Old-Fashioned Fruit Salad with Mayonnaise

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This Old-Fashioned Fruit Salad combines fresh apples, crisp grapes, and sweet bananas with canned fruit for a delicious mix of flavors and textures. The creamy mayonnaise and whipped cream dressing add a little tang to balance the sweetness, while rich chocolate chips make every bite extra special! It's the perfect side dish for holidays and weeknight dinners.

A bowl filled with old fashioned fruit salad with mayonnaise.

Old-Fashioned Fruit Salad at a Glance

🧄 Flavor & Texture: Sweet, creamy, and slightly tangy with crisp fresh fruit, tender canned fruit, and rich chocolate chips.
🛒 Main Ingredients: Apples, grapes, bananas, canned fruit, mayonnaise, heavy whipping cream, and chocolate chips.
⏱️ Total Time: 15 Minutes
🍴 Servings: 8
🥗 Dietary Info: Vegetarian and gluten-free when made with suitable ingredients; contains dairy and eggs.
🍚 Best Served With: Roasted turkey, brunch casseroles, grilled chicken, or holiday desserts.
🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes, prep the fruit a day ahead and add the dressing and bananas shortly before serving; refrigerate leftovers for up to 2 days.
❤️ Why You Will Love It: This nostalgic fruit salad combines fresh and canned fruit with a light, creamy dressing for an easy, crowd-pleasing holiday favorite.

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When I was little, my grandmother made this fruit salad with mayo for the holidays, and even with several desserts to choose from, it was always my favorite. I used to beg her to make it more often, but she'd tell me, "It wouldn't be special if you ate it every time I saw you!" My dad admired how tough she was, and memories of them both make this recipe even more special to me.

I still love how simple Grandma's fruit salad is to make! You don't need exact amounts or a specific combination of fruit. Use your favorites and adjust as you like. Her technique is what matters most, especially the creamy mayonnaise and whipped cream dressing that brings everything together.

These creamy fluff recipes have a similar consistency to this creamy fruity salad. This orange fluff without cottage cheese and strawberry pineapple fluff are my faves.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review

"Loved every bite… I still can't believe how good it tasted. I still can't believe how well the Mayo worked."

-Dee

Why This Recipe Works

Mayo adds richness/tang and helps the cream cling: A little mayonnaise coats the fruit and adds a subtle tang while helping the whipped cream cling to each piece.
Real whipped cream lightens the dressing: Freshly whipped cream turns the mayo into a fluffy, sweet dressing that brings the fruit together.
Canned and fresh fruit combo is best: The mix of tender canned fruit and crisp fresh apples, juicy grapes, and banana gives every bite a delicious variety of flavors and textures.
Chocolate chips take the place of added sugar: Rich chocolate chips bring extra sweetness to the fruit, so you don't need to add sugar to the dressing.
All-year-round friendly: With canned fruit and fresh favorites available throughout the year, you can serve this nostalgic salad for holiday gatherings or everyday meals.

Jump to:

Old-Fashioned Fruit Salad at a Glance
Why This Recipe Works
What I've Tested and What Works Best
Ingredients
Variations
How to Make Old-Fashioned Fruit Salad
Expert Tips
Serving Suggestions
Old-Fashioned Fruit Salad Recipe FAQs
More Delicious Fruit Dessert Recipes
Old-Fashioned Fruit Salad with Mayonnaise

What I've Tested and What Works Best

After testing different dressing options, Hellmann's mayonnaise is my winner for this old-fashioned fruit salad. I also prefer a mix of fresh and well-drained canned fruit because the contrast between juicy, soft fruit and crisp fresh fruit makes every bite more interesting.

Creamy Component Test

Hellmann's mayonnaise gave me the results I wanted, with a creamy texture and balanced flavor. Here's how the other options compared:

Hellmann's mayonnaise: Creamy and silky, with a mild tang that complements the fruit's sweetness without overpowering it.
Miracle Whip: A thinner consistency with a sweeter, tangier flavor.
Sour cream: Creamy consistency with a tangier flavor and a thicker texture.

Canned vs. Fresh Fruit

A combination of canned and fresh fruit gives this salad the best balance of flavor and texture.

All fresh fruit: The fruit remains firmer initially but loses its texture and freshness sooner in the refrigerator.
All canned fruit: The softer texture can make the salad mushy, especially after chilling.
A mix of fresh and canned fruit: The contrast between tender, juicy fruit and crisp fresh pieces makes the salad more enjoyable to eat and gives it a variety of textures.

Ingredients

The main ingredients for this fruit salad, including the old-fashioned fruit salad dressing recipe, are included below.

Mayonnaise: Use full-fat mayonnaise for a creamy dressing with a little tang. I use Hellmann's, just like Grandma did, because it gives the fruit salad a rich, silky texture without overpowering the fruit's sweetness. You'll find this component in other vintage baking recipes, too.
Heavy cream: Use cold heavy cream with 35% fat and whip it to stiff peaks before folding it into the dressing. A chilled bowl helps the cream whip up faster and hold its shape.
Canned fruit: Choose fruit packed in juice rather than syrup to keep the salad from becoming overly sweet. Drain it well before mixing it in. Canned fruit adds juicy, tender bites, while fresh fruit provides the crisp contrast that keeps the salad from becoming mushy.
Fresh fruit: Combine crunchy apples and grapes with juicy peaches, and softer banana and pear. This balance gives the salad a variety of flavors and textures. Choose fruit that's ripe but still firm enough to hold its shape. You can also add pineapple or oranges as well if desired.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations

Ambrosia-style: Add mini marshmallows and shredded coconut for an ambrosia-inspired version.
Sweetened cream: Add 1-2 tablespoons of powdered sugar or 1 tablespoon of honey to the heavy cream before whipping for a touch of extra sweetness.
Lighter version: Replace half the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt for a lighter dressing with a little extra tang.
Holiday twist: Add ¼ cup of well-drained maraschino cherries cut in half or ¼ cup of pomegranate arils for a pop of festive color.
Mix and match fruit: Feel free to use any combination of fruits you enjoy. You need about 5 cups total of fruit to make this recipe as written.

How to Make Old-Fashioned Fruit Salad

Gather and measure the ingredients for the salad and the dressing before you start your prep work.

Wash, peel, and chop fruit into a mixing bowl.

Step 1: Prepare the fruit. Wash, peel, and chop any fresh fruit you are using, and open and drain all canned fruit. Add it all to a mixing bowl.

Step 2: Coat in mayo. Add the mayo and toss to lightly coat all of the pieces.

Heavy cream beaten with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.

Step 3: Beat the heavy cream. Beat the heavy cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.

The whipped cream folded into the fruit salad.

Step 4: Fold into the salad. Fold the whipped cream into the fruit salad.

Step 5: Add the chocolate chips. Add the chocolate chips.

Step 6: Mix and Serve. Gently mix to ensure all the ingredients are evenly coated and then transfer it into a serving bowl. Top it with extra chocolate chips and sliced grapes, if desired. Place it in the fridge until you're ready to serve it. Serve it alongside no-bake chocolate peanut butter pie for a rich contrast to your dessert spread!

Expert Tips

Add oranges last: Oranges release juice as they sit, which can thin the creamy dressing. Add them close to serving time to keep the salad from getting watery.
Make it ahead: Chop sturdy fruit the night before and store it in the fridge. Add the dressing and bananas within a few hours of serving for the best texture.
Scaling for a crowd: You can double the recipe for a larger gathering. Keep the same ratio of mayonnaise to heavy cream so the dressing stays creamy and balanced.
Storage directions: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Stir gently before serving to redistribute the dressing without breaking up the softer fruit.
Freezing the salad: Don't freeze the dressed fruit salad, since the cream-based dressing and fruit can separate and become watery when thawed. You can freeze the fruit undressed for up to 3 months, though some fruit may soften after thawing.

If you're looking for another creamy fruit salad, I highly recommend my creamy cheesecake fruit salad.

A fruit salad with mayonnaise topped with chocolate chips and sliced grapes.

Serving Suggestions

Summer cookouts: Bring it to potlucks, picnics, and backyard barbecues as a cool, creamy side dish alongside grilled chicken, burgers, and these old-fashioned cowboy baked beans.
Holiday dinners: Serve this Christmas fruit salad chilled in a pretty glass bowl alongside baked turkey and your favorite holiday sides.
Brunch gatherings: Spoon it into individual dessert cups for an easy addition to a brunch spread with pecan French toast and fresh pastries.

Old-Fashioned Fruit Salad Recipe FAQs

Can you taste the mayo in this creamy holiday fruit salad?

Not strongly. The full-fat mayonnaise adds a subtle tang and creamy richness that balances the sweetness of the fruit. When mixed with freshly whipped cream, it blends into the dressing rather than tasting like mayonnaise on its own.

How do I keep the bananas from browning in this old-fashioned fruit salad?

Slice the bananas and add them within a few hours of serving. You can also toss the slices with a little lemon juice to slow browning, but use it sparingly so it doesn't change the flavor of the creamy dressing.

Can I use Cool Whip in this old-fashioned fruit salad recipe?

Yes! You can substitute thawed Cool Whip for the freshly whipped heavy cream. The dressing will be sweeter and have a slightly different texture, so taste it before adding any extra sweetener.

A fork is standing upright digging into the old-fashioned fruit salad.

More Delicious Fruit Dessert Recipes

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