Easiest Fruit Salad

Ok, I know you are just completely bogged down with 4th of July recipes by now, but I have one final dish for you to consider – Easiest Fruit Salad. Named as such because it is quite possibly the easiest, yet tastiest, fruit salad known to man, and would be a hit at a 4th of July picnic (or anytime this summer, really!)

Easiest Fruit Salad also goes by another name – Recital Fruit. Not Recital Fruit Salad, mind you – just Recital Fruit. The recipe is from my friend’s Mom who used to make the magical, easily transportable concoction of fresh strawberries, bananas, mandarin oranges, and marshmallows for us every year growing up when our dance studio put on its annual spring recital at the Civic Center.

Needing sustenance into the wee hours of the morning, which practices usually went until, she’d send a big tub with her daughter, my friend Laura, along with a plethora of plastic spoons so everyone could scoop up their fair share of this sweet, super-Midwestern fruit salad. I mean, marshmallows in a fruit salad? Brilliant!

They get kind of soft and mousse-like after soaking up the juices of the fruit and melt into the strawberry-banana flavor spiked with mandarin. I adore this combo and have yet to meet someone who doesn’t!

Like I said, the recipe couldn’t be easier and comes together lickity-split. Start by slicing 1lb strawberries. 

Add the strawberries to a large bowl then add 1 can drained mandarin oranges. Ultra juicy.

In goes 2 sliced large bananas, or 3 small sliced bananas (if making ahead of time, add these just before serving.)

Followed by 1 cup mini marshmallows. Like I said – pure Midwest, purely delish. Easiest Fruit Salad MUST have mini marshmallows!

Toss to combine then stash in the fridge for about 30 minutes to give the marshmallows time to soften and soak up some of the yummy juices from the strawberries and mandarin oranges, then enjoy!

Easiest Fruit Salad

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dairy freegluten freevegetarian15 minute meal

Description

Easiest Fruit Salad takes mere minutes to toss together. A classic Midwestern fruit salad recipe!

Ingredients

serves 5-6

• 1lb strawberries, sliced
• 15oz can mandarin oranges, drained
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• 2 large bananas (or 3 small bananas,) sliced

Directions

1. Combine strawberries, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, and bananas in a large bowl then chill and serve. Can make several hours ahead of time, but add sliced bananas just before serving.

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Isn’t she pretty? This was a fun recipe to phototgraph. :)

Like my friend Laura says, the best way to eat this salad is to make sure you get one of everything in each bite. You can’t beat the classic strawberry-banana combo, and the burst of juicy citrus is Heaven with the creamy marshmallow. Hope you enjoy, and HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!