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Ensalada Navideña (or Mexican Christmas Fruit Salad) is a mixture of apples and other fruits covered in a dreamy and creamy dressing. Learn to make this traditional Mexican recipe by watching the VIDEO or follow along the step-by-step tutorial.
Usually around mid December, I start missing Mexico. I love the posadas. They are processions where people carry the nativity scene, or people will dress up as Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem. Afterwards, it’s a big party. We’re talking HUGE spreads of food and maybe a piñata for the kids. I wish I were there…
You’ll always find this Ensalada Navideña, or Mexican Christmas Fruit Salad, during the Holidays and at these big parties. Some people will also make it and eat it during their Christmas Eve dinner. That’s why it’s also referred to as “ensalada de nochebuena.” You can serve it during the meal itself or have it as a dessert. Such a super easy dish to make too.
Start by making the creamy dressing. This is sour cream, but you can also use crema mexicana. Some people will even use mayonnaise. That’s so not me! I say NAY-o to Mayo. Personally, I think it tastes better with sour cream.
Get a can, man! This is one case where fresh is actually not better. You will need the juice of 1 can of pineapple. It will help thin out the dressing. See why I like this recipe? You might already everything you need already in your cupboard.
Sweetened condensed milk adds a lot of sweetness. If you like your Ensalada Navideña to be more sugary, by all means add the entire container. This recipe only calls for half of a container. For me, that is plenty sweet.
Just beat it! Cue Michael Jackson! There should be no lumps in the dressing. Once you’re done, place this in the refrigerator until ready to us. You don’t want anyone to get sick. By the way, Mexicans love MJ. Then again, who doesn’t?
The main ingredient: Apples! Johnny Appleseed took a wrong and probably ended up in Durango. That is where my family has their apple orchards on the ranch. We’re talking acres and acres of Ensalada Navideña waiting to be made. You can use whatever combination you like. For this recipe, I used Gala apples because they were on sale. Chop and dice.
Note: If you don’t want the diced apples to get too brown, put them in water or drizzle them with a little lemon juice while you’re getting everything else ready.
This is canned pineapple. We used the liquid from the can for the dressing, remember? You can use pineapple rings and dice them up. Or buy them already diced. Whatever you get is fine, but don’t get crushed pineapple. That don’t work well in this dish.
Go nuts! Chopped pecans give great texture to the Ensalada Navideña. You can also use slivered almonds or walnuts, but pecans are traditional. Then again, you always start your own tradition.
Can’t forget raisins and shredded coconut. Add everything to a large bowl. Isn’t it gorgeous? My friend, Rachel, lent it to me for this picture. Not sure if I got the essence of its beauty, but the antique green glass is something to be seen in person.
Other ingredients: Some people will also add carrots or celery. Those are completely optional and great additions especially since it’s an easy way to get in your servings of fruits and veggies.
Add the cream dressing to the fruit and mix thoroughly. It kinda looks like a Waldorf Salad. Truth be told, that is how it originated. Over the years, the recipe morphed into a truly traditional Mexican creation in Ensalada Navideña. All cultures steal (borrow) from other cultures. Mexico is no exception.
Finish it off with a cherry on top. Be sure to add plenty of cherries. We used to fight for the cherry as kids. Almost as intense as the battle for the last tamal. That’s when the gloves came off and no holds barred.
Ensalada Navideña is a yummy fruit salad that’s sure to be enjoyed by one and all. Hope you enjoy!
Watch the video to learn to make Ensalada Navideña
Ensalada Navideña
Ingredients
- 1 cup sour cream or crema mexicana
- ½ 14- ounce container sweetened condensed milk
- 1 20- ounce can of pineapple reserve juice and pineapple fruit
- 9 apples diced
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 2- oz package shredded coconut
- ½ cup raisins
- 1 12- ounce jar Maraschino cherries drained
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl, add the sour cream, sweetened condensed milk, and pineapple juice from the can.
- With a whisk, blend until smooth.
- Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- In a large container or bowl, add the diced apples, pecans, coconut, and raisins.
- Pour the cream dressing on top.
- Mix thoroughly to combine.
- Top with Maraschino cherries.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
For more Mexican Dessert Recipes:
20 Best Mexican Desserts
Champurrado
Buñuelos, or Mexican Fritters
Arroz con Leche
Empanadas de Calabaza, Pumpkin Empanadas
Pan de Elote, or Mexican Sweet Corn Cake
Tres Leches Cake, or Pastel de Tres Leches
Flan
Easy Mexican Dessert – Spiced Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pumpkin Arroz con Leche
Carlota de Limón
Fresas con Crema
Pineapple Empanadas, or Empanadas de Piña
Capirotada, Mexican Bread Pudding
I have tried a few different Mexican recipes over the years but this one looks so much better. I will definitely give it a try.
Thank you. This fruit salad is a favorite.
I haven’t had a Mexican fruit salad in years. I need to give it a try again soon. Such great flavours.
Thank you! This recipe for Ensalada Navideña (or Mexican Christmas Fruit Salad) is a keeper. 🙂
This dessert looks full of flavors! I would definitely like to try it
Ensalada Navideña (or Mexican Christmas Fruit Salad) is so good. Not too sweet either.
First, this looks absolutely delicious! Second, how are all your pictures so gorgeous! Even the one that’s literally just pecans is pretty. Well done!
Blush… thank you! I really work on my photography. It doesn’t always work, but luckily these pictures for Ensalada Navideña (or Mexican Christmas Fruit Salad) came out pretty good, if I say so myself. 🙂
I’ve never heard of putting a dressing on fruit. This is really intriguing x
Hope you try it out. The dressing for Ensalada Navideña (or Mexican Christmas Fruit Salad) is very yummy and not too heavy.
Okay so this is going to sound kind of crazy but I’ve actually been looking for the name of this dish since I was a little girl and I tried it and loved it and I CANNOT BELIEVE I FOUND IT ON YOUR BLOG! This is amazing thank you so much I want wait to make it
I sooooo relate to that. I always thought my mom and family members made up stuff. lol. They probably did!! Sometimes, I start writing the ingredients in Google to see what others call the dishes. Glad you found this Ensalada Navideña (or Mexican Christmas Fruit Salad).
I have never heard of this dessert before but it sounds really yummy especially with the condensed milk
That’s exactly why you have to try this Ensalada Navideña (or Mexican Christmas Fruit Salad). It’s very authentic Mexican food. So, it wouldn’t surprise me if you’ve never had it outside of Mexico.
This sounds really delicious.
Hope you try it, it is!
This looks so delicious and easy to make, just a little bit of slicing and opening cans, really not something that will get you tired before eating.
I have to agree. I love a simple recipe. Ensalada Navideña (or Mexican Christmas Fruit Salad) is seriously a no-brainer type of recipe.
Yessssssssssssss, a delicious fruit salad recipe. I have to try this as I love eating fruits during the winter.
Right! Ensalada Navideña (or Mexican Christmas Fruit Salad) is full of fruits and some people will even add shredded carrots or celery. Fruits and veggies!
I’ve never heard of this before, but it looks so delicious! I am going to have to try to make it for the holiday gatherings here.
Hope you do. Ensalada Navideña (or Mexican Christmas Fruit Salad) is good and not too difficult to make.
I have never heard of this sweet Mexican Christmas salad. It looks and sounds delicious – and so easy to make. Curious how it would be with celery or something else savory as contrast.
Celery adds great crunch and contrast to the Ensalada Navideña (or Mexican Christmas Fruit Salad). I almost added it to the the video and the pictures, but I decided to keep it all fruits.
This dish sounds very tasty. Never had anything like this before. I love the clear instructions you have here.
Thank you. My recipes are authentic Mexican food like this Ensalada Navideña (or Mexican Christmas Fruit Salad). Some people don’t know how to use some of our ingredients. I try my best to deliver as much content as possible with clear instructions and videos.
I have never had this kind of fruit salad before but it looks so refreshing and tasty. Will be trying this soon! I’m sure people at the upcoming Christmas party will love it!
That’s one thing I love about Ensalada Navideña (or Mexican Christmas Fruit Salad). That’s a refreshing salad for dessert after a big meal.
What a great dish to make! It doesn’t seem that complicated – I need to try to make it sometime. So delicious!
Hope you do! This recipe is super, duper easy.
I’m borrowing this recipe as the dish looks so delicious. I will add this to my holiday party.
You’re going to love this recipe. It’s so yummy.