Apple Salad with Honeycrisp Apples, Celery, Grapes, Pecans & Dried Cranberries
A crisp, creamy, sweet-tangy salad with juicy grapes, crunchy celery, buttery pecans, and chewy dried cranberries. Lemon juice helps keep the apples fresh-looking, while the creamy dressing brings everything together.
Recipe Details
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Chill time: 30 minutes
- Total time: 45 minutes
- Servings: 6
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cooking: No-cook
Ingredients
Salad
- 4 large Honeycrisp apples, cored and diced
- 1 cup seedless red grapes, halved
- 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
- ½ cup pecans, roughly chopped
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Creamy Dressing
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1½ tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
The combination of mayonnaise, honey, lemon, and optional Greek yogurt is commonly used for this style of apple salad.
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the apples
Wash and dry the apples. Leave the skin on for extra color and crunch.
Core and cut them into bite-sized cubes. Immediately toss with 1 tablespoon lemon juice to help slow browning.
2. Prepare the remaining ingredients
Halve the grapes and thinly slice the celery.
For extra flavor, toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium-low heat for 3–5 minutes, stirring frequently. Let them cool completely before adding them to the salad.
3. Make the dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together:
- Mayonnaise
- Greek yogurt
- Honey
- Lemon juice
- Salt
- Black pepper
Whisk until smooth and creamy.
4. Combine
Add the apples, grapes, celery, pecans, and dried cranberries to a large bowl.
Pour the dressing over the top and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
5. Chill
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Chilling allows the flavors to blend while keeping the salad nicely crisp.
Give it one gentle stir before serving.
✨ Best Tips
- Use crisp apples: Honeycrisp works beautifully, but Fuji or Pink Lady are also good choices.
- Don’t skip the lemon: It helps reduce browning and adds a fresh tang.
- Toast the pecans: This gives them a deeper, nuttier flavor.
- Add dressing shortly before serving if preparing the salad for a gathering, which helps preserve the crunch.
- For a lighter variation, increase the Greek yogurt and reduce the mayonnaise.
🥜 Nut & Allergy Information
Contains:
- Tree nuts: pecans
- Egg: may be present in mayonnaise
- Milk: Greek yogurt
Does not contain by necessity:
- Peanuts
- Wheat/gluten
Important: Check packaged mayonnaise, dried cranberries, yogurt, and other ingredients for allergen statements if cooking for someone with allergies.
Nut-free version
Replace the pecans with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds. If serving someone with a serious nut allergy, use products labeled appropriately for their allergy needs.
📊 Approximate Nutrition
Per serving, depending on the exact ingredients and dressing:
- Calories: ~200–230 kcal
- Protein: ~2–3 g
- Carbohydrates: ~25–30 g
- Fat: ~12–14 g
- Fiber: ~3 g
- Sugar: ~17–20 g
Nutrition varies substantially with the amount/type of mayonnaise, honey, apples, and dried cranberries used. A comparable version lists about 230 calories, 25 g carbohydrates, 14 g fat, 3 g fiber, and 2 g protein per serving.
❓ Q&A
Q: Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes. It can be refrigerated ahead of serving. For the crunchiest result, keep the dressing separate and toss everything together shortly before serving.
Q: How long does it keep?
Store covered in the refrigerator and enjoy within about 2–3 days for the best texture.
Q: Can I use green grapes?
Absolutely. Green, red, or a combination work well.
Q: Can I substitute walnuts for pecans?
Yes. Walnuts are an easy substitute, although the flavor will be slightly different.
Q: Can I use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise?
Yes. You can replace some or all of the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt for a tangier dressing.
Q: Can I add chicken?
Yes. Diced cooked chicken turns this into a more substantial salad.
Q: What else can I add?
Diced pear, pomegranate seeds, shredded carrot, or a little crumbled feta can work nicely.
Q: Can I freeze this salad?
No. Freezing isn’t recommended because the fresh fruit, celery, and creamy dressing will lose their pleasant texture after thawing.
