Description
This Cinnamon Apple Grape Salad is a fresh, crunchy, and naturally sweetened fruit salad featuring diced apples, halved red grapes, and toasted pecans or walnuts. Tossed in a fragrant cinnamon-honey dressing with a hint of lemon, it is a perfect light and refreshing snack or side dish that can be served immediately or chilled for later enjoyment.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit
- 3 medium apples, diced
- 2 cups red grapes, halved
Nuts
- 1 cup pecans or walnuts, toasted and chopped
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Toast Nuts: Toast the pecans or walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are fragrant and lightly browned. Remove from heat and let them cool, then roughly chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Prepare Fruit: Wash and dice the apples into bite-sized chunks, keeping the skin on for extra nutrition and color. Cut the grapes in half lengthwise. Place the apples and grapes in a large mixing bowl and toss with fresh lemon juice to prevent browning.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of sea salt until well combined. If the honey is thick, warm it slightly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to make it easier to drizzle over the fruit.
- Combine Everything: Pour the cinnamon-honey dressing over the fruit mixture and add the toasted, chopped nuts. Gently toss until the fruit is evenly coated and the nuts are distributed throughout the salad.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the salad immediately for the crispest texture or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to enjoy it chilled. Optionally, garnish with an extra sprinkle of cinnamon and a few whole pecans on top for presentation.
Notes
- Using lemon juice on the apples and grapes helps prevent them from browning and keeps the salad looking fresh.
- Toasting the nuts enhances their flavor and adds a nice crunch to the salad.
- You can substitute honey with maple syrup to make it vegan-friendly.
- For extra texture, consider adding some dried cranberries or raisins.
- This salad is best served fresh but will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cinnamon Apple Grape Salad, fruit salad, healthy snack, honey dressing, toasted nuts, easy salad recipe
