This tart Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad is a delightful mix of tangy Granny Smith apples, crunchy nuts, seeds, and savory bacon, all coming together for a burst of flavor. Creamy Gorgonzola Cheese adds the perfect balance, making this salad nothing short of heavenly.
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Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad combines crisp apples, tart cranberries, and crunchy walnuts with a delightful dressing, making it a perfect dish for any occasion. It’s loved for its balance of sweet and savory flavors.
If you like this salad recipe, you may also love Apple Pomegranate Salad or Mandarin Orange Spinach Salad.
Jump to:
- Why We Love This Recipe
- Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad Ingredients
- How Do You Select The Best Apples For This Salad?
- What are Some Substitutes for this Salad Recipe?
- How Do You Make This Easy Apple Cranberry and Walnut Salad?
- Expert Tips for Success
- How Should You Store This Salad?
- Recipe FAQs
- More Recipes You'll Love ♥️
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Share Your Thoughts
Why We Love This Recipe
- Easy to Prepare: Ready in just 15 minutes.
- Versatile: Perfect for a quick family dinner or a festive gathering.
- Budget-Friendly: Made with ingredients that won’t break the bank.
Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad Ingredients
- Butter Lettuce: This soft and tender lettuce forms the perfect base for our salad, giving it a fresh and light texture. Make sure to wash and dry the leaves thoroughly before using.
- Apples: Choose crisp varieties like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for the best crunch and sweetness. Thinly slice them to ensure every bite has a bit of apple goodness.
- Bacon: Adding crumbled bacon brings a smoky and savory flavor that balances the sweetness of the apples and cranberries. Cook it until it’s nice and crispy.
- Red Onion: Thinly sliced red onions add a subtle bite and a pop of color. If you prefer a milder taste, soak the slices in cold water for a few minutes before adding them to the salad.
- Walnuts: These nuts add a satisfying crunch and are packed with healthy fats. Toast them lightly to bring out their natural flavor.
- Dried Cranberries: These little gems add a tart sweetness that complements the apples and balances the savory ingredients.
- Gorgonzola Cheese: Crumbled Gorgonzola adds a creamy and tangy element that ties all the flavors together. If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, feta or goat cheese works well too.
- Pumpkin Seeds: Also known as pepitas, pumpkin seeds add a nutty flavor and extra crunch. They’re a great source of protein and healthy fats.
- Sunflower Seeds: These tiny seeds add a delicate crunch and are rich in nutrients. Sprinkle them generously for added texture.
A full ingredient list with exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
How Do You Select The Best Apples For This Salad?
- Look for firm, crisp apples without bruises.
- Choose a mix of sweet and tart apples for a balanced flavor.
- Store apples in the fridge with a squeeze of fresh lemon to keep them fresh longer.
What are Some Substitutes for this Salad Recipe?
- Walnuts: Almonds or pecans can be used for a different kind of crunch.
- Dried Cranberries: Raisins or dried cherries are great alternatives.
- Gorgonzola Cheese: Feta or blue cheese can substitute for a milder or sharper taste.
How Do You Make This Easy Apple Cranberry and Walnut Salad?
STEP 1: Prepare the Base
Lay the red butter lettuce leaves at the bottom of a large salad bowl.
STEP 2: Add Crunch and Sweetness
Top with sliced apples, walnuts, and dried cranberries for a perfect mix of sweet and crunchy.
STEP 3: Add Additional Toppings
Add crumbled bacon, sliced red onions, seeds, and Gorgonzola cheese for depth of flavor.
STEP 4: Dress It Up
Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper and drizzle over the salad. Toss gently to combine.
Expert Tips for Success
👩🍳Jami's Pro Tips: Want to take this recipe to the next level? Check out my expert tips below for the best flavor, texture, and meal prep hacks!
✔️ DO Prepare this salad right before serving for the freshest taste.
✔️ DO Keep the dressing separate and toss it with the salad just before serving to keep everything crisp.
✔️ DO Use a mandoline slicer to get perfectly thin apple slices.
How Should You Store This Salad?
Store Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad in an airtight container in the fridge. This salad is best if consumed within 24 hours.
Recipe FAQs
Crisp varieties like Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Gala, or Fuji are ideal for their sweet flavor and firm texture.
Both are great choices; walnuts add a slightly bitter crunch, while pecans offer a sweeter, buttery flavor.
A typical serving of apple cranberry walnut salad has approximately 300-475 calories, depending on the specific ingredients and quantities used.
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📖 Recipe
Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad
Equipment
- Knife
- Cutting board
Ingredients
- 8 ounces whole red butter leaves or baby butter lettuce washed and leaves separated
- 2 small apples cored and thinly sliced
- 4 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled
- ¼ cup red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup walnuts chopped
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup Gorgonzola cheese crumbled
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
- 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- In a large salad bowl, layer the butter lettuce leaves.
- Evenly distribute the apple slices over the lettuce, followed by the crumbled bacon and red onion slices.
- Sprinkle the walnuts, dried cranberries, Gorgonzola cheese, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds over the top.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving.
- Toss gently to combine all the ingredients and ensure even distribution of the dressing. Serve immediately.
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C.G. says
I made this salad over the weekend for a baby shower and here are some of my observations. First the prep time is way off base! It takes at least 15 minutes to get the bacon fried. During those15 minutes you can get apples and onions prepped. If you are not using already store-bought prepped salad greens, you need to include lettuce prep in your time allotment. You still have to measure and mix all the other ingredients.I think you’re getting my picture.
Not a fault of the recipe author, but just a note to anyone who wants to try this recipe, some of the ingredients are rather pricey.
Jami Powell says
Hi C.G., Thanks so much for your detailed feedback! Since the recipe starts with cooked bacon, it’s intended to save time if you have it prepped beforehand, but we can see how starting from raw bacon would add extra prep time. We’ll add a note to clarify that. Great point about ingredient costs - we’ll also suggest a few budget-friendly tips. We are glad you tried it for such a special event and hope everyone enjoyed the salad!