad as the whipped cream will separate when thawed.
Top Tips
- You can use any type of pre-made whipped cream that you like. My family is vegan so we use a vegan whipped cream or we make our own coconut whipped cream. To make coconut whipped cream, cream together two cans of coconut cream with a little bit of sugar until stiff peaks form.
- Make sure to cut the watermelon into bite size pieces that way you can get a little bit of everything!
- Feel free to make this recipe with whatever fruits happen to be in season. I change this recipe up all the time depending on what time of year it is!
What to Serve with This Fruit Salad with Whipped Cream
Fruit Salad with Whipped Cream
Ingredients
- 1 medium watermelon diced
- 2 cups blueberries
- 2 cups blackberries
- 3 bananas sliced
- 1 gala apple
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cherries pitted
- 2 cups vegan whipped cream
Instructions
- Peel and chop fruit and set them aside in a large mixing bowl.
- Add whipped cream to your fruit and stir to coat the fruit.
- Then transfer to a serving bowl. Refrigerate if not serving right away.
Notes
- You can use any type of pre-made whipped cream that you like. My family is vegan so we use a vegan whipped cream or we make our own coconut whipped cream. To make coconut whipped cream, cream together two cans of coconut cream with a little bit of sugar until stiff peaks form.
- Make sure to cut the watermelon into bite size pieces that way you can get a little bit of everything!
- Feel free to make this recipe with whatever fruits happen to be in season. I change this recipe up all the time depending on what time of year it is!
Nutrition
Food Safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Jeri says
What a pretty dessert! I love that it is so easy and requires no baking! This looks perfect for serving at the barbecue we are having this weekend! I love the combination of watermelon and berries!
kaydimaggio says
Yes! It is so delicious!
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says
This is a great summer dessert! I can easily alter it to be weight watcher friendly. Such a simple and refreshing change to heavy sugary desserts.
kaydimaggio says
Yes! That is one of the things I love about this recipe, it is super easy to adapt to a variety of diet needs. 🙂
Jeannie says
this fruit salad is perfect to have with the summer heat, love that its vegan and the colors of the fruits stands out
Lyssa says
Oh my goodness, it's beautiful! I have a picnic coming up and I think I will try making this. It looks so good!
kaydimaggio says
How fun! You will have to let me know how you like it!
Erika Ravnsborg says
This looks so yummy! I want some right now. Perfect for a hot day.
Emmeline says
Omg my mouth is watering already 😋bookmarking to make this on the 4th!
kaydimaggio says
Yes! It would be the perfect 4th of July dessert!
Kathleen Wonders says
Yum yum yum! I can't wait to try this! Thanks for sharing those tips on how to choose ripe fruits too! I never knew how to check for ripe watermelons LOL!
kaydimaggio says
Yes! I have always struggled with finding ripe watermelons, it was a lot of trial and error to figure out how to pick the best ones!
Addie says
This is the perfect summer BBQ recipe! It pairs perfectly for our dinner parties!
Michelle Huston says
This is going to make a great addition to our get together on July 4th AND I won't have to break a sweat "cooking" my contribution to dinner at the lake!
kaydimaggio says
Yes! That is one of the things I love best about it, no cooking required!
Shannon says
This looks so delicious! It’s gonna be pretty hot here at least for us these next few days, so this looks like the perfect refreshing treat to make! Thanks for sharing.
Jill says
such a gorgeous dessert, really loved all of the flavors!
Krysten Quiles says
This looks SO GOOD, perfect for 4th of July.
Lilly says
This fruit salad is so refreshing! I love the vanilla yogurt with the watermelon and berries
kaydimaggio says
Thank you! It definitely hits the spot on a hot day!
Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/ says
Gosh, this salad looks amazing! I want a cup right now!:))
kaydimaggio says
Thank you! It is so yummy!