Ensalada Navideña (Mexican Christmas Salad) Recipe
Ensalada Navideña is a traditional Mexican Christmas fruit salad combining a creamy mixture of condensed milk, evaporated milk, media crema, and cream cheese with a vibrant mix of fresh fruits, toasted pecans, raisins, coconut, and optional mini marshmallows. This refreshing, sweet, and crunchy salad is perfect for holiday gatherings and can be prepared in just 15 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
Cream Mixture
- 14 ounces can condensed milk
- 12 ounces can evaporated milk
- 7.6 ounces can media crema (or plain/vanilla yogurt as substitute)
- 8 ounces cream cheese block, softened (not melted)
- ½ cup reserved fruit cocktail syrup
Fruit and Mix-ins
- 1 cup pecans, cut into small pieces
- 30 ounces can fruit cocktail in syrup, drained
- 4 large red apples, cut into chunks with skin
- 12 to 16 ounces fresh strawberries
- 8 ounces grapes (preferably green)
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened or sweetened)
- Mini marshmallows (optional, as much as desired)
Instructions
- Blend the Cream Mixture: In a blender or food processor, combine the condensed milk, evaporated milk, media crema, cream cheese, and ½ cup of the reserved fruit cocktail syrup. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Toast Pecans: Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and toast them for about 2 minutes, stirring continuously to prevent burning. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare Fruit Base: In a large bowl, combine the drained fruit cocktail, chopped apples with skin, fresh strawberries, green grapes, raisins, shredded coconut, and mini marshmallows if using. Mix gently to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Fold in Cream Mixture: Pour the blended cream mixture over the fruit and fold gently until all the fruits and mix-ins are evenly coated. Use just enough cream mixture to cover the fruit; some cream mixture may remain.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the salad for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly.
- Serve: Serve the Ensalada Navideña cold as a refreshing holiday dessert or side dish. Store any leftover cream mixture in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Notes
- You can substitute media crema with plain or vanilla yogurt if unavailable.
- Keep the skin on the apples to add extra crunch to the salad.
- Reserve ½ cup of the fruit cocktail syrup to add to the cream mixture for extra sweetness and flavor.
- Toasted pecans add a lovely nuttiness; be careful not to burn them.
- Mini marshmallows are optional but add a fun texture and sweetness.
- Any leftover cream mixture can be refrigerated for up to one week for future use.
Keywords: Ensalada Navideña, Mexican Christmas Salad, fruit salad, holiday salad, creamy fruit salad, pecan salad, festive dessert