Orange Honey Rainbow Fruit Salad Recipe + Video

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Rainbow Fruit Salad is like a party for your senses. Enjoy vibrant colors and bright flavors from a delicious blend of summer rainbow fruit. Plus, the orange honey dressing for this fruit salad includes a secret ingredient that brings all of the flavors to life!



 

The best part about making this rainbow fruit salad recipe, besides the flavor, is that it’s a great addition to any meal!

The fresh strawberries paired with all your favorite fruits are perfect for Mother’s Day, a summer cookout, baby showers, and a last-minute healthy snack.

I love that this salad has lots of color, and the flavors of the fruit are outstanding! Adding fresh blueberries is one of my favorites to put into this delicious rainbow fruit salad!

I’ll start by eating a small bowl, but who am I kidding? The large bowl is gone in no time at all! Eating the colors of the rainbow is addictive! 

Rainbow Fruit Salad

Nothing completes a summertime meal like a fabulous fruit salad. 

Picnics, park parties, barbeques, cookouts, and potlucks — you’ll always have the perfect menu with burgersdogs, salads, and fresh fruit.

The magic of this rainbow fruit salad is the dressing. It has the perfect balance of sweet and tart from Mandarin orange and lemon juice, plus good quality honey. 

Don’t forget the special ingredient in this dressing for fruit salad: fresh mint! 

The combination of flavors is utterly spectacular. Mint adds a lovely coolness that brightens all of the natural rainbow fruit flavors. 

This fruit salad with oranges is like a party for your senses.

Tips for Making Fruit Salad with Oranges

  • Use a variety of fruit. The goal here is rainbow fruit salad, so include at least one thing with each color. 

    Certain colors will have several options to choose from, so go with your favorites!
  • Keep sizes consistent. It will be easier to eat (and snag several fruits at once!) if everything is chopped to a similar size.
  • Layer properly. Oranges and most berries are very delicate, so you’ll want to add those last. 

    Place the firmest fruit on the bottom of your bowl, then work your way up. When it’s time to toss, the softer fruits will be less likely to break apart.
  • Adjust the flavors. When making dressing for fruit salad, keep the overall flavor in mind. I used mandarin orange juice and lemon juice to balance the sweetness. 

    You could use regular orange juice if you’d like, or swap the lemon with lime juice to pair with more tropical fruits.
  • Make the dressing in a jar. All you have to do is shake to mix, plus it’s an easy way to muddle the mint!  
mixing rainbow fruit salad

Rainbow Fruit Combination Ideas

  • Red: Strawberries are a classic choice, and I used raspberries as well. Cherries and pomegranate arils would be tasty too.
  • Orange: Mandarin oranges are a bit sweeter, and you can use canned to cut down on prep. 

    Cantaloupe is so refreshing, so that’s in there as well. You could also swap in peaches.
  • Yellow: I love bananas, but pineapple is another popular choice! For a tropical combination, try mango.
  • Green: Tart and sweet kiwi livens up the whole bowl. If you’re not a fan, choose honeydew melon or green grapes instead.
  • Blue: Plump blueberries are really the only option for this color. Good thing they’re so delicious!
  • Purple: Despite the name, blackberries are actually very dark purple! They’re also very sturdy, so they hold up well in orange fruit salad. 

    Red grapes are a great option as well.

Make Ahead Instructions

Whether you’ve got party prep or are taking this fruit salad with oranges on the road, you can put it together the day beforehand with ease.

As mentioned, layer the fruit from firmest on the bottom to delicate on the top. Wait to slice and add the bananas until just before serving, or they will turn brown.

Tightly cover the bowl with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator.

Combine the dressing ingredients in a jar and keep chilled. Then, give it a shake, pour over the fruit, and toss to combine. Easy peasy!

Supplies You Will Need

  • Large Serving Bowl – Grab one that is clear so all of the rainbow fruit colors can really shine!
  • Mason Jar  I absolutely love canning jars. I use them for storing, prepping, drinking glasses, and yes — even canning!

Orange Fruit Salad FAQ

Can I use frozen fruit for orange fruit salad?

I don’t recommend it. Frozen fruit becomes too soft and mushy once thawed, and the whole bowl will end up a watery mess.

How do you cut melon for fruit salad? 

There are two options — chunks or balls.

For chunks, slice the melon in half, then into smaller wedges/slices. Cut the fruit away from the peel, then chop into small pieces.

If you prefer less chopping, grab a melon baller and get to scooping! This also adds a fun shape to your rainbow fruit salad.

Can I double this recipe? 

Yes! In fact, this is one of the easiest dishes to scale up. All you have to do is increase the amounts until you have as much as you need — and maybe a little extra for leftovers!

Just be sure to keep the ratios the same so one type of fruit doesn’t take over the whole bowl.

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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rainbow fruit salad with honey orange dressing

Orange Honey Rainbow Fruit Salad Recipe + Video

Donna Elick
Rainbow Fruit Salad is like a party for your senses. The orange honey dressing for this fruit salad really brings all of the flavors to life!
5 stars from 4 reviews
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Method Mixed
Servings 12

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound strawberries, quartered
  • 6 ounces raspberries
  • 3 ounces blackberries
  • 6 ounces blueberries
  • 1/4 fresh pineapple, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 2 kiwi, sliced
  • 1/4 cantaloupe, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 4 ounces green grapes, halved
  • 1 medium banana, sliced and dipped in lemon juice
  • 4-5 Mandarin oranges, divided

Fruit Salad Dressing

  • 1/4 cup fresh orange juice, I juiced several Mandarin oranges
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 4-10 mint leaves, roughly chopped

Instructions
 

  • Combine fruit in a large serving bowl (except bananas). Set aside. Combine dressing ingredients in a mason jar. Shake vigorously to combine (shaking helps get the best flavor out of the mint).
  • Pour the dressing over the salad shortly before serving. Gently toss fruit to coat in dressing. Garnish with bananas. Serve and enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 97cal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 6mg | Sugar: 18g | Fiber: 4g | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled image (and shown): orange honey rainbow fruit salad

Originally published May 2014, updated and republished July 2024

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18 Comments

  1. Simply beautiful! nothing says "summer" like a delicious fruit salad – lovely sweet dressing!
    Mary

  2. I have made this several times with varying fruits. Instead of lemon juice in the dressing, I zest a lime. This is a great recipe!

  3. I am excited about this as it is a little different from my fruit bowl. I use all the fruit that I love and use a mixture of honey and line. However, I love the idea of the fresh mint with either method. Oranges sound great too.
    Shirley

  4. 5 stars
    Fruit salads are all easy, but they can taste so different depending on what you put in them. This was an amazing fruit salad, and had a very refreshing taste.

  5. 5 stars
    This is the prettiest, best tasting fruit salad I’ve ever made! It’s my go to now for every shower, party, barbecue or any family event. The orange dressing with mint is what really makes this so delicious! Just love it!

    1. Hi Yvonne,
      We are happy you enjoyed it! We make it all the time and everyone always comments on how pretty and delicious it is. Have a great day!
      TSRI Team Member,
      Holli

  6. I made this for a luncheon in our community and it was delicious! Everyone loved it so much that we ate it all! Easy to make too!

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