(Apple Salad recipe from 2014 with updated recipe post and VIDEO)
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Salad with apples video
This Cranberry Walnut Salad is irresistibly crunchy, fresh, & vibrant
What readers are saying about this cranberry walnut salad
This Apple Salad recipe has been a reader favorite ever since I posted it back in 2014, so I thought it was time to make a recipe video and update the post with tips and tricks, recipe variations and make ahead instructions in hopes to entice everyone to jump on this delicious train!
The Apple Candied Walnut Salad with Poppy Seed Vinaigrette is a go to fall salad for me. It is always a hit. I made it just today, had a group in for a fall lunch. Everyone loved it. Thanks again for always delivering with wonderful, tasty recipes. – Debby
Wow! I made this salad for my family and my son’s girlfriend said it was the best thing that I have ever made for her. With that vote of confidence I took it to my sonority weekend, AGD sisters for 40 plus years. Another set of raves!… – Lori
As usual, your salad was the hit of the T-day celebration! With all the heavy carbs, this delicious and refreshing salad was the perfect addition to our meal. – Karen
About this salad with apples recipe
Do you say Autumn or Fall? I’ve always said Fall because that’s how I grew up; I think it must be a location thing. By saying “Autumn,” however, I somehow feel more sophisticated – the power of one word. So I’m pretending for this post that I say Autumn just for make believe sophistication kicks – because look how sophisticated this Apple Salad recipe looks?! But it’s also pretending. This Apple Walnut Salad recipe requires no sophisticated skills to prepare but tastes like a salad from the finest restaurant. The salad is bursting with sweet and crunchy apples, juicy dried cranberries, salty, crispy bacon, crunchy red bell peppers, creamy feta and candied walnuts. Just imagine all that – in one bite!
Apple Cranberry Salad Ingredients
The ingredients for this Apple Salad are pretty straightforward. Just the caramelized walnuts and bacon require an extra step to make this the Best Apple Salad ever!
Romaine lettuce: I love the crunch of Romaine lettuce but you can substitute it with additional spring mix or your favorite greens. spring salad mix: I like to use a spring salad mix for variety but you can also use all spinach. I’ll often add some baby arugula as well. apples: you will want to choose a sweet apple (Fuji are my fav) to complement the salty bacon and tangy red onions. You can slice your apples or chop them into chunks – totally personal preference. dried cranberries: dried cranberries just scream autumn to me! You can substitute them for other dried fruit such as dried cherries or apricots if you prefer. bacon: I like thick cut bacon for its extra flavor and because it is hearty enough to stand up to the dressing without immediate becoming soggy. red bell pepper: you can substitute or add in your favorite veggies or whatever you have on hand such as cucumbers or broccoli. red onion: I think red onion is a must in this Apple Salad recipe or else the salad is too sweet. You can chop your red onion if you prefer – thinly slicing is strictly for presentation because they look beautiful with thinly sliced apples. pepitas. If you aren’t familiar with pepitas, they are pumpkin seeds! You can also substitute with sunflower seeds. Whichever you use, make sure they are roasted and salted which translates to FLAVOR! I purchase my seeds in the bulk bins at Sprouts. feta cheese: you can use your favorite crumbled cheese such as goat cheese or Gorgonzola. caramelized walnuts: the caramelized walnuts add a sweet addicting crunch that will be your favorite part of the salad! I use my 5 Minute Caramelized Nuts in this Apple Salad because it literally lakes 5 minutes and the nuts emerge beautifully caramelized, sweet and crunchy every time. I chose to caramelize walnuts but you could swap them for pecans.
Cranberry walnut salad dressing
The Dressing for this Apple Salad is everything. It’s a tantalizing Apple Poppy Seed Vinaigrette that takes minutes to whip up! It’s a quick whisking of apple cider vinegar, honey, sugar, dry minced onion and olive oil and tastes like gloriously refreshing sweet and tangy apples and poppy seeds. Toss all the deliciousness together and you have a harmony of flavor and texture that is so drool worthy, you won’t be able to stop crunching its heavenly goodness. When’s the last time you could say that about a salad?! Here’s what you’ll need:
Olive oil: Use quality extra virgin olive oil for superior flavor. Apple cider vinegar: A favorite for its fruity tanginess that pairs beautifully with the apples. Opt for reputable brands like Bragg and Spectrum Naturals. Honey: I suggest clover honey, one of the most popular and widely available types of honey, for its mild sweetness that lets the other flavors shine. Sugar: Add more or less depending on how sweet you like your dressing, how tangy your vinegar is and how sweet your honey is. Poppy seeds: These boast a mild, nutty, slightly sweet flavor with a subtle crunch. Dried minced onions: These dehydrated onions are located with the spices and a favorite in dressings for their longer shelf life and concentrated flavor. Salt and pepper: All you need to season the dressing; add more or less to taste.
HOW DO YOU MAKE APPLE SALAD?
Apple cranberry salad tips & tricks
Make dressing first. Make the Apple Dressing first so it has time to chill and the flavors develop – no one likes warm salad dressing! If you are making the Apple Salad and serving immediately, place the dressing in the freezer for 30 minutes then transfer to the refrigerator so it is sufficiently chilled. Customize dressing. Some people like tangier dressing, some people prefer sweeter dressing so I recommend starting with one tablespoon sugar than adding additional sugar a teaspoon at a time if desired. For a tangier dressing, add additional apple cider vinegar. Prep ahead: I’ve detailed how you can make the Apple Salad ahead of time below, but get giddy because you can prepare all or some of the ingredients ahead of time. You can make the the dressing, bacon, caramelized walnuts, red bell peppers and red onions the day before so all that’s left to do is chop 2 apples – that’s it for for an easy side that doesn’t require the oven! Tame Red onion: I recommend soaking the red onion in water first to remove some of the bite if you tend to find red onions too strong. To do this, place red onion in a fine mesh sieve, submerge the sieve in a large bowl of water for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove sieve and thoroughly dry onions with a paper towel. Scale Apple Salad recipe up or down. This Apple Salad is easy to double for a crowd or cut it in half for lunches or a small group.
APPLE SALAD RECIPE VARIATIONS
Can I use different nuts? You can swap the walnuts for caramelized pecans or almonds if you prefer. If you don’t want to caramelize your own nuts, then you can buy them at stores such as Trader Joes. If you’re not sure your grocery store carries caramelized/candied nuts, be sure go ask! Can I add different seeds? Absolutely! Just make sure they’re roasted and salted. Sunflower seeds, pine nuts, pistachios are all tasty. Can I add other vegetables? Yes! Cucumbers, shredded carrots, broccoli, etc. would all be delicious. Roasted butternut squash, or roasted beets would also be fab! Can I add other fruit to Apple Salad? Creamy avocados would be a welcome addition if they are your thing. Pears, Mandarin oranges, mangos, pineapple, raspberries, blueberries, are all welcome additions; just take care that you don’t make your Apple Salad too sweet with sweet fruit. You may want to consider offsetting the sweetness of additional fruit with tart apples such as Granny Smith apples. Can I add grains? I think this Apple Salad would be superb with the addition of cooked quinoa, wild rice, brown rice, farro or couscous. Can I use a different cheese? You can any soft crumbly cheese such as goat cheese, blue blue cheese or Gorgonzola. Can I add protein? Absolutely ! Make this Apple Salad a main dish by adding shredded chicken, shrimp or tofu.
Making this apple walnut salad ahead of time?
This Apple Walnut Salad can be made 100% ahead of time then just tossed together when ready to serve!
Apples. The Apples can be sliced up to 24 hours ahead of time and soaked in a mixture of apple juice and lemon juice. I’ve detailed several options below to prevent oxidation which begins as soon as you slice the apples. Vegetables: You can chop your Romaine lettuce, bell peppers, and red onions up to 24 hours ahead of time. Store veggies in separate airtight containers or in sealable bags with a paper towel so they stay fresh and crisp. I do not recommend storing your pre-cut veggies longer than a day because the beauty of this salad is its freshness. Nuts. The caramelized walnuts can be made up to one week ahead of time and stored in a sealed plastic bag or airtight container at room temperature. I often like to double the nuts for future use. Bacon. The bacon can be made up to 24 hours ahead of time but it will become increasingly soft the longer it sits in the refrigerator. For the crispiest bacon, make it as close to assembling as possible. Dressing: You can make the Apple Salad dressing up to 5 days ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I actually recommend making the dressing ahead of time because it allows time for the flavors to build and meld. Dressing also tastes 1000X better chilled.
Keeping apples in this salad with apples from browning
All of these methods will prolong the oxidation process, but you still want to slice your apples as close to serving as possible.
Serving cranberry walnut salad
There are three ways to serve Apple Salad:
Keeping apple Cranberry salad in the fridge
The Apple Salad is best served within an hour when tossed with the dressing because it will become soggy. If you hold the dressing, the salad can last up to two days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Proteins that go well with apple walnut salad
This Apple Salad makes a superb addition to all your holiday festivities! Serve it with Herb Butter Turkey, Brown Sugar Glazed Ham, Honey Baked Ham,Garlic Herb Butter Pork Tenderloin,Pot Roast, Beef Tips and Gravy, and Slow Cooker Honey Balsamic Roast Beef. It also is wonderful with practically EVERYTHING else that graces your table from Garlic Butter Salmon, to Chicken Divan, to Bolognese, to Crockpot Chili to Million Dollar Mac & Cheese to Oven Fried Chicken. I think the more appropriate question is – What doesn’t this Apple Walnut Salad recipe go with?!
LOOKING FOR MORE HOLIDAY SALAD RECIPES?
Apple Salad with Apple Poppy Seed Vinaigrette Fall Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette Pear Salad with Creamy Pomegranate Dressing Green Bean Salad with Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette Cranberry Apple Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad Cranberry Pomegranate Ambrosia Salad Winter Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Poppy Seed Dressing
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