Honeycrisp Apple Salad with Celery, Grapes, Pecans & Dried Cranberries

Description

Fresh, crisp, creamy, crunchy, and lightly sweet, this Honeycrisp Apple Salad is the kind of quick and easy recipe you’ll want to make again and again. Juicy Honeycrisp apples are tossed with crisp celery, sweet grapes, crunchy pecans, and chewy dried cranberries, then coated in a simple creamy dressing that brings all the flavours together.

The combination of textures makes this salad especially delicious. The apples stay crisp and refreshing, the celery adds a satisfying crunch, the grapes provide juicy sweetness, the pecans bring a buttery nuttiness, and the dried cranberries add little bursts of tart sweetness.

This salad works beautifully as a side dish, light lunch, snack, brunch recipe, or holiday table addition. It takes only a few minutes to prepare and can easily be made ahead of time.

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Ingredients

For the Salad:

• 3 large Honeycrisp apples
• 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
• 1 ½ cups seedless red or green grapes, halved
• ½ cup pecans, roughly chopped
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped, optional

• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

Optional Additions

• ¼ cup raisins
• ¼ cup chopped walnuts
• ¼ cup sunflower seeds
• 2 tablespoons shredded coconut
• ¼ cup mini marshmallows for a sweeter version
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh mint

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Apples

Wash and dry the Honeycrisp apples thoroughly. You can leave the peel on for extra colour, texture, and nutrients, or peel them if you prefer a softer salad.

Remove the cores and cut the apples into bite-sized cubes or thin slices. Try to keep the pieces relatively uniform so every bite contains a little bit of each ingredient.

Immediately toss the apples with the fresh lemon juice to help prevent browning and add a bright flavour to the salad.

Step 2: Prepare the Vegetables and Fruit

Wash the celery and slice it thinly.

Wash the grapes, dry them thoroughly, and cut them in half. If you’re using very large grapes, you can quarter them.

Measure out the dried cranberries and roughly chop the pecans if they aren’t already chopped.

Step 3: Make the Dressing

In a medium bowl, whisk together the Greek yoghurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, honey, vanilla extract, salt, and black pepper.

Whisk until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Taste the dressing and adjust it according to your preference. Add a little more honey if you prefer a sweeter salad or another splash of lemon juice if you want more tang.

Step 4: Combine Everything

Place the prepared apples, celery, grapes, pecans, and dried cranberries in a large mixing bowl.

Pour the creamy dressing over the top.

Using a large spoon or spatula, gently toss everything together until the fruit and vegetables are evenly coated.

Be gentle while mixing so the grapes remain intact and the apples don’t become bruised.

Step 5: Chill

Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 20–30 minutes before serving.

This short resting time allows the flavours to blend and makes the salad extra refreshing.

Give it a gentle stir just before serving and sprinkle with additional chopped pecans or fresh parsley if desired.

Servings

Approximately 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 20–30 minutes
Total Time: About 45 minutes

Approximate Nutritional Information Per Serving

Calories: 245
Protein: 4 g
Carbohydrates: 31 g
Fat: 13 g
Fibre: 4 g
Sugar: 22 g
Sodium: 150 mg

Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact ingredients, portion sizes, and brands used.

Recipe Notes

Honeycrisp apples are ideal for this recipe because they are naturally sweet, juicy, and wonderfully crisp. Their texture holds up well even after the salad has been refrigerated.