Citric Acid Free Apple-Ginger Fruit Salad Cups
Fresh fruit salads sound simple until you realize how many store-bought dressings and packaged fruit cups sneak in citric acid as a preservative or flavor enhancer. This recipe keeps everything clean by relying on freshly squeezed lime juice, raw honey, and real ginger to do all the heavy lifting — no additives, no preservatives, nothing hidden. The result is a bright, lively dressing that coats every piece of diced apple, pear, blueberry, and strawberry in warm spice and a gentle citrus tang that comes entirely from whole fruit. Hollowing out apple halves to serve as edible cups is a clever move that makes the whole thing feel festive and special without any extra effort. A short rest lets the honey-ginger dressing soak into the fruit so the flavors deepen before you even take a bite. A scatter of fresh mint at the end adds a cool, herby finish that pulls the whole bowl together beautifully. It's the kind of dish that looks impressive at a brunch table but comes together with nothing more than a knife, a melon baller, and a whisk.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the apple cups
- 4 medium apples (such as honeycrisp or fuji), for the cups
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 1 lime), for brushing cups
For the fruit salad
- 2 medium apples (such as granny smith or pink lady), diced into ½-inch pieces
- 1 medium ripe pear, diced into ½-inch pieces
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
For the dressing
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 tbsp raw honey
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- ¼ tsp ground ceylon cinnamon
- 1 tsp lime zest
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, thinly sliced (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Halve 4 apples crosswise (through the equator, not stem to base) to create 8 cup-shaped halves. Use a melon baller or small spoon to scoop out the core and enough flesh to form a shallow bowl, leaving a wall about 1/2 inch thick. Brush the cut surfaces and interior of each cup with 1 tbsp lime juice to prevent browning, then set aside on a serving platter.
- 2
In a small bowl, whisk together the 2 tbsp lime juice, honey, grated ginger, ground Ceylon cinnamon, and lime zest until the honey is fully dissolved and the dressing is smooth.
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