You’ll FALL for this Salad
This apple, cherry and walnut salad with a maple dressing is the PERFECT salad for the fall season. It may look like spring with the “spring mix”, but don’t be fooled! The crisp Granny Smith apples tossed with tart cherries and toasted walnuts are complimented by the velvety maple dressing to create the quintessential salad for fall!
I first fell in love with this salad at my Dad’s house. My step-mom makes this salad every Thanksgiving (as well as multiple other times throughout the year) and I can’t get enough! I begged her for the recipe!
Now I make this salad for my family at home and even my picky two-year-old likes it!
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This salad is not only delicious but it is also gluten-free, egg-free, and dairy-free! It is also such a simple salad to make! There aren’t many ingredients so it is SUPER budget friendly!
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Shopping List for this Fall Salad:
- 5oz. Baby Spring Mix
- 2 Granny Smith apples
- Dried Cherries
- Chopped Walnuts
- Mayonnaise
- Pure Maple Syrup (regular works as well)
- White wine vinegar (Champagne vinegar)
- sugar
- vegetable oil
Get it Now:
And now for the salad recipe that your guests will absolutely FALL for this fall!!
5/5
Apple, Cherry and Walnut Salad with Maple Dressing
Equipment
- Large Salad/Mixing Bowl
- Skillet
Ingredients
For Salad:
- 5 oz. Baby Spring Mix 10c
- 2 med. Granny Smith Apples peeled and chopped into match stick pieces
- 1/2 c Dried Cherries tart
- 1/2 c Chopped Walnuts toasted
For Dressing:
- 1/4 c Mayonnaise
- 1/4 c Maple Syrup pure
- 3 tbsp white wine vinegar **suggested Champagne vinegar**
- 2 tsp white sugar
- 1/2 c vegetable oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
For Dressing:
- Whisk together mayo, syrup, vinegar and sugar.
- Gradually whisk in oil to thicken.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper
- **Can be prepared up to 3 days in advance** (Cover and refrigerate. Whisk again before tossing with salad mix.)
For Salad:
- Toast walnuts in a skillet over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Set aside.
- Peel and cut apples into match stick pieces.
- Toss greens with apples, cherries and 1/4c walnuts.
- Toss with enough dressing to coat.
- Divide equally among bowls/plates.
- Sprinkle with remaining walnuts.
- Enjoy!
Notes
So I LOVE this salad as a salad, but I am always pushing limits in the kitchen. I love this dressing so much that I modified it to create a coleslaw dressing too!
This slaw is a little different then the traditional coleslaw, but in the best ways possible! It has texture which creates a delightful mouth-feel. It is also on the sweeter side compared to an everyday coleslaw so it is a fabulous side dish to counter-balance spice! I serve it with my oven-baked ribs and it is the perfect compliment to the ground red pepper and Cajun spices!
Try it as a coleslaw:
Apple Maple Slaw
Ingredients
- 28 oz Dole Coleslaw mix Two 14oz bags
- 2 Granny Smith Apples peeled and cut into matchsticks
- 3/4 c Crazins
- 3/4 c Sliced Almonds **sub pine nuts**
- 1 c Mayonnaise
- 1/4 c Maple Syrup pure
- 3 tbsp White Wine Vinegar
- 2 tbsp White Sugar
Instructions
For Coleslaw Salad:
- Peel and cut the apples
- Mix apples, nuts, Crazins and coleslaw mix in a large bowl.
For Coleslaw Dressing:
- Mix together remaining ingredients.
- Mix into coleslaw salad until uniform.
- Serve/Chill until serving.
Enjoy!
48 Comments
Sarah
This looks like an absolutely delicious salad.
Tara @ Mama's Money Diary
I don’t eat many salads in fall, but this one sounds delightful, especially with the maple syrup! I’ll be making this for sure.
Chef Dennis
I think I am falling inlove! This salad recipe is sooo delicious that I couldn’t stop myself from eating!
Swathi
This Fall salad looks delicous I would love to try it .
Rosey
Apples, walnuts and cherries? Yum. I’d love this salad, I already know. I make one similar with cranberry and feta. Need to try cherries instead one time!