Why else would you make a Filipino style fruit salad except to wow your guests at the next party? This creamy fruit salad is perfect for large gatherings as it makes a large batch and is insanely easy to make in just 10 minutes!
This Filipino style fruit salad recipe is a dessert winner during the holidays and parties! Guests will love this simple fruit salad recipe and the βwinβ for you is that it only took 10 minutes!
The beauty of this fruit salad is that it has so much flavor from the sweetness of the condensed milk to the tropical flavor of the canned fruit. Donβt worry that itβs from a can, as once it all comes together, no one will care!
As long as you have these 4-ingredients Iβll tell you below, you can make this anytime to share with family.
This post will go over everything you need to know to create this Filipino style fruit salad.
Recipe difficulty: Insanely easyβ¦.Like open a can, kid-friendly easy!
There is no chopping or difficult prep work! If you have done my Chocolate Peanut Butter Clusters recipe, I said at that post that was the easiest recipe to date. Well, this Filipino style fruit salad takes the cake! Literally, itβs open a can and mix!
Samβs Pro Tips for this Filipino Style Fruit Salad
- Donβt forget to strain the fruit cocktail cans! For this fruit cocktail salad with condensed milk, you will be using two 30-ounce cans. Remember, remember, remember to strain the syrup! This tip is not necessarily for the flavor, but for the consistency. This Filipino style fruit salad recipe is a very creamy, sweet mixture that is thickened proportionately to the fruit. By mistakenly adding the liquid in the can from the fruit cocktail, this fruit salad will have way too much liquid when mixed.
- For the best flavor and consistency, make the night before! Although this creamy fruit salad takes only 10-minutes to make, for the best flavor, make the night before! Trust me! Having the fruit salad set overnight allows the flavors to settle and mix perfectly. If you absolutely are not able to make the day prior, give this fruit salad at least 2 hours in the refrigerator to thicken to perfect consistency. This tip is very similar to my Filipino Sweet Macaroni Salad recipe, as the flavor the next day is incredible. The pictures below show what it looks like when first mixed compared to when it thickens overnight.
- Use this Filipino style fruit salad as an emergency dessert! What exactly do I mean by this? This creamy fruit salad ingredients are all canned. By having these 4-ingredients always in your pantry, you can whip this up in no time at all or if you know guests will be coming! No need to worry about getting fresh fruit or dairy. You can enjoy this fruit salad recipe as a dessert fit for company anytime! While although, I know this recipe is typically done around the holidays, this is a good backup for anyone to have!
Key Ingredients β Filipino Style Fruit Salad
Below are some key ingredients for this recipe:
- Del Monte Fiesta Fruit Cocktail: We love using the Del Monte Fiesta Fruit Cocktail cans in this Filipino inspired del monte fruit salad recipe. This cocktail mix has pineapple, red and yellow papaya, nata de coco and cherries in heavy syrup. It definitely produces the best fruit mixture and is the base of this fruit salad. The tropical mixture of this fruit cocktail will pair perfectly with the macapuno strings (coconut strings).
- Macapuno strings: Sweetened macapuno strings can be found in the Asian store and is another canned ingredient. Itβs essentially sweetened coconut strings that will be mixed in the fruit salad. Any brand should work, but you only need 12 ounces. The one I had was preserved in a gelatinous syrup and was a Filipino product. Mixed with the fruit salad and condensed milk, this gives a wonderful flavor.
- Nestle Table Cream: You will use two cans of this Nestle Table Cream! It adds a rich, creamy texture to the fruit and is the main liquid. This doesnβt necessarily add the sweetness as thatβs where the condensed milk comes in, but it gives a beautiful texture to the fruit salad. Consider this as the all-purpose cream.
- Sweetened condensed milk: With only a Β½ cup for the whole batch, this gives all the sweetness you need! Remember the fruit cocktail and the macapuno strings will already be sweet, so the sweetened condensed milk will just take it to another level!
More Variations to this Recipe
There are a few ways you can variate this Filipino style fruit salad. Hereβs how:
- Add bananas or jackfruit! If you would like to add even more fruit to this creamy fruit salad mixture, try adding sliced bananas or jackfruit. Remember if deciding to use sliced bananas, to incorporate right before serving as the bananas will not hold up well in the refrigerator. You can also buy sliced jackfruit that is canned. Make sure to strain the jackfruit if it’s in syrup. Donβt worry about adding more cream or condensed milk, as you will still have more than enough liquid in the mixture to incorporate these ingredients if you wish.
- What can I pair with this dish? This a great dessert option after you had a heavy meal! Like I said, itβs definitely a holiday favorite on the dessert table after eating so many yummy dishes! For other dishes with sweetened condensed milk, try our Creamy Filipino Leche Flan for Your Next Party or our 15-Minute Mini Pecan Sticky Buns to Drool Over for another quick option!
- 3-Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Clusters Youβll Love
- Creamy Filipino Leche Flan for Your Next Party
- Filipino Sweet Macaroni Salad to Try Right Now
- Better Than Grandmaβs Gingersnap Cookies
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make simple fruit salad?
A simple fruit salad can be made with canned fruit cocktail, cream, and sweetened condensed milk.
What is fruit salad made of?
Filipino style fruit salad can be made with Del Monte Fiesta Fruit Cocktail, macapuno strings, Nestle Table Cream, and sweetened condensed milk.
How long does fruit salad last in fridge?
Filipino style fruit salad can last 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
What must be considered when making a fruit salad?
When adding the canned fruit cocktail, make sure to drain the syrup from the can as this can add too much liquid to the fruit salad mixture and wonβt thicken properly.
Fred says
Absolutely one of my favorites.
sam says
So good!