• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Seasoned Mom

Quick & Easy Family-Friendly Recipes

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • Sweet Treats
  • Cookbook
  • Contact/Disclosure

Home » What We're Eating » Mint Julep Fruit Salad

Mint Julep Fruit Salad

Lasted edited September 18, 2018. Originally published April 16, 2018 by Blair

Jump to Recipe

Whether you're hosting a Kentucky Derby party, a bridal shower, or any other spring gathering, your guests are going to love the fresh lime-and-mint-infused simple syrup that dresses this sweet bowl of goodness (and yes...you can spike it with a dash of bourbon)!

Total Time: 4 hours 35 minutes
Jump to RecipePrint Recipe
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

“Run for the roses” with an easy and festive Mint Julep Fruit Salad that’s perfect for Derby Day!

Whether you’re hosting a Kentucky Derby party, a bridal shower, or any other spring gathering, your guests are going to love the fresh lime-and-mint-infused simple syrup that dresses this sweet bowl of goodness (and yes…you can spike it with a dash of bourbon)!

A festive Mint Julep Fruit Salad is perfect for a bridal shower or Kentucky Derby party!

Since fruit salads seem to make an appearance at just about every potluck, brunch, or party this season, I thought that it would be fun to dress up the standard dish with a bit of a Southern kick!

Inspired by the classic cocktail, this Mint Julep Fruit Salad is an easy twist on the traditional side dish. And nothing says “fun” like a shot of bourbon, right?!

Let’s get this party started! 

A fresh fruit salad dressed with a mint and bourbon simple syrup is an easy option for a Kentucky Derby party!

This particular salad is special because of the simple syrup that lightly coats the salad.

The dressing adds a hint of sweetness and a boatload of fresh flavor to the fruit, since it’s infused with fresh mint leaves, lime juice, and lime zest. The addition of bourbon at the end is completely optional, but it definitely adds a lovely, festive touch!

If you’re looking for a kid-friendly fruit salad, you can omit the bourbon entirely. If you like just a very subtle taste of bourbon, I suggest using 1 teaspoon of the alcohol. And if you’re really looking for a party, add as much bourbon as you like!

I think 2 teaspoons of bourbon is perfect for a light touch that you can still taste, but 1 tablespoon works well too for a bit more punch.

A jar of lime and mint infused simple syrup for dressing a Mint Julep Fruit Salad

The Mint Julep Fruit Salad would be lovely served alongside a tray of our favorite Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders, with a batch of Derby Day Bourbon Brownies or my grandmother’s Bourbon Balls for dessert!

Go big or go home, right?!

Photo of Mint Julep Fruit Salad in a glass dish surrounded by roses for a Kentucky Derby party.

We love the Kentucky Derby around here, and I can’t think of a better way to welcome spring or to celebrate with friends. So grab your big hat and your favorite party dress — the bourbon is optional, but highly recommended!

MINT JULEP FRUIT SALAD

Grapes kiwi and cherries are dressed in a Mint and Lime Infused homemade dressing for this Mint Julep Fruit Salad!

Did you try this recipe? Don’t forget to rate it and leave me a comment below! You can follow me on Facebook, on Instagram, on Pinterest, and on Twitter!
Print

Mint Julep Fruit Salad

Whether you're hosting a Kentucky Derby party, a bridal shower, or any other spring gathering, your guests are going to love the fresh lime-and-mint-infused simple syrup that dresses this sweet bowl of goodness (and yes...you can spike it with a dash of bourbon)!

Course Side
Cuisine Southern
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 35 minutes
Servings 6 cups
Calories 159.7 kcal
Author The Seasoned Mom

Ingredients

Dressing:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lime zest
  • 1 cup loosely-packed fresh mint leaves
  • 1 cup water
  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice
  • 1-2 teaspoons bourbon optionalSalad:
  • 4 cups halved green grapes
  • 4 kiwi fruit peeled and sliced
  • about 24 maraschino cherries drained from a jarOptional garnish: whipped cream

Instructions

Prepare the Dressing:

  1. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, stir together sugar, lime zest, mint leaves, and water. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Boil for one minute, stirring constantly.
  2. Remove from heat, stir in lime juice and bourbon. Set aside to cool for about 20 minutes.
  3. Pour mixture through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a jar or other similar airtight container. Discard solids. Refrigerate dressing for at least 4 hours.Prepare the Salad:
  4. Gently stir together grapes and kiwi in a large bowl. Slowly drizzle about ¼ cup of dressing over top of the salad (or more, to taste), and toss to coat. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish with cherries and optional whipped cream, just before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Mint Julep Fruit Salad
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 159.7 Calories from Fat 4
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.4g 1%
Saturated Fat 0.1g 1%
Sodium 5.4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrates 40.6g 14%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Sugars 34.4g
Protein 1.3g 3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Related Post

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili + Halloween Party Ideas ...
Champagne Cake Balls
Aunt Bee’s Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserol...
Meghan’s 4-Ingredient Party Salad
Share3
Pin199
Tweet
202 Shares

3 Comments
Filed Under: Sides, What We're Eating
Tagged With: bourbon, Derby Day, Fruit, kentucky derby, party food, Salad, side dish, Sides

Follow The Seasoned Mom on Instagram and show us what you’re making! Use hashtag #theseasonedmom

Previous Post: « Our Week in Meals #74
Next Post: Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup {Instant Pot, Slow Cooker or Stovetop!} »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ashley says

    April 16, 2018 at 10:31 am

    This looks so refreshing and pretty I can’t wait to try it and share with my family and friends!

    Reply
  2. Christopher Kates says

    April 17, 2018 at 2:26 am

    I can’t wait to try this. My mouth started salivating by seeing this only. is my favorite and anytime you give fruit salad I will be ready to eat without any limit. And this is kind of different I guess. Because I saw some extra ingredients in the recipe. So I’m definitely going to try this soon and will definitely let you know, how it turned out.

    Reply
    • Blair says

      April 17, 2018 at 2:19 pm

      Awesome! Enjoy!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

I'm Blair! I believe in the power of a simple homemade meal to bring a family together. That's why I share easy, quick-prep recipes that eliminate mealtime stress!

Facebook
Google+
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram

Popular Posts

Dump-and-Bake Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

Honey Garlic Dijon Pork Tenderloin Marinade

Try a dump and bake meatball casserole for a 5 ingredient dinner!

Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

Chicken and Stuffing Casserole

Footer Widget Area Above Footer

Footer

About Privacy

© 2017 The Seasoned Mom