Mint Julep Fruit Salad

5 from 2 votes

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

Keyword Bourbon Fruit Salad, fruit salad, Mint Julep Salad

Prep Time 15

Total Time 4 35

Servings cups

Calories 159.7kcal

Author The Seasoned Mom

Ingredients

FOR THE 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 (optional)

FOR THE SALAD:

4 cups halved green grapes
4 kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced
24 maraschino cherries, drained from a jar
Optional garnish: whipped cream

Instructions

Prepare the Dressing:

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.
Remove from heat, stir in lime juice and bourbon. Set aside to cool for about 20 minutes.
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:

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.

Notes

You can prep this salad in advance and leave it to marinate in the fridge.
You can easily omit the bourbon to make it alcohol free.
You can also use different fruits and berries such as blueberries, blackberry, apples etc.
I love to serve this with a dollop of whipped cream but you could also serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Nutrition