heavenly hash fruit salad
This recipe has been passed down through 4 generations in our family via my mother's side, with some slight changes made over the years, due to the grocery products now available. For instance, the original recipe used whipped cream. But for convenience and lower calories, Cool Whip is now substituted. It's always on the menu for Thanksgiving & Christmas at our house. Putting it together makes a great family project that allows children to help, too. This salad is even better the next day, so it is delicious with the other leftovers from the holiday.
Blue Ribbon Recipe
We love how this fruit salad recipe has been passed through generations and adapted along the way. The mixture of fruit, the crunch of the apples, and the texture of the walnuts make this an amazing fruit salad. The oranges and pineapple are nicely balanced with the other fruit flavors. Things get special with the creamy dressing. Adding spices to the Cool Whip mixture is a nice surprise. Cinnamon and clove are subtle, but a great addition. The marshmallows soak up all the goodness from the fruits and dressing. We can totally see how the family can get together to make this as a team.
Ingredients For heavenly hash fruit salad
- SALAD INGREDIENTS
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1 bunchseedless white grapes, removed from stem and washed
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1 bunchseedless dark grapes, removed from stems and washed
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4-5 mddelicious apples, cored, sliced into 8th's, and then into about 1/2 inch pieces. Leave skin on for color and extra fiber. (Peel if you wish.)
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1 bottlemaraschino cherries, seeded, stemmed and well drained, 8 oz
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2 canmandarin orange sections, well drained, 10.5 oz each
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1 bunchcelery hearts, cut into small cubes (leaves removed)
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2 canpineapple chunks, very well drained, 20 oz each
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1 bunchbananas (4-5 medium), peeled and sliced
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1 pkgminiature marshmallows (or large marshmallows cut into fourths w/ kitchen scissors)
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1 1/2 lbwalnut pieces
- SALAD DRESSING
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16 ozCool Whip topping, thawed, two 8 oz tubs
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2-1/2 cmayonnaise, light
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2 tspground cinnamon
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1/2 tspground cloves
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2 Tbspgranulated sugar (or to taste)
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2 tsppure vanilla extract
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1 Tbsprum or almond extract (your choice, to taste)
How To Make heavenly hash fruit salad
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1FIRST, you will need 1 very large bowl for the salad and a medium mixing bowl for mixing dressing. (My VERY LARGE bowl is about 15 inches in diameter, and about 10 inches tall.) Wash and drain all fresh fruits and celery; allow to drain until as dry as possible. Drain all canned ingredients well. -
2Remove grapes from stems, cut in half if you wish, and add to the large mixing bowl. Cut cherries in half, if you wish (and remove stems, if needed). Add all to the salad bowl, along with drained canned orange segments and pineapple chunks.
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3Cut up apples and celery as directed in the ingredients list. dd to the large bowl (as per above).
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4Peel and slice bananas, and add to the salad bowl.
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5If using large marshmallows, cut them into quarters with kitchen shears into the salad bowl. If using miniature marshmallows, just add them to the salad bowl.
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6Add walnut pieces to the salad bowl.
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7To make the salad dressing, place thawed Cool Whip in a medium mixing bowl. Add mayonnaise and whisk them together. Add sugar, spices, and rum (or almond) extract.
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8Mix the dressing well to thoroughly combined.
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9Pour dressing over salad in a large bowl.
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10Gently fold all ingredients with a rubber spatula until well coated with dressing.
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11Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving.
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