5 Fruity Desserts You Can Make Aside From Fruit Salad

The holidays is the one time of the year you’ll never go hungry! With all the food that is on buffet tables, given as gifts, or part of a big feast, you can get tired of the same food served at these gatherings.

That’s why it’s a relief to know that you don’t have to stick to the same old recipes when you’re hosting or bringing something to the potluck party. Get creative in the kitchen and even the most tired fruit salad recipe can be made different and even be better than the original dish with the addition of an ingredient, an ingredient swap, or even a totally new way to put the dish together.

 

Here are new and interesting ways to make your average can of fruit cocktail even more interesting for the holiday feasts:

 

1 The classic "fruit cake" we all love

We all know the dessert Crema de Fruta. While you can certainly buy it from a bakery instead of making it, it takes a special type of person to make a homemade version and that's who you should be this season.

You’ll love the way you can control exactly what fruits go into your gelatin topping because let’s face it: You always want more cherries in your fruit cocktail than it really contains, and this is how to get it the way you want it. Ready to get started? Below are recipes you can check out:

How To Make Crema de Fruta

The Easy, No-Bake Way to Make Crema de Fruta

Easy Cream de Fruta Recipe

2 A no-bake cake

Not everyone has the time to make a celebratory cake, but if you’ve got room in the refrigerator, you should make one of these cakes instead. These are no-bake recipes, so there’s no impatient waiting for something to rise and cook. Instead, you’ll have to refrain from digging into the fruity layers with a spoon before it’s fully chilled. If you want to try this one, here are recipes you can work with:

How to Make Fruit Cocktail Refrigerator Cake

How to Make the Best Refrigerator Cake

Fruit Salad Refrigerator Cake Recipe

No-Bake Fruit Cocktail Refrigerator Cake Recipe

3 Fruity cupcakes

What’s fantastic with fruit cocktail is that it’s always available, especially during the holidays, it’s easy and simple to use, and best of all, it makes anything fruity and delicious. So, why not make cupcake batter and use these already sweetened fruits as the icing on top? Genius! Click here for a recipe you can try.

4 A salad with a new dressing

If you’re not keen on diverting too far from what’s been tried and tested, why not try a different dressing to toss with your fruit salad? Here are five different dressings to toss it in that may make your fruit salad the winning dessert on the buffet table. Prep exciting salads with these options:

Yogurt Fruit Salad

Buko Pandan Fruit Salad

Fresh Fruit Salad in Vanilla-Mint Honey

Ice Cream Fruit Parfait

How to Make Sour Cream Cinnamon Dressing

5 A savory pairing

We think changing the dressing of your fruit salad is one of the simplest ways to rework the flavors in a can of fruit cocktail, but there's something else you can do: mix it up with something savory. For these recipes, simply swap out the fresh fruits with the pantry staple and play up the sweetness of the fruits by pairing it with something savory like prawns. What you get is a delicious contrast of tastes and complementary flavors that will delight your tongue. Take note of your options below:

How Prawn Salad with Mangoes and Pineapple

Cold Prawn Salad Recipe

Oriental Fruit Salad with Chicken

 We think fruit cocktail should be in your pantry all year round and not just because it's the holidays. With a little ingenuity in the kitchen and a playful attitude towards a dish, you too can do something magical that will bring pops of fruity flavors to a dish. 

This story originally appeared on Yummy.ph.

*Minor edits have been made by the SmartParenting.com.ph editors.