Colombian Fruit Salad is made with chopped fruit mixed with a deliciously sweet cream-based sauce and topped with shredded cheese! Yes, cheese is what makes this fruit salad special!
Better than ice cream, Colombian Fruit Salad is the perfect dessert for hot summer days!
Colombian Fruit Salad
Colombian Fruit Salad is one of the best desserts for when it’s too hot to do anything but you still crave something sweet. I’ll go as far as to say that it’s more satisfying than ice cream.
What makes it special? Obviously, the cheese 🧀💕!! I mean, the cream sauce is great but the cheese is what makes it Colombian!
You know Colombians love their cheese and add it to pretty much anything (see hot chocolate with cheese lol).
If you’re wondering what it tastes like… the cheese you use is so mild that it won’t taste cheesy ⎯ no worries! Mozzarella is great here!!
Also, this fruit salad is super quick and easy to make and assemble, you can also leave it plain and offer the toppings separately so people pick their favorites which is great for BBQs, parties, gatherings, etc!
What is Colombian Fruit Salad
Colombian Fruit Salad is a fruit salad made with a mix of chopped fruit of choice, depending on who’s making it you might have a different mix of fruit.
The most used are usually strawberries, mango, bananas, papaya, and apples. Some also use watermelon, pineapple, kiwis, or grapes.
It’s served with a thick cream-based sauce sweetened with condensed milk and topped with shredded cheese. More toppings may be added such as ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate or strawberry sauce, chocolate chips, granola, etc.
Colombian Fruit Salad Ingredients
Fruit. I always use strawberries, mango, papaya, bananas, and golden kiwis but feel free to use your favorite fruit. Other popular options would be watermelon, pineapple, grapes, and apples. All these work great!
Cream. This is the base of the sauce. You need at least 15% fat but I usually use 30% fat cream, creams with higher fat content will work too. You don’t need to whip it but I like to beat it until it thickens up for a fluffier texture. Be careful if using creams with less than 30% fat content as they tend to curdle easily and rather quickly.
Sweetened condensed milk. Another key ingredient, along with cream. This is what will sweeten the cream and fruit at the same time while providing extra flavor and promoting a smooth creamy texture.
Vanilla extract for extra flavor, this is optional but recommended.
Cheese. Cheese is what makes this fruit salad Colombian Fruit Salad, so you can’t skip it! You know Colombians love their cheese and add it to pretty much anything (like hot chocolate). Mozzarella is your best option but I recommend shredding it home instead of using pre-shredded cheese, for best flavor.
Optional toppings
The best thing about this fruit salad is that wherever you go, they add different toppings and make it unique so feel free to do that too and pick your favorite toppings!
Here are the most popular toppings I’ve seen:
- Ice cream (vanilla, cream, or strawberry are the most popular but any will work)
- Whipped cream
- Toasted shredded coconut
- Strawberry sauce
- Colombian Pineapple Sauce
- Chocolate sauce
- Candied cheeries
- Chocolate chips
- Granola
How to make Colombian Fruit Salad
STEP ONE: Make the fruit mix. Combine the peeled (where necessary) and chopped fruit into a large mixing bowl. If you’re using a mix of particularly tart fruit (such as kiwis, apples, etc) you may want to add 1-2 tbsp of white granulated sugar and mix but I usually do not add any extra sugar because the fruit I use is already sweet.
STEP TWO: Make the sauce. In a medium bowl, add the cold cream and use a mixer or a whisk to beat it until thickened but still creamy (it shouldn’t form peaks). Pour in the condensed milk and beat again until combined and slightly fluffy. The cream should never form or hold peaks, it should simply be thick and slightly fluffy but still creamy and not fully whipped. Add the sauce to the fruit mix and mix gently until combined.
STEP THREE: Add the cheese. Serve the fruit salad in bowls or ramekins top with shredded cheese and other toppings of choice (see list of toppings in the recipe card below). I always add ice cream, candied cherries, chocolate chips, and sprinkles. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Can I make it ahead of time?
I don’t recommend it. You want the fruit to be nice and crisp and the cream sauce thick and fluffy.
Making the two ahead of time would result in mushy fruit that leaks juice and a deflated cream sauce that’s separating, mixing both together would result in a mushy fruit salad with fruit juice and separated cream mixed together which is pretty unappealing (but still safe to eat).
Can I store fruit salad?
Yes but the fruit will start to leak juice and the cream will deflate and separate overtime so definitely keep in mind that the fruit salad won’t look particularly pretty after being stored (though it will still be safe to eat).
If you have to store it, simply cover the fruit salad with plastic wrap or transfer it into an air-tight container and store for up to 2 days.
Your best option (if possible) would be to store the chopped fruit and the cream sauce separately so the fruit juice and cream won’t sit there together.
ENJOY!! I hope you’ll love this Colombian Fruit Salad With Cheese as much as I do!
PS: Please leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating ⭐️ if you make it! Your comments make my day!! You can also tag me on Instagram @itsdamnspicy 🌈💘
More Colombian recipes you’ll love:
- Colombian Black Cake (Torta Negra Colombian)
- Colombian Natilla (Spiced Milk Pudding)
- Colombian Hot Dogs
- … or check out all of my Colombian Recipes!
Colombian Fruit Salad
Ingredients
For The Fruit Salad
- 16 oz (450 g) strawberries (cleaned, hulled, and sliced)
- 2 kiwis or golden kiwis (optional, peeled and diced)
- 1 large banana (peeled and sliced)
- 1 large mango (peeled and diced)
- 1 medium papaya (peeled, seeds removed, and diced)
- 1/2 cup (125 ml) heavy cream
- 1/4 cup (80 ml) sweetened condensed milk
- 1/3 cup (3 oz or 75 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
Toppings (pick 1 or more)
- Ice cream (vanilla, strawberry, or cream)
- Whipped cream
- Strawberry sauce
- Colombian Pineapple Sauce (click here for the recipe)
- Chocolate sauce
- Toasted coconut flakes
- Chocolate chips
- Granola
Instructions
- Make the fruit mix. Combine the prepared fruit into a large mixing bowl. If you're using a mix of particularly tart fruit (such as kiwis, apples, etc) you may add 1-2 tbsp of white granulated sugar and mix but I usually do not add any extra sugar because the fruit I use is already sweet and the sauce will be sweet as well.
- Make the sauce. In a medium bowl, add the cold cream and use a mixer or a whisk to beat it until thickened but still creamy (it shouldn't form peaks). Pour in the condensed milk and beat again until combined and slightly fluffy. The cream should never form or hold peaks, it should simply be thick and slightly fluffy but still creamy and not fully whipped. Add the sauce to the fruit mix and mix gently until combined.
- Add the cheese. Serve the fruit salad in bowls or ramekins top with shredded cheese and other toppings of choice (see list of toppings above). Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
📷 DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?!
Leave a Reply