Red, White, and Blue Fruit Salad
This Red White & Blue Fruit Salad is the perfect patriotic dessert, fresh, fun, and shaped like stars for extra sparkle. With simple ingredients and bold summer flavors, it’s a great side dish for Memorial Day weekend, the Fourth of July, or any red white & blue celebration.
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Whether you’re hosting a July celebration, packing a cooler for summer picnics, or serving alongside hot dogs and burgers, this patriotic fruit salad brings the wow factor with minimal effort. Featuring fresh strawberries, blue fruits like blueberries, and juicy red apples cut into star shapes, this easy side dish is a festive, healthy side dish that looks just as good as it tastes!
Look for more easy party dips and apps? Be sure to try our Easy Classic Cheeseball (Great Party App!) and the Best Caramelized Onion Dip Recipe.
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Ingredients Needed
Fresh Strawberries – Sweet, juicy, and red, an obvious choice for patriotic desserts
Blueberries – These little blue fruits are the heart of any good blueberry salad or blue fruit salad recipe
Pink Lady Apple – Crisp and slightly tart, cut into star shapes for a fun and festive look
Fresh Lime Juice or Lemon Juice – Optional, but a splash helps prevent browning and adds a refreshing citrus note
How to Make Red White & Blue Fruit Salad
Prep the berries:
Rinse the fresh strawberries, quarter them, and place them in a large bowl. Wash the blueberries and add them in. Gently toss the fresh berries together.
Create the stars:
Wash your Pink Lady apple and slice it into rounds. Using a small star-shaped cookie cutter (or mini star cookie cutter), cut out as many apple stars as you can. Varying star sizes makes the salad feel even more special.
Toss it all together:
Add the apple stars to your berry mix. Toss everything carefully so the fruits stay whole and pretty. If using lime juice or lemon juice, drizzle a little over the apples to keep them from browning.
Chill until serving:
Cover the bowl or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until party time. This salad is best served cold and fresh!
Helpful Tips
Use a star-shaped cookie cutter – It turns a regular fruit salad into a patriotic summer fruit salad that steals the show
Add citrus juice – A bit of lemon juice or lime juice brightens the flavors and keeps white fruits like apples from turning brown
Prep ahead – You can wash and cut the berries a few hours in advance; wait to slice the apple until closer to serving
Display it right – Serve it in a clear trifle bowl or on a white platter for that perfect patriotic dessert presentation
Substitutions and Variations
Use red apples or white peaches – If Pink Lady isn’t available, red apples or white peaches work beautifully
Add fresh mint – A few mint leaves add a refreshing aroma and pop of green
Mix in red grapes or purple grapes – For more texture and juicy contrast
For a dessert version – Add mini marshmallows, a cheesecake mixture, or a creamy cheesecake dressing using cream cheese and pudding mix for a berry cheesecake salad recipe twist
Change up the fruits – Canary melons, juicy watermelon, or pomegranate seeds are all fun additions for different sizes, colors, and textures
Turn it into a blue cheesecake salad – Fold in a cheesecake filling made with cream cheese and cheesecake pudding for a creamy fruit salad upgrade
How to Store
Store the fruit salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
Common FAQs
It’s best served the day of, but you can prep the berries and store them in an airtight container for up to 2–3 days. Add the apples and citrus juice right before serving to keep them looking fresh.
Red fruits like red grapes, blood orange slices, or pomegranate seeds work well. You can also use white fruits like white peaches, canary melon, or apple varieties for a twist.
Absolutely! Try a simple fruit salad dressing with lime juice, orange juice, and a little honey. Or for a dessert recipe version, add a creamy cheesecake dressing with whipped cream cheese and pudding mix.
Patriotic Fruit Salad
Ingredients
- Fresh strawberries rinsed and quartered
- Blueberries washed and whole
- Pink Lady apple sliced and cut with a star-shaped cookie cutter
- Optional: fresh lime juice or lemon juice to keep apples from browning and add brightness
Instructions
- Rinse and prep strawberries and blueberries, then add to a large bowl.
- Slice apple into rounds and cut into star shapes using a small cookie cutter.
- Gently toss all fruits together with a splash of lime or lemon juice.
- Chill in an airtight container until ready to serve.
