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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast

    What to do with leftover fruit salad

    Published: Mar 1, 2022 · Modified: May 6, 2022 by Abi Cowell · As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases · See my privacy policy linked in footer · This blog uses cookies

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    What can you do with leftover fruit salad? Get 9 uses for it and recipes so you don't waste that extra fruit. My leftover fruit smoothie recipe is simple, versatile and will work for whatever excess fruit you have leftover. Also, see below for top fruit salad ideas!

    Jump to:
    • 🍓 Leftover fruit smoothie to the rescue
    • 🍋 Fruit-infused water
    • 🍉 Fruit ice cubes
    • 🍇 Mix up a pitcher of sangria
    • 🍑 Make cooked fruit compote
    • 🫐 Bake fruit muffins, bread, cake or scones
    • 🍏 Add extra fruit to baked oatmeal
    • 🍌 Make fruity oatmeal or porridge
    • 🥭 Make fruit salad dressing
    • 🍒 Top fruit salad ideas
    • ❓ FAQ
    • 💜 More recipes you'll love
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews
    fruit kebabs on skewers on plate and rack

    You know the feeling. You made a beautiful fresh fruit salad tray. It had loads of perfectly ripe bananas, apples, green and red grapes, strawberries and oranges. 

    The green grapes were especially good that day. 

    Well, the party came and went, but you still have some (okay, maybe a lot) of leftover fruit salad. The next day you take a look at it and it's still perfectly edible, sweet mixed fruit that you don't want to touch. Lol. 

    But, you just can't throw it away.  The waste! It's still edible.

    And, you think: What can I make with leftover fruit? Can you freeze leftover fruit salad? I need recipes and ideas!

    🍓 Leftover fruit smoothie to the rescue

    leftover fruit smoothies, one green and one purple

    Toss that sweet fruit in your blender (we use a Blendtec) and make your a leftover fruit smoothie!

    Add to it a splash of almond milk or juice, some ice and some nutritional powerhouses like ground flaxseed, hemp hearts or some peanut butter for a protein boost.

    Breakfast: ✔ check!

    Leftover fruit salad gone: ✔ check!

    Ready to conquer the day and be a food waste conqueror: ✔ check!

    Looking for the measurements? Please scroll down to the recipe card at the end of this post for the ingredient quantities.

    🍋 Fruit-infused water

    water infused with leftover fruit grapefruit, lemon, mint

    Add excess fruit to a pitcher of water and chill for a fruit-infused water (without sugar) to refresh you.

    This works especially well with citrus fruits like lemon, lime, orange, mandarin, grapefruit, satsumas and tangerine. Also, it works well with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries.

    Add some fresh mint or even cucumbers, too!

    Make it pink fruit-infused water for a pink-themed party by using one of these 22 Pink Fruits!

    🍉 Fruit ice cubes

    Add small pieces of leftover fruits to ice cube trays and fill the ice cube tray with water. Freeze and then use the fruity ice to add to water, iced tea, lemonade, fruit punch or cocktails.

    If you want to learn anything from this Southern girl, learn how to make perfect iced tea.

    🍇 Mix up a pitcher of sangria

    The fruit is already cut up, so why not make a pitcher of sangria! This fruit infused cold wine drink is delicious and fun for a party.

    Learn how to make sangria without a recipe.

    🍑 Make cooked fruit compote

    waffles with leftover fruit compote on top

    For fruit that heats well, cook in a small saucepan to make hot fruit compote or dessert sauce for topping oatmeal, yogurt, ice cream, on toast, pancakes or waffles.

    How to make fruit compote

    Cook the fruit with a little water, sugar (or other sweetener like maple syrup, brown sugar, agave nectar, date syrup) until it is warm and bubbly, stirring often.

    When it has thickened to your liking, taste and add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice to brighten the compote, if you want. Adjust sugar or water, as needed.

    For a compote, keep the fruit in small pieces when cooked. For a dessert sauce, puree after cooking. Then, chill and add as a garnish and topping to your vegan cheesecake, pudding, cake or pie.

    This works especially well with berries, stone fruit like peaches, and apples. But, you can make a fruit compote out of any fruit. This method uses up lots of fruit.

    🫐 Bake fruit muffins, bread, cake or scones

    fruit muffins

    Use your extra fruit to make fruit muffins, scones, cake or quick bread! You can substitute the fruit that's called for in the recipe for your leftover fruit salad. Be sure to drain any excess liquid, as that might alter the results if it's added in.

    Use a tried and true recipe you already have to bake with extra fruit like blueberry muffins or orange cranberry loaf, for example. And, substitute for the leftover fruit you have.

    🍏 Add extra fruit to baked oatmeal

    Baked oatmeal is delicious with fresh fruit mixed in. This also lowers the calorie density of the finished dish, because fruit is lower in calories than cooked oats.

    So, before baking, mix in 1-3 cups of leftover mixed fruit into your baked oatmeal. Then, bake according to the recipe.

    This works with canned fruit, canned dole mixed fruit or frozen fruit, too!

    Ways to use up overripe bananas

    • 3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies (no egg, no flour)
    • Healthy Banana Oat Bars
    • Vegan Banana Bread with Applesauce

    🍌 Make fruity oatmeal or porridge

    When making oatmeal on the stove, or in the microwave, add a scoop of fresh fruit in! This not only sweetens your oatmeal but also flavors it.

    This works with any sweet porridge, like oatmeal, cream of wheat, malt o meal or breakfast couscous.

    Ideas for Healthy Fruity Oatmeal

    • Apple Pie Oatmeal
    • Cherry Berry Oatmeal
    • Peach Cherry Oatmeal
    • Oatmeal with Bananas and Maple Syrup
    • 10 Ways to Spice up your Oatmeal

    🥭 Make fruit salad dressing

    Try making a fruit salad dressing. Puree leftover fruit, like raspberries in a small food processor or blender, then add balsamic vinegar and salt to your taste. Adjust flavors, as needed.

    🍒 Top fruit salad ideas

    bowls of various berries
    1. Tropical: banana, pineapple, mango, orange, kiwifruit, squeeze of lime juice to brighten it up and add a bit of sourness
    2. Berry: strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries
    3. Watermelon Lime: watermelon, cinnamon, lime juice, maple syrup. If you're feeling adventurous, try this watermelon cucumber salad with tofu feta.
    4. Melon: watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon
    5. Everyday: apple, banana, orange, grapes, squeeze of lemon juice to prevent the bananas from browning
    6. Strawberry Kiwi: strawberries, kiwifruit, bananas
    7. Berry Banana: strawberries, blueberries, bananas, squeeze of lemon juice to help the bananas not turn brown so quickly
    8. Stone fruit: peaches, plums, nectarines, drizzled with maple syrup and cinnamon
    9. Dragon fruit: dragon fruit, pineapple, mango, banana, passion fruit and strawberries

    Going for a color scheme? Pick 5 of these pink fruits to prepare a pink fruit salad!

    ❓ FAQ

    How to store leftover fruit?

    Transfer leftover fruit into a covered, airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freezer for up to 3 months.

    Can you freeze leftover fruit?

    Yes, you can! Cut up your fruit first, so it's ready to use. Then, store in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Or, use freezer plastic bags, add your fruit, then flatten the bag and seal. This way, the fruit will thaw faster or break off into chunks when you're ready to use it for smoothies.

    Can you freeze leftover fruit salad?

    Yes, you can freeze leftover fruit salad. Use freezer plastic bags, add your fruit, then flatten the bag and seal. This way, the fruit will thaw faster or break off into chunks when you're ready to use it for smoothies.

    How to use leftover fruit salad?

    There are lots of ideas for things to do with leftover fruit salad. Try: smoothies, making fruit infused water, freezing fruit ice cubes for drinks, cooking it down for a fruit compote or dessert sauce, adding to oatmeal, making fruit muffins or loaf.

    💜 More recipes you'll love

    If you loved these easy and healthy ideas for using up fruit leftovers, then check out my other plant-based, vegan breakfast recipes with added fruit!

    • Easy Vegan Avocado Tostadas, 3 Ways
    • Eggy Tofu Scramble Seasoning with Black Salt
    • Vegan Banana Bread with Applesauce
    • Healthy Banana Oatmeal Bars (5 ingredients, no flour, no egg, sugar free)

    Love this recipe? Please rate it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below in the recipe card. And, if you make it, please tag me on Instagram or Facebook in your posted photos! I would love to see your creations. 😄

    📖 Recipe

    leftover fruit smoothies, one green and one purple

    Leftover Fruit Salad Smoothie

    Abi Cowell
    What can you do with leftover fruit salad? Get uses for and recipes so you don't waste that extra fruit. My leftover fruit smoothie recipe is simple, versatile and will work for whatever excess fruit you have leftover.
    5 from 2 votes
    Estimated Cost: $1.50
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    Prep Time 2 mins
    Additional Time 3 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1
    Calories 595 kcal

    Equipment

    • High speed blender
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 4 cups mixed fruit
    • 1 cup ice
    • ½ cup almond milk or other plant-based milk, juice or water
    • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed hemp hearts or nut butter will also work (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Add all ingredients to a blender.
    • Blend until smooth. Add more plant-based milk, juice or water, if needed to blend it up.

    Notes

    Substitutions:
    Leftover fruit salad: sub with any fresh or frozen fruit you have on hand, such as: bananas, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, oranges, mango, pineapple, papaya, cherries, peaches, plums.
    Plant-based milk: sub with your favorite milk or with water
    Flax: can be substituted with hemp seeds, peanut butter, almond butter, PB2 or PBFit powdered peanut butter or yogurt.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1portionCalories: 595kcalCarbohydrates: 141gProtein: 6gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 224mgPotassium: 901mgFiber: 17gSugar: 107gVitamin A: 2863IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 222mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword leftover fruit salad smoothie
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Breakfast

    • Healthy Sweet Potato Pudding (vegan)
    • Apple Pie Oatmeal
    • Healthy Cherry Peach Oatmeal
    • Cherry Berry Oatmeal

    About Abi Cowell

    Hey y'all! I’m the plant-based food blogger, recipe developer, photographer and cooking class instructor behind Very Veganish. Join me as we explore and taste incredible plant-based food, with cultural influences from around the world. You’ll find healthy comfort food vegan recipes and inspiration here. When I'm not cooking, you'll find me homeschooling my two boys, volunteering and trying to survive the Texas summers with copious glasses of iced tea.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Pat Zolan says

      October 22, 2013 at 6:38 pm

      Dear Abi....thanks so much for sending this to Uncle Tom. I am home now and not returning to work since the surgery. I am looking forward to trying out some of your restaurant finds and recipes. You always had very good cooking skills, like your mom, and really appreciate that. Looking forward to more news.
      Love,
      Aunt Pat

      Reply
      • Abi Cowell says

        November 02, 2013 at 7:24 pm

        Thanks, Aunt Pat. I really do enjoy cooking and sharing it with everyone. Glad you're enjoying reading it! 🙂

        Reply
    2. weissmann says

      October 28, 2013 at 9:57 am

      Great idea, Abi; that's exactly what I would have done.  I would probably have to at least write down the ingredients, esp if it came out delish (can't trust the old sr memory anymore, lol).  Can't wait for future issues!  xoxo

      Reply
    3. abicowell says

      November 02, 2013 at 7:23 pm

      weissmann We'd never done it before and it turned out so well.  I can't remember a lot of these recipes either.  I have to record them or I'll never be able to duplicate it.  Haha!

      Reply

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    Hi! I'm Abi, a plant-based food blogger. Join me as we explore cultures of the world through their food. You'll find healthy comfort food recipes and inspiration here. No judgment. Just food.

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