This is the best Ensalada Navideña and it’s so easy peasy! It’s traditionally made with 3 milks and is not overly sweet. Don’t let the name fool you. You can enjoy this fruit salad year round!
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Ensalada De Navidad
Hosting a get-together soon?
This Ensalada Navideña is always a hit at our family fiestas, potlucks, and posadas! It’s packed with fruit and a creamy dressing that’s so refreshing. I love serving it with a warm mug of Ponche Navideño—something about that combo just feels like home!
Sweet salads like this balance out the bolder dishes after eating pozole or tamales, and honestly, they’re a match made in heaven.
Plus, it’s quick to throw together (faster than my Arroz Con Leche!) but tastes even better when you make it ahead of time to let the flavors blend and the marshmallows soften up. So easy and always a crowd favorite
🩷 xoxo, Ana
Why you’ll love it
- Make ahead: It’s one of those recipes that is always better the next day!
- Make a large bowl and let everyone serve themselves.
- It’s easily customizable to fit your taste.
**This post was originally published on Dec 2020. It has been updated to be more helpful.
Ingredients
This salad has two main components: the creamy sweet dressing and the fruits.
For the dressing
The sweetness in this dressing comes from the condensed milk and the fruit syrup that comes in the fruit cocktail. The mixture is not overly sweet but it’s perfectly delicious!
You’ll need:
- Condensed milk
- Evaporated milk
- Media crema – if you can’t find Mexican crema, you can use plain or vanilla yogurt instead
- Cream cheese block
- Plus sweeten it with 1/2 cup fruit syrup from the canned fruit
The fruits
Ensalada Navideña is similar to “Ensalada De Manzana Navideña” but with more fruit. If you were to remove the strawberries and grapes, you would pretty much have the also popular Ensalada De Manzana (Apple Salad).
The beauty of this salad is that you can pick your favorite ingredients. For instance, my husband doesn’t like raisins so I include just a handful for me. Choose what you like!
You’ll need:
- A large can fruit cocktail in syrup
- 4 large red apples – pick your favorite apples. It really doesn’t matter
- A container fresh strawberries
- Grapes (green preferably)
- Pecan cut in small pieces
- Raisins
- Shredded coconut (unsweetened or sweetened)
- Mini marshmallows optional (as much as you want!)
*** Make sure to read the entire blog post. Every step matters since I provide helpful tips along the way!
How to make Ensalada Navideña
Here are step by step photos for reference. For the exact ingredients and recipe, see the recipe card below.
- Blend: Add the condensed & evaporated milk, media crema & cream cheese plus ½ cup of the fruit cocktail syrup in a blender blender or food processor. MIX until blended and set aside.
- Toast: In a small skillet, toast the pecans on medium heat for about 2 minutes. Keep moving them around so that they don’t burn.
- Mix: In a large bowl, add the rest of the ingredients.
- Add the milks mixture and fold all ingredients gently until all fruits are covered. Note: Add enough of the cream mixture to cover the fruit. You may have leftover cream mix which can be stored in refrigerator up to one week.
Refrigerate tightly covered for at least 2 hours to chill but the longer the better. Letting it sit overnight will help develop the flavors.
Tips and Notes
- Toasting the pecans before adding to the salad really brings out the flavor and adds a little more crunch!
- To preserve the firmness of the pecans and marshmallows, you can add them at the last minute when serving it.
- It’s a great recipe to make ahead and just let it rest. You won’t be stressed about making dessert right before your gathering.
- Serve in small cups or bowls and top with more coconut flakes if you want. The flakes make your dessert look more festive!
How to Store
Fridge– Refrigerate the salad in an airtight container or cover the bowl using aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or any lid you have on hand. Freezing it isn’t a good idea because the texture changes noticeably.
This Christmas Salad keeps for 3 to 4 days sealed tightly in the fridge in an airtight container.
Note: To preserve the firmness of the pecans and marshmallows, you can add them at the last minute before serving it.
More Mexican Desserts
Thank you for stopping by!
I hope you like this recipe! Do you have any questions I can help you with? Or if you made it, I would love it if you leave a comment or rating below.
Gracias!!!! xx, Ana
Print Recipe:
Ensalada Navideña (Mexican Christmas Salad)
Equipment
- Blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 14 ounces can condensed milk
- 12 ounces can evaporated milk
- 7.6 ounces can media crema - If you can't find Mexican crema, you may use plain or vanilla yogurt instead
- 8 ounces cream cheese block - softened (not melted)
- 1 cup pecan - cut in small pieces
- 30 ounces can fruit cocktail in syrup (see note #1) - (drain & reserve ½ cup of the syrup)
- 4 large red apples - cut into chunks (keep the skin for crunchiness)
- 12 to 16 ounces fresh strawberries
- 8 ounces grapes - (green preferably)
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup shredded coconut - (unsweetened or sweetened)
- mini marshmallows - optional (as much as you want!)
Instructions
- Blend: Add the condensed & evaporated milk, media crema & cream cheese plus ½ cup of the fruit cocktail syrup in a blender or food processor.14 ounces can condensed milk, 12 ounces can evaporated milk, 7.6 ounces can media crema, 8 ounces cream cheese block
- Mix until blended and set aside.
- Toast: In a small skillet, toast the pecans on medium heat for about 2 minutes. Keep moving them around so that they don't burn.1 cup pecan
- Mix: In a large bowl, add the rest of the ingredients (see note #2)30 ounces can fruit cocktail in syrup (see note #1) , 4 large red apples, 12 to 16 ounces fresh strawberries, 8 ounces grapes , 1 cup raisins, 1 cup shredded coconut , mini marshmallows
- Add the milks mixture and fold all ingredients gently until all fruits are covered.
- Note: Add enough of the cream mixture to cover the fruit. You may have leftover cream mix which can be stored in refrigerator up to one week.
- Refrigerate covered for at least 2 hours to chill.
- Serve cold.
Notes
- Use fruit cocktail or any fruit in syrup like peaches or pineapples.
- To preserve the firmness of the pecans and marshmallows, you can add them at the last minute when serving it.
Your Private Notes
Nutrition
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One of my favorites for the holidays so I tried this recipe Absolutely delicious
This recipe was so delicious!!!!
Can whip cream be used instead of the milks?
Hi Crystal, whip cream is very light and it will break down too fast instead of the milks. I haven’t tried it with whip cream.
BEST ones I have ever than mine! You are Champion!
This recipe is delicious! I just finished making it!
I’m thoroughly impressed by this recipe!! Years and years ago, my family was given Mexican Fudge for Christmas. It was insanely good!! Sort of a dark tan and had pecans in it. IF you have this recipe, PLEASE let me know!!
hi I would like to make this for Christmas, but you do not say whether the cream cheese should be softened or melted. Should I do one of these before mixing .
Hi Linda, it should be soft and not melted. Thanks for the question! The recipe card has been updated 🙂 Let me know how it turns out!
Enjoy, Ana
To be kind to your mixing machine, I would definitely soften the cream cheese. It surely won’t hurt!
Oh my goodness! Awesome recipe Ana! I made it for a friendsgiving this weekend and everyone loved it.
Thanks!!
Tried with all fresh fruits and drizzle cream mixture and it was very delicious. Condensed milk makes every dessert delicious
This salad was sooo amazingly good I only wish it could be frozen or kept longer. Cause it made way more than we could eat .I’m hoping to make it again for this weekend for Christmas.The only change I made was I added dried cranberries instead of raisins cause I prefer them . It was so good!!
Delicioso postre para preparar para esta navidad ? Muchas gracias Ana!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is so good! My husband almost ate the whole bowl himself LOL this is definitely something I will be making often for special occasions and holidays. Thank you!!!
That’s adorable, Nicole! And it makes you feel like a million bucks for your efforts to be so loved!
THis looks so yummy! Will surely add this to my menu on Christmas Eve! Thanks for sharing!
I don’t see what to do with the reserved syrup?
The mix of ingredients here is perfect!! I know that I will be making this over and over during the holidays. Thanks so much for the recipe 🙂
This salad is gorgeous and so festive! I’ve never had anything like this but am anxious to try it asap!
Such a delicious recipe and love making it for the holidays!
What a wonderful combination of fruits and flavors for a very festive salad.
This fruit salad looks delicious! can’t wait to make it for a gathering this winter!
Thank You Ana <3
Ana, I subscribed to your recipes this year, and I have to say that everything that I have tried has been so delicious. I come from a Mediterranean background but I have fallen in love with the subtle differences in Spanish/ Mexican food. Thank you for sharing your recipes, and making it so easy to try new foods. I am grateful.
Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year 2022 to you and your family.
Deliciosa y fácil!!!!
Gracias Ana!!
Gracias Malena por hacer esta ensalada de navidad! Felices fiestas!
I can’t hardly wait to make this delicious salad for my family. I love this salad. Thank you for sharing. I love all your recipes.
Hi Millie! I hope you made it and that you loved it! It’s so easy to make and delicious and I’m sure you will love this Ensalada Navideña. Happy Holidays!
My mom used to make this salad and later my older sister and we loved it! I will have to give it a try!
Thank you for posting the recipe ❤️
Awe so good to hear your mom made this Mexican Christmas salad too! It’s so refreshing to have during this time of year. Enjoy my friend! xoxo Ana
This was the first time I tried this, and it was delicious!
Awe so good to hear this my dear Stefanie! I’m so glad you liked it!!! Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for sharing this Mexican dessert! Loved addition of strawberries. So good!