Berry Salad in Honey Mascarpone

Fresh Berry Salad is one of the BEST fruit salads you will ever make!

 This Berry Fruit Salad is smothered in sweet and tangy, incredibly creamy honey mascarpone that tastes indulgently gourmet but takes minutes to whip up!  This salad is perfect for special occasions (upcoming Mother’s Day), brunch, barbecues and all your pool side parties!

Berry Salad in Honey Mascarpone in a white bowl.


 

Berry Fruit Salad Recipe

After celebrating spring break with beach bonfires and backyard barbecues, I want to fill up my lungs with springtime air and shout that the outdoor season is officially here! Which means it’s time for Strawberry Salad, Pineapple Salsa, Grilled Corn on the Cob, Brazilian Steak Kabobs and Berry Salad! 

Just like I love curling up on my couch cozied up in a warm blanket and thick socks slurping soup in the winter, there is nowhere I love to be more in the  Spring and Summer than the outdoors. Whether it’s lounging on a blanket at the park with my hubs throwing the ball for Kiwi, or paddle boarding on the lagoon down the street, or walking on the beach with my stroller-pushing friends, or watching the nieces and nephews play sharks and minnows in the pool. But the one thing that makes me happiest — all of the aforementioned — but with food!

With every warm weather get together, there is usually some sort of potluck involved and I love bringing something stress-free, simple, fresh yet slightly indulgent that everyone gobbles up in a flash. You guessed it, I love to spoil my friends with fruit salads. Some of my favorites include Pina Colada Fruit Salad, Perfect Fruit Salad with Honey Citrus Dressing, Grape Salad with Vanilla Yogurt Dressing and of course this Berry Fruit Salad with Honey Mascarpone.

The Honey Mascarpone envelopes the fruit in a sweet and tangy velvety bath that is soooooo creamy!  And although the Honey Mascarpone tastes restaurant gourmet, it is super easy to create simply by whipping mascarpone, vanilla Greek yogurt, honey, sugar, lemon juice and red wine vinegar together.  If you aren’t familiar with mascarpone, it’s an Italian cheese that is rich and creamy with a subtle milky, sweet, slightly tangy flavor, that is somewhere in between butter and cream in texture so it whips up and envelops beautifully and tastes like pure heaven.  Or what I imagine heaven to taste like.

As far as the berrys go in this fruit salad, you really can use whatever fruit your belly desires or whatever you have on hand, but I particularly love the pairing of sweetly tart berries with the luscious Honey Mascarpone.  The Honey Mascarpone is soooo drool-worthy, you can even just serve it as a dip instead of mixing it with your berries — whatever suits your mood — as long as you devour Honey Mascarpone somehow, some way somewhere — whether poolside, beach side, barbecue side or in your kitchen at midnight fridge side.

And in case you want to get a little fancy for Mother’s Day or baby/bridal showers, etc., this summer fruit salad makes the perfect filling for lettuce wraps and looks so pretty!  I like to top mine with a little sprinkling of Caramelized Pecans, and then I like to eat them … all.

Showing how to make Berry Salad by mixing berries in a white bowl.

Berry Fruit Salad Ingredients

This summer berry salad is incredibly easy to make and requires minimal ingredients. Here’s everything I used in this homemade fruit salad recipe:

  • Berries: I used a mixture of strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. I also added red grapes for added texture and flavor.
  • Mascarpone: Make sure the mascarpone has been softened before mixing together the honey mascarpone fruit salad dressing.
  • Vanilla Greek yogurt: I used non-fat vanilla Greek yogurt, but you can use full-fat if desired.
  • Honey: Adds sweetness and flavor to the creamy fruit salad dressing.
  • Sugar: Bumps up the sweetness a bit.
  • Lemon juice and zest: Adds a subtle lemony flavor to the berry salad. The tartness from the lemon juice perfectly balances out the sweetness of the salad.
  • Red wine vinegar: Doesn’t make the berry fruit salad taste like vinegar, don’t worry! It just helps balance out the sweetness in this dish.
Showing how to make Berry Salad by making Honey and Mascarpone in a white bowl.

Ingredient Variations

  • Use different berries: You can use any mixture of fresh berries in this easy fruit salad recipe. You can also mix in other fruits (besides berries), if desired.
  • Use a different vinegar: If you don’t have red wine vinegar on hand, another light, fruity vinegar will work. Just don’t use something too strong, like white vinegar.
  • Use plain Greek yogurt: Only have plain Greek yogurt on hand? No problem! You can sweeten it with a little honey or maple syrup, then stir in a ¼ or ½ teaspoon vanilla extract.
Adding Honey Mascarpone to Berry fruit Salad in white bowl.

How to Make Berry Fruit Salad

This creamy fruit salad couldn’t be simpler to make! Since the berries require minimal prep, this dish comes together in about 10 minutes.

  1. Add the prepped fruit to a large bowl.
  2. Whisk together the mascarpone fruit salad dressing.
  3. Gently fold the dressing into the fruit until everything is mixed together.

Tips for Making Berry Salad

  • Pour the dressing over the berry salad just before serving it, otherwise it will become runny.
  • Mix together the creamy fruit salad dressing in a separate bowl before adding it to the berry salad. You want the dressing ingredients to be evenly incorporated!
  • Wash and dry the fruit before adding it to the serving bowl. Don’t add the fruit to the bowl dripping wet, otherwise your berry fruit salad will be watery.
Top view of Berry fruit Salad in Honey Mascarpone in a white bowl.

Berry Fruit Salad Variations to Try

  • Make it tangier: Add an extra splash of lemon juice to make this berry salad tangier.
  • Make it sweeter: If your berries aren’t totally ripe, you may need to add a little more sugar to the dressing to sweeten things up a bit.
  • Make it more lemony: Add extra lemon zest to amp up the lemon flavor.

Can I Prep Berry Fruit Salad in Advance?

You can wash and prep the fruit and whisk together the mascarpone fruit salad dressing in advance. However, you should wait to combine the mixed fruit and the dressing until you’re ready to serve the berry salad.

How to Store Berry Salad

This berry fruit salad should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last up to 2 days, but it’s best enjoyed immediately.

Can I Freeze Fruit Salad?

No, this summer berry fruit salad should not be frozen.

Side view of Berry fruit Salad in Honey Mascarpone in a white bowl.

What to Serve with Berry Fruit Salad

This summer fruit salad pairs well with almost any classic potluck dish! Here are a few of my favorite dishes to serve alongside this homemade fruit salad:

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Berry Salad in Honey Mascarpone served in a salad wrap.

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©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

Fresh Berry Salad is one of the BEST fruit salads you will ever make! Smothered in sweet and tangy, incredibly creamy Honey Mascarpone that takes minutes to whip up and tastes incredible! Perfect for brunch, barbecues and all your pool side parties!

Berry Salad in Honey Mascarpone Dressing

Fresh Berry Salad is one of the BEST fruit salads you will ever make! This Berry Salad is smothered in sweet and tangy, incredibly creamy Honey Mascarpone that tastes indulgently gourmet but takes minutes to whip up!  This Salad is perfect for special occasions (upcoming Mother’s Day), brunch, barbecues and all your pool side parties!
Servings: 8 -12 servings
Total Time: 10 minutes
Prep Time: 10 minutes

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Ingredients

  • 1 lb strawberries, chopped
  • 6 oz. raspberries
  • 6 oz. blueberries
  • 1 1/2 cups red seedless grapes, halved

Honey Mascarpone

  • 1/2 cup ( 4 oz.) mascarpone, softened
  • 1/4 cup Greek vanilla yogurt (I use nonfat)
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Garnish

  • Zest from one lemon

Instructions

  • Add all of the fruit to a large bowl.
  • Whisk together all of the Honey Mascarpone ingredients until very smooth. Add Honey Mascarpone to fruit and gently fold together until well combined. Add additional sugar for sweeter, more lemon for tangier.
  • Best if dressed as close to serving as possible.

Notes

The Honey Mascarpone is simply divine and would also taste delicious as a dip instead of mixing into the berries.

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17 Comments

  1. Kara says

    I have never tried mascarpone but I am sold! This looks so delicious – and beautiful too!

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much Kara, I am excited for you to try mascarpone – I think you will love it!!

  2. Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says

    I’m berry, berry glad 🙂 you posted this recipe. I was already thinking of something special to make for an upcoming family gathering and this would be perfect. I love serving it in the little butter lettuce cups. Have a great weekend.

    • Jen says

      your comments always make me smile and make me “berry glad”! I think this would be perfect for your family gathering – I hope everyone loves it and you have a fabulous time!

  3. mila says

    Jen…. this is perfection! And you are in SOCAL do you really get a winter out there 🙂 Absolutely stunning pics as always and OMG I LOVE Mascarpone!!! It is the one cheese I truly miss 🙂 I would love this in the summer months!

    • Jen says

      Hey friend, you are the sweetest! and believe it or not it gets in the 30s here at night in the winter! I know nothing to complain about but cold enough for socks and soup 🙂 you might just have to make this on a cheat day – I won’t tell 🙂 xo

  4. Dorothy Dunton says

    Hi Jen! Such a beautiful and refreshing salad! I so look forward to fresh berries…well, fresh vegetables too! Our garden is just starting to give us asparagus and lettuce, along with herbs. It doesn’t get any fresher than picking what you’re going to have for supper right before you eat!

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much Dorothy! I love making salads because they are so inherently beautiful! and how marvelous you have a garden with fresh vegetables and herbs – another reason to absolutely love the spring/summer months! I am sure everything you make is that much better with your fresh garden touch!

  5. Kelsey says

    Hi Jen!
    Do you think this will be good a day or 2 after making? Like as leftovers? Looks delicious and I’m making it today but am debating halfing it for 4 of us. No worries if you dont get back right away! Have a great 4th!

    • Jen says

      Hi Kelsey, Happy 4th to you too! It is best fresh so you could double the Honey Mascaropone but only use half of it today and then toss the rest with it when you’re ready to serve.

      • Kelsey says

        Sounds good! Thank you!! 🙂

  6. Rene says

    Hi Jen! This fruit salad, like all of your recipes, is delicious. I served it for Valentines day. I discovered at the last minute that I was out of red wine vinegar so I substituted a raspberry vinegar. It was just wonderful. You have become a staple in our house!

    • Jen says

      I’m honored to have become a staple in your house -thank you! And I’m so happy you loved this berry salad as well – raspberry vinegar sounds fantastic!

  7. Rachel Councell says

    I discovered your website last week and I’m now addicted!!! I’ve made 7 recipes so far and none have disappointed us!! Delicious doesn’t cover it. I’m going to the store to get the ingredients for this one now! I wish you had a way to store the favorites on your site, I would pay for a service like that!

    • Jen says

      Welcome to my site Rachel, I am thrilled you’re loving my recipes! I LOVE your idea of being able to save your favorite recipes! I am actually have my site re-designed right now so I am going to ask the developer about that right now, thank you!

  8. Shirl says

    Hello. Looks delish. Would you add more honey if using unflavored yogurt?

    • Jen says

      Yes, I would add honey to taste and a splash of vanilla extract. Enjoy!