Festive Fruit Salad

This Fall Fruit Salad is a refreshing and festive dish, perfect for adding a touch of brightness to your Thanksgiving or Christmas table. With a blend of crisp apples, juicy grapes, and toasted pecans, it’s both vibrant and delicious, making it an ideal complement to rich holiday dishes.

Ingredients:
For Salad:
2 medium green apples
2 medium red apples
¾ cup dried cranberries
1 cup pecans
1 cup grapes
3 medium navel oranges
1 medium lemon, juiced
For Dressing:
½ cup orange juice
¼ cup white sugar
¼ teaspoon apple pie spice
Zest of 1 lemon
Zest of 1 orange

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and place in the oven. Toast them until fragrant, about the time the oven is fully heated. Remove and let cool. In a small saucepan, combine orange juice, sugar, apple pie spice, lemon zest, and orange zest. Place over medium heat, whisking to combine. Bring to a low boil and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and allow to cool completely. Core and slice the apples into bite-sized pieces. Toss them with the juice from half a lemon to prevent browning. Cut the peel off the oranges and slice them into bite-sized pieces. In a large bowl, combine the apples, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, grapes, and orange pieces. Drizzle the cooled dressing over the fruit mixture and toss to coat evenly. Serve immediately.

Notes:
– Toasting the pecans brings out their natural flavor and adds a nice crunch to the salad.
– Tossing apples with lemon juice helps to prevent them from browning, keeping the salad looking fresh.
– The dressing can be made ahead and refrigerated until ready to use.

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