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Home » Recipes » Appetizers

Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad

Stacey – April 27, 2021 – 65 Comments

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This post was originally published on June 11, 2013 and was updated on April 27, 2021. 

The bright colors of a fruit salad are perfect any time of the year, so I love having a great fruit salad recipe at the ready. And while most fruit salads don’t really need a recipe, it’s always nice to have one to get the quantities of fruit right. 

This Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad has been a family favorite ever since my sister-in-law introduced it to us quite a few years ago. It’s easy, quick, and affordable – because some fruit salads can cost a small fortune in fruit. 

This fruit salad simply calls for blueberries, strawberries, green seedless grapes and that secret ingredient. (We’ll get to that big secret here in a sec…) 

I like this particular combination of fruit because the colors are beautiful and vibrant and because those particular ingredients are relatively affordable. That said, you could absolutely make it your own by swapping things out. Raspberries and blackberries look beautiful in this and I’ve been known to add some diced fresh pineapple to this, too. It’s really your call. I would just caution against adding things like bananas or apples that might turn brown and not look super inviting. 

 

Now let’s talk about this secret ingredient… Every fruit salad needs a great dressing, right? It adds a pop of flavor and a little sweetness to fruit that might not be at its peak. It also helps to pull it all together. 

So what does that in this recipe? Simple. A can of peach pie filling. Seriously. The pie filling not only adds some delicious peaches (already peeled and sliced I might add), but the pie filling works perfectly as the sauce to make this simple salad sing! 

I know! I was just as surprised the first time I had it, too! But it works beautifully and tastes amazing! 

I often get asked about using other pie fillings and while I think they’d taste great, a blueberry or strawberry pie filling is going to turn the whole dish a different color because of the colored filling. Since the peach is relatively clear so you get to see all the pretty fruit through it. And while apple would be pretty clear too, it’s going to have cinnamon in it and that might not be the best flavor to add to your fruit salad. 

So add this super simple and crazy delicious fruit salad to your next menu and watch it disappear. 

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5 from 4 votes

Recipe Card

Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad

Course Dessert, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6
Author Stacey Little | Southern Bite

Ingredients

  • 1 pint blueberries, about 2 cups
  • 1 lb strawberries
  • 1 lb seedless green grapes, about 3 cups
  • 1 (21-ounce) can peach pie filling

Instructions

  • Wash the fruit well and place it on paper towels to dry completely. Hull and slice the strawberries. Combine the fruit in a large bowl and pour the peach pie filling over. Stir gently to combine. Refrigerate for about an hour. Serve chilled.
Did you make my Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad?I'd love to see! Share on Instagram, tag @southernbite, and use the hashtag #southernbite!
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Feeding people makes me happy. Few things in this world delight me more than my family and friends gathered around my table enjoying a meal. Pull up a chair and join us! Read more…

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  1. Debe Savage

    January 1, 2023 at 11:25 am

    This has been our family fruit salad for years now! Sometimes just before I serve it I
    will add a banana especially if I’m pretty sure there will not be any leftover.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      January 4, 2023 at 9:50 am

      Great tip! Thanks, Debe! Glad to hear you’ve enjoyed this one!

      Reply
  2. Brenda

    August 20, 2022 at 8:35 pm

    I never thought about peach pie filling. Good to know. I will use the juice or light syrup from canned mandarin oranges.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 22, 2022 at 8:40 am

      The juice may make it slightly more “watery”. May be better with the light syrup.

      Reply
  3. Terri

    August 10, 2022 at 11:44 am

    Making it for a shower? How many dies this serve?

    Reply
  4. Linda

    June 30, 2022 at 12:11 pm

    Love this fruit salad! Can it be made a day before?

    Reply
    • Stacey

      July 1, 2022 at 9:41 am

      Sure!

      Reply
  5. Linda Baxley

    June 17, 2022 at 4:50 pm

    I am in a pinch! Making this salad tomorrow. I can’t find any canned peach pie filling. Can I use peaches in heavy syrup instead? Thank you

    Reply
    • Stacey

      June 21, 2022 at 9:17 am

      It would probably work!

      Reply
  6. Teresa Barronton

    May 29, 2022 at 11:03 am

    I made this today for a family get together! It was the hit of the day! Will make very often this summer Thank you!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      June 7, 2022 at 2:05 pm

      So glad to hear y’all enjoyed it!

      Reply
  7. Nancy Ruth

    May 28, 2022 at 9:31 pm

    I made this for an extended family event and it was an instant hit! I doubled the ingredients as it was a larger crowd and every spoonful was eaten! I used a combination of blueberries and blackberries which was a nice addition to the mix. I will make this again!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      June 7, 2022 at 2:06 pm

      Blackberries sound perfect! Happy to hear it turned out great for you!

      Reply
  8. Mar mur

    May 13, 2022 at 4:55 pm

    Has any one ever used cherry pie filling or apple pie filling just to change flavor once in awhile

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 17, 2022 at 8:19 am

      I haven’t but I’m sure it would be great!

      Reply
  9. Deneen

    May 11, 2022 at 5:33 pm

    Is this peach pie filling ? Or canned peaches. I can’t find pie filling in my stores.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 12, 2022 at 8:32 am

      It’s the peach pie filling.

      Reply
      • Deneen Firestone

        May 15, 2022 at 2:36 pm

        Finally found peach pie filling, made it for homecoming today and everyone enjoyed!

        Reply
        • Stacey

          May 17, 2022 at 8:14 am

          Oh good!

          Reply
  10. Carol Johnston

    March 17, 2022 at 1:00 pm

    Haven’t tried yet, but it looks very appealing. I just have a question about cinnamon. NMHO, I think there is very little that cinnamon can’t be used with. To me it enhances the flavor of whatever it is used with.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      March 18, 2022 at 12:36 pm

      I agree!

      Reply
  11. Nicole Shein

    March 17, 2022 at 10:07 am

    20113, eh? Quick—tell us what tech to invest in! 😉

    Reply
    • Stacey

      March 17, 2022 at 11:52 am

      Oh so sorry about that…corrected it!

      Reply
  12. Patricia Davey

    August 20, 2021 at 9:15 am

    Is it okay wash all the fruit the day before and assemble it the morning of?

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 23, 2021 at 8:40 am

      Sure!

      Reply
  13. Jane McLaughlin

    August 4, 2021 at 11:06 am

    BEST EVER FRIUT SALAD! PEACH PIE FILLING WAS A LITTLE HARD TO FIND BUT WELL WORTH IT! DID NOT DISAPPOINT!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      August 6, 2021 at 8:03 am

      So glad it turned out great for you!

      Reply
  14. Cindy Haaker

    May 10, 2021 at 6:05 pm

    The Secret Ingredient Fruit Salad was a huge hit and diet friendly!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 11, 2021 at 2:19 pm

      So glad to hear it turned out great for you!!

      Reply
  15. Brenda

    April 29, 2021 at 9:53 pm

    I have been looking for a fruit salad recipe to switch out with the one I have made for year’s. I think this one sound’s and look’s Perfectly Splendid.
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 30, 2021 at 11:22 am

      Sure hope you enjoy it!!

      Reply
  16. Reese

    April 27, 2021 at 3:47 pm

    Sounds great, but actually cinnamon and honey gives the fruit salad an excellent taste too. I never thought of peach pie filling….sounds amazing.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 29, 2021 at 1:57 pm

      Thanks, Reese!

      Reply
      • Cindy ballmann

        May 7, 2022 at 2:14 pm

        Can you put this together the day before ?

        Reply
        • Stacey

          May 9, 2022 at 3:11 pm

          Yes, but some of the colors may bleed.

          Reply
  17. Debby

    April 27, 2021 at 2:24 pm

    One of my aunts used to make this, and I always thought it was so good! Thank you for reminding me with this delicious memory!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 29, 2021 at 1:57 pm

      I love how food does that!

      Reply
  18. Kimberly

    April 27, 2021 at 12:23 pm

    Hi, Stacey!!
    We like to add a splash (or three) of Amaretto or rum and serve this over toasted slices of pound cake for dessert…of course, a plop of freshly whipped cream on top, too. It is soo good!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      April 27, 2021 at 12:43 pm

      Oh my! I love the amaretto idea! I’m a big almond fan. I’ll be trying this for sure!!

      Reply
  19. Cindy

    March 13, 2020 at 8:45 pm

    I’m not a blueberry fan. Have you ever tried a substitute for the blueberries?

    Reply
    • Stacey

      March 17, 2020 at 11:11 am

      You can simply leave them out if you wish or substitute them with another berry.

      Reply
  20. Beverly Blissitt

    January 8, 2019 at 11:49 pm

    I made this fruit salad for a dessert course when we had friends over for dinner. It was a hit. Thanks for a super easy and tasty fruit salad recipe.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      January 9, 2019 at 12:15 pm

      So glad everyone enjoyed it!!

      Reply
  21. Penny

    June 12, 2016 at 7:34 pm

    I can’t find peach pie filling (stuck here in California, longing for the South)

    Reply
    • Stacey

      June 13, 2016 at 3:14 pm

      Oh no!!!

      Reply
    • ALICE BROWN

      July 6, 2016 at 8:02 pm

      IF you have trouble finding peach pie filling, word Amazon. com you can get it most of the time in two days,

      Reply
  22. Kathy

    May 23, 2016 at 4:59 pm

    We love this fruit salad! We stretch it even further by starting with two cans of drained fruit cocktail with the peach pie filling. We then add strawberries, grapes, blueberries, etc. My grandkids love it!!!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 24, 2016 at 3:18 pm

      Sounds great!!!

      Reply
  23. Linda

    July 16, 2014 at 6:07 pm

    We have used this recipe for fruit salads at my church for years. It is amazing how big a salad you can make with just one can of the pie filling. We use either peach or apricot. One of the best things is you can use bananas or apples and the pie filling coats them so they don’t turn brown as quickly.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      July 17, 2014 at 9:10 am

      Yep, and it’s so easy too!!

      Reply
  24. Sherry

    May 22, 2014 at 4:21 pm

    Peach pie filling is also used in what we call “stained glass fruit salad”. We use bananas, strawberries, pineapple chunks and any other fruit you like. It is at almost every church dinner! Sooo good!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 23, 2014 at 9:04 am

      Yum!

      Reply
  25. Vanessa

    March 24, 2014 at 11:39 pm

    How many ounces were those dishes in the picture? And how many dishes did you fill with this recipes or how many does this recipes serve?

    Reply
  26. Nellie

    July 20, 2013 at 4:34 pm

    I made this fruit salad today for lunch. It was marvelous. Thanks so much. Love your recipes, it’s like home.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      July 21, 2013 at 9:07 pm

      Nellie, I couldn’t have asked for a better compliment! Thanks so much for letting me know. 🙂

      Reply
  27. Ivy Davis

    July 16, 2013 at 6:19 pm

    Hi Stacey,
    My family has loved this recipe for years, but some couldn’t eat it because they were diabetic.
    I came up with a low sugar alternative I wanted to share.
    Take a jar of the Simply Fruit Jam and mix with a drained can of no-sugar added sliced peaches.
    Mix well and then add fresh fruit as directed. Taste like the original recipe without the sugar.

    Love your recipes!!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      July 17, 2013 at 9:52 am

      Thanks so much, Ivy! This is a WONDERFUL idea! Now you’ve got me craving some cake. Can’t beat Ligers! I need to head your way soon!

      Reply
    • Martha

      July 2, 2021 at 8:40 pm

      Which flavor of Simply Fruit?

      Reply
  28. Judy Hayes

    June 28, 2013 at 5:23 am

    This is a wonderful fruit salad and is very easy to make. I think adults and children will both love this!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      June 28, 2013 at 9:22 am

      You are so sweet! Thanks!

      Reply
  29. Mimi

    June 13, 2013 at 4:09 pm

    This is my “go to” fruit recipe, I used it this week when I took breakfast to a family who had lost a loved one. I freeze it and use it for tailgating at AU, War Eagle:) It stays in the frig when my children and grandchildren come to visit… etc. etc etc!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      June 13, 2013 at 4:17 pm

      We sure love it at our house! (War Eagle!)

      Reply
  30. Lark

    June 11, 2013 at 10:30 pm

    I think adding the Pie filling is AWESOME!! Great thinking!! 🙂

    Reply
  31. Claudine

    June 11, 2013 at 6:47 pm

    Now this is what I call plumb larrapin!! It is easy and with the fesh fruit coming into season everything is easy to get. Thanks for the easy recipe.
    Claudine in Fort Worth, TX

    Reply

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