The Best Apple Salad Recipe for Sunny Gatherings

Crisp and refreshing, this apple salad blends sweet and tangy flavors into a delightful culinary experience.

Crunchy apples dance with unexpected ingredients, creating a symphony of textures.

Seasonal produce becomes your canvas for creativity.

Bright colors and vibrant tastes promise a memorable dish that sparks conversation.

Minimal preparation time means you can whip up this salad in minutes.

Simple yet sophisticated, the combination will surprise and delight everyone at the table.

Let’s transform ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary meal that celebrates fresh, wholesome goodness.

Apple Salad Highlights

• Craft Bursting Flavors: Combine sweet grapes, tart apples, and crunchy pecans for a taste explosion that delights every single bite.
• Master Quick Preparation: Toss ingredients together in minutes, creating a stunning salad without complicated cooking techniques or extensive kitchen skills.
• Crowd-Pleasing Versatility: Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or family gatherings, this apple salad appeals to both kids and adults with its delightful mix of textures and sweet-tangy profile.
• Nutrition in Every Spoonful: Pack your plate with fresh fruits, nuts, and a light dressing that provides wholesome ingredients and satisfying nutrients for a balanced side dish.

Ingredients for Apple Salad

• Honeycrisp Apples: A crisp and sweet variety that provides a refreshing base for the salad.
• Grapes: Add a juicy and sweet element to complement the apples.
• Dried Cranberries: Bring a tart and chewy texture to the salad.

• Mayonnaise: Creates a creamy and rich base for the dressing.
• Brown Sugar: Adds a deep, caramel-like sweetness to balance the fruits.

• Celery, Pecans: Provide a satisfying crunch and nutty flavor to the salad.

• Lemon Juice: Prevents apple browning and adds a bright, citrusy note to the dish.

How to Prepare Apple Salad

Step 1: Wash and Prep Apples

Grab your Honeycrisp apples and give them a good rinse. Use a sharp knife to cube the apples into bite-sized pieces.

Quickly drizzle fresh lemon juice over the apple cubes to keep them looking crisp and prevent any browning.

• Honeycrisp apples
• Lemon juice

Step 2: Whip Up the Creamy Dressing

In a spacious mixing bowl, start whisking together mayonnaise and brown sugar.

Blend until the mixture becomes smooth and glossy, creating a sweet and tangy base that will make your salad irresistible.

• Mayonnaise
• Brown sugar

Step 3: Mix in Delightful Crunch and Flavor

Toss the prepared apple cubes into the creamy dressing.

Add crisp celery, juicy grapes, crunchy pecans, and tart dried cranberries. Gently fold everything together, ensuring each ingredient gets a perfect coating of the delicious dressing.

• Cubed apples
• Celery
• Grapes
• Pecans
• Dried cranberries

Step 4: Chill and Enjoy

Cover the bowl and pop it into the refrigerator. Let the salad rest for about 30 minutes, allowing all the flavors to mingle and develop.

When ready, serve cold and watch everyone fall in love with this refreshing treat.

Tips for Crisp Apple Salad

• Toss apple cubes with lemon juice immediately after cutting to stop oxidation and maintain a fresh, crisp appearance.
• Whisk mayonnaise and brown sugar thoroughly to create a creamy, sweet dressing that complements the tangy fruit perfectly.
• Gently fold ingredients into the dressing using a soft spatula to distribute the creamy mixture evenly without crushing delicate fruits.
• Let the salad chill for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and create a more harmonious blend of crunchy nuts and juicy fruits.
• Prepare the salad up to a day in advance, storing it covered in the refrigerator to develop deeper, more integrated flavors.

Variations on Apple Salad

• Low-Sugar Option: Replace brown sugar with stevia or monk fruit sweetener for a diabetic-friendly version that maintains sweetness without added calories.
• Vegan Apple Salad: Swap mayonnaise with cashew cream or coconut yogurt, use maple syrup instead of brown sugar, and add sunflower seeds in place of pecans for a plant-based alternative.
• Autumn Harvest Remix: Substitute grapes with diced pears, add roasted pumpkin seeds, and sprinkle cinnamon to create a seasonal fall-inspired apple salad variation.
• Protein-Packed Version: Mix in Greek yogurt with the dressing, incorporate cubed grilled chicken, and use almonds instead of pecans for a more substantial and protein-rich meal option.

Pairing Suggestions for Apple Salad

Select a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to complement the apple salad’s sweet and tangy profile, cutting through the creamy dressing while enhancing the fruit’s brightness.

Match the salad with herb-roasted chicken breast, creating a balanced meal where the fruity, nutty salad adds refreshing contrast to the savory protein.

Enjoy this apple salad next to fluffy buttermilk pancakes or light quiche, allowing the sweet-tart flavors to provide a delightful morning flavor dimension.

Top the salad with crumbled goat cheese or blue cheese, introducing a creamy, tangy element that beautifully integrates with the existing dressing and fruit textures.

Proper Storage for Apple Salad

• Store the apple salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Keep the salad chilled to maintain its freshness and prevent the apples from browning.
• Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the salad to minimize air exposure and slow down oxidation of the apples.
• Gently stir the salad before serving to redistribute the dressing. If the salad seems dry, add a small amount of fresh mayonnaise to refresh its creamy texture.
• Avoid freezing this salad, as the crisp texture of apples, celery, and pecans will become soggy and lose their crunch when thawed.

FAQs

• Why use Honeycrisp apples specifically?

Honeycrisp apples are crisp, sweet, and hold their shape well in salads. They provide a perfect texture and balanced flavor that complements the other ingredients.

• Can I substitute the pecans with another nut?

Absolutely! Walnuts or almonds work great as alternatives. They’ll provide a similar crunch and nutty flavor to the salad.

• Is this salad considered healthy?

Yes, it offers nutritional benefits. Apples provide fiber, pecans offer healthy fats, and dried cranberries add antioxidants. The salad combines fresh ingredients with good nutritional value.

Apple Salad Recipe

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4.6 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Crisp green apples dance with creamy blue cheese in this delightful Apple Salad that balances sweet and tangy flavors. Candied walnuts and fresh greens complete this elegant dish, inviting you to savor each refreshing bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Fruits:

• 4 Honeycrisp apples, cubed
• 1 cup seedless red grapes, halved
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1 lemon, juiced

Vegetables and Nuts:

• 2 ribs celery, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Dressing:

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar

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Instructions

1. Slice Honeycrisp apples into uniform cubes, immediately drizzling with fresh lemon juice to prevent discoloration and enhance the fruit’s vibrant flavor profile.
2. Craft a velvety dressing by whisking mayonnaise and brown sugar in a spacious mixing vessel, creating a rich, sweet foundation for the salad.
3. Introduce crisp celery, halved grapes, crunchy pecans, and tart dried cranberries into the dressing-coated bowl, gently folding ingredients to ensure complete and even coverage.
4. Refrigerate the assembled salad for a minimum of 30 minutes at 40°F, allowing the ingredients to harmonize and develop a more complex taste, transforming the simple mixture into a refreshing culinary experience.

Notes

• Prevent Apple Browning: Use lemon juice immediately after cutting to maintain fresh, crisp appearance and add bright citrus undertone.
• Customize Sweetness Level: Adjust brown sugar quantity based on apple tartness and personal preference for balanced flavor profile.
• Make Ahead Friendly: Prepare salad up to 4 hours before serving, keeping it refrigerated to enhance flavor complexity and maintain texture.
• Dietary Adaptations: Substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for lighter version or use vegan mayo for plant-based alternative without compromising creamy texture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 320 kcal
• Sugar: 28 g
• Sodium: 110 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 10 mg