Easiest Fruit Salad takes minutes to toss together. Studded with mini marshmallow, this is a classic Midwestern fruit salad recipe!
It doesn’t get more Midwestern then Easiest Fruit Salad!
This fresh and fun, easy fruit salad recipe combines fresh fruit, juicy canned fruit, plus mini marshmallow (that’s the “fun” part!) to create a special snack, sweet side, or dessert.
Easiest Fruit Salad also goes by another name – Recital Fruit. The recipe is from my friend Laura’s Mom who made the magical concoction of fresh strawberries, bananas, mandarin oranges, and marshmallows for us to devour during rehearsals for our spring dance recital each year growing up.
Needing sustenance into the wee hours of the morning, which rehearsals usually went until, she’d send a big tub 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 soft and mousse-like after soaking up the juices of the fruit and melt into the strawberry-banana flavor spiked with mandarin oranges, I adore this combo and have yet to meet someone who doesn’t!
Like I said, the recipe couldn’t be easier. Start by slicing 1lb strawberries.
Add the strawberries to a large bowl then add 1 can drained mandarin oranges packed in water that have been drained.
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 30 minutes to an hour to give the marshmallows time to soften and soak up some of the yummy juices from the strawberries and mandarin oranges.
Whether you’re from the midwest or not, you will love this special little snack! Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 lb strawberries, sliced
- 15 oz can mandarin oranges packed in water, drained
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 2 large or 3 small bananas, sliced
Directions
- Add all ingredients into a large bowl then fold to combine.
- Refrigerate for at least an hour which will allow the natural juices of the strawberries and oranges to release and create a light syrup then serve. Serve within 2 days.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
This is the perfect light, sweet treat to cap off a BBQ!
My grandma used to make this all the time for summer family gatherings! Love it!
I’m usually not a marshmallow person but it sounds delish!! Esp the strawberry/banana combo. Happy 4th!
Yep, that’s pretty dang easy! I love the fruits in this, actually, anything but cantaloupe and I’m good. Have a great 4th! :)
Bahahahahahaha…it IS so totally midwestern to put marshmallows in salad!
My kids will love this…it just might show up for our 4th of July cook out!
Just think, in no time at all, Iowa Baby Eats will be gobbling this up!
Nothing like a pop of mini marshmellows! Love it!
oh my gosh. what a blast from the past! this reminds me of dance recitals and girl scout camp. you were not lying when you said this recipe would taste like 1995!
I think I would find it impossibly difficult to resist adding that deep color (purple grapes or blueberries) to this – already scrumptious – dish! I’ts definitely going down soon…
Haha I know, trust me I wanted to throw ALL THE THINGS into this salad, but I resisted. The simplicity is what makes it so good! :)
Where did you get those bowls?! Super cute!
Yum! This looks awesome!
we have this at holidays all the time! and, yes, so easy!
So simple! What a great side dish for summertime!
I’m going to have to make this today my daughters would LOVE it. I can’t help but notice that it’s impossibly early for a posting. Hope you’re not suffering from a case of pregnancy induced insomnia ;)