This recipe is one of my ALL-TIME favorite fruit salads — especially during the cold winter months.
And while I realize a “hot” fruit salad might not sound quite as appetizing as a “fresh” fruit salad, let me assure you, it’s so delicious, you won’t be able to stop eating it!
It’s fabulous with breakfast, lunch, or dinner… and I regularly eat the leftovers cold as a mid-morning snack.
Plus, since it uses mostly non-perishable canned fruits, you can keep the ingredients in the pantry and make it whenever you want.
This recipe can simmer in a slow cooker for several hours, so it’s often my go-to recipe when I’m asked to bring a dish for a church potluck, family gathering, holiday party, etc. It’s so forgiving, and honestly, who doesn’t like fruit!
Recipe for Hot Fruit Salad
Makes about 15 servings (enough to fill my 5 qt slow cooker).
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INGREDIENTS:
- 1 20 oz. can pineapple chunks; drained
- 1 16 oz. can mandarine oranges; drained
- 1 16 oz. can sliced or chopped peaches; drained
- 1 16 oz. can sliced or chopped pears; drained
- 1 16 oz. can apricot halves; drained and chopped
- 1 large apple; peeled, cored, and chunked
- 1 20 oz. can cherry pie filling
- 1 20 oz. jar applesauce
- 1/4 c. brown sugar
- 2 t. cinnamon
As I mentioned above, this recipe is SO forgiving so just use whatever canned fruit you have in the house. I’ve already used 2 or 3 cans of peaches when I didn’t have pears or apricots in the house; I’ve also added 1 or 2 sliced bananas for a little different flavor.
The key is to add the cherry pie filling as that is kind of the “glue” that holds everything together… so don’t skip that ingredient 🙂
DIRECTIONS:
1. Dump all fruit in a slow cooker
2. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon on top
3. Mix well
4. Turn slow cooker on low and cook until warm (about 3 hours, but you could let it sit longer if necessary)
I think it would be impossible to mess up this recipe — in fact, you could even do this in the microwave or on the stovetop if you were short on time (just make sure you stir it regularly)
Serving Suggestions:
We eat this as a side dish with breakfast, lunch, or dinner (like you would serve a regular fruit salad as a side dish). I usually serve it in a small bowl so it doesn’t run all over the plate. You can refrigerate any leftovers and eat them cold or warm them up in the microwave.
So the next time canned fruit is on sale, stock up and make a batch (or two) of this yummy hot fruit salad!
Have you ever made a fruit salad in your slow cooker?
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Frances Coffey says
Made this for a Ladies Fall brunch. It was a hit. I did add more brown suga
Andrea says
yay — glad you enjoyed this! And yes, go ahead and mix up the ingredients based on your own preferences. Nothing is an exact science!
Lucy says
So good! Make this every year for Thanksgiving brunch
Andrea says
yay — glad to know you’ve been enjoying the hot fruit all this time! it is really yummy!
Jean says
You mentioned “I usually serve it in a small bowl so it doesn’t run all over the plate.” I want to serve this at a potluck where it will be put on a plate with other food. Is there anything to add, and how much, to thicken it?
Andrea says
Hi Jean,
I’d just leave out the applesauce (or only put a little bit in). That will thicken it up.
Otherwise, you could add a couple Tablespoons of Tapioca.
Gina Oleary says
I love this! I melted butter and mixed it with granola and diced walnuts and sprinkled on top. I also added cranberries.
Thanks for the great idea. I would never have known.
Andrea says
yum — that sounds amazing!
Jane says
I have a recipe similar to this for the oven and it has curry in it and we love the taste. We do use this as a side dish, for breakfast, snack and topping on waffles. I am definitely trying this in my crock pot with pie filling.
Sherry says
Hi, Andrea! This recipe looks great! I’m wondering, though, if you’ve ever made it with another type of pie filling besides cherry. What other kinds do you think would work? Thanks!
Andrea says
I’d say apple pie filling would definitely work — maybe peach and/or blueberry too.
If you are asking about the cherry because you don’t like cherry pie filling, I’ll just tell you that I DO NOT like cherry pie filling either but it honestly tastes amazing with this recipe — so maybe just try it at least once 🙂
Stacy says
I want to try this, and am wondering if it would work to add tapioca. Do you think it would cook well in there? Looks delicious!
Andrea says
I think the tapioca COULD work — but why are you thinking of adding it? I use Tapioca to thicken stuff and this really doesn’t need to be thickened (at least in my opinion). Or do you just like the taste of Tapioca?
Stacy says
I just like the taste. 🙂
Andrea says
haha — ok, well then add the Tapioca 🙂
Audra says
Made this for an extended family dinner. It was a huge hit! My sister also suggested that a co-worker (who didn’t know what to bring) make it for an office party. She did. Huge hit there! So easy and yummy!
Andrea says
yay — glad you liked it!!
Denise says
Do you drain the fruit? (peaches, pears, apricots) Or literally just dump all in the crockpot?
Andrea says
I do usually drain peaches and pears, but you don’t have to. I often serve it in small bowls if people don’t want it to mix with their other foods.
Janice says
This sounds really yummy and quick/easy to make. It serves well with many foods. As you mentioned…..this would be great for a potluck. I would have to try to improvise and use fresh fruits, eliminate the brown sugar and see how it turns out. Would have to add some water possibly. Praying that you are adjusting to being a mom to two. My children are adults, but I remember well the adjustment going from one to two kids. Bless you as you keep up with life!
Courtney says
This is SO amazingly wonderful! It was great both warm and cold! I also put some on top of my pork, yum! I love that I can just use whatever canned fruit I have on hand. I’m looking forward to trying this with peach pie filling or maybe strawberry. Thanks for is super recipe!
beth says
I added just a tiny bit of whipped cream on top and it’s super yummy!
Sandy K says
This really does look delicious. It would also be good mixed with oatmeal or yogurt.
Mavis says
This would be great with pork chops, pork roast or even grilled chicken!
Andrea says
It is AWESOME with pork — probably one of my favorite side dishes for ham, pork chops, pork roasts, etc 🙂
JB says
This looks so good! I’m not good about getting all my veggies into my diet, but I’m a fruitaholic. 🙂
Thanks!
Stel says
First time I heard about this! Like a tutti frutti almost?
I’d serve a spoon of this on vanilla ice-cream 🙂
Lori says
How do you serve the hot fruit salad? Is it a dessert? I saw in a previous comment as a topping for pancakes. Perhaps a topping or base for icecream? It really looks delicious!
Andrea says
Lori, we eat this fruit salad as a side dish — just like you would eat a normal fruit salad. It’s great with breakfast, lunch or dinner, and is also an awesome snack right out of the refrigerator the next day.
Emily K says
Andrea,
My comment doesn’t actually belong here but for some reason I am not seeing the search function of your blog. I follow your blog and check it daily. Your simplistic organized personality comes through in the design of your blog. I was wondering if you would share with us what theme you use for your blog. If you prefer not to, I understand. Thanks in advance.
Andrea says
Thanks Emily, I actually don’t use a theme — I had my site custom made by my web designers 🙂
Also, the search bar is towards the top in the right sidebar. Hope this helps!
Sandy says
Mmmmmm. Yes. Simple. Delicious. Easy peazy. Sometimes I sprinkle granola on top just before serving for a little ‘crust’.
Dallas says
Looks delicious!!
janice says
Wow…this is a simple and what sounds to be a delicious recipe. Thanks for sharing.
JoAnn C. says
I can see this as a topping for pancakes or maybe hot fruit salad shortcakes for dessert.