Need a quick and healthy side dish, breakfast, or snack this season? Packed full of nutritious ingredients, this Light and Creamy Apple Salad is such a treat, and it’s ready in about 10 minutes!
Have you noticed that we’ve been enjoying a few apples recently? Actually, about 54 pounds of apples, to be exact!! To say that I had to get creative in the kitchen would be an understatement.
After canning my last batch of Slow Cooker Applesauce this week, I can honestly say that we have eaten our way through every single bit of that delicious fruit! Today’s recipe is one that I pulled together as a quick side dish to have with dinner one evening, but I have also continued to enjoy it with breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Fresh, simple ingredients are THE BEST, right?
How do you make an apple salad?
I love the combination of flavors and textures in this sweet apple salad! It includes creamy Greek yogurt and mayonnaise, warm spices, plump juicy raisins, and a crunchy pecan topping.
First, start by tossing together the apples (I like to use a combination of both red and green apples for a perfect combination of color and taste), the golden raisin (dried cranberries would also be great), and a small splash of apple juice, orange juice, or lemon juice. The juice adds a nice touch of bright flavor, while also preventing browning on the apples.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together vanilla Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, and apple pie spice.
Fold the dressing into the apples until completely combined.
At this point, you cover the bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve; or you can go ahead and garnish it with the pecan and coconut toppings and serve immediately.
The balance of Greek yogurt and mayonnaise gives this apple salad with mayonnaise a rich flavor with a healthier nutritional profile!
Recipe Variations:
- Make this apple salad with celery -- it will be like a Waldorf Salad!
- Substitute with other types of nuts like almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts or cashews
- Dried cranberries are a great substitute for the raisins
- Lemon or orange zest would add a stronger, brighter citrus flavor to the dish
Looking for even more easy apple recipes? Try these:
Light and Creamy Apple Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced, unpeeled Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples (about 1.5 medium apples)
- 2 cups diced unpeeled red apples (such as Red Delicious, Gala, or Honey Crisp) (about 1.5 medium apples)
- ¼ cup golden raisins
- 1 tablespoon apple juice (or sub with orange juice or lemon juice)
- 5.3 ounces (about ½ cup) Greek-style vanilla yogurt can substitute with plain Greek yogurt and a dash of vanilla extract if you prefer a less-sweet option
- ¼ cup light mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon apple pie spice (can substitute with ¼ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg)
- ¼ cup chopped toasted pecans
- ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, toss together apples, raisins, and juice.
- In a small bowl, whisk together yogurt, mayonnaise and apple pie spice.
- Gently combine yogurt mixture with apple mixture. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Just before serving, sprinkle with pecans and coconut.
Notes
- Make this apple salad with about ½ cup diced celery -- it will be like a Waldorf Salad!
- Substitute with other types of nuts like almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts or cashews
- Dried cranberries are a great substitute for the raisins
- Lemon or orange zest would add a stronger, brighter citrus flavor to the dish
Nutrition
This post was originally published in August, 2015. It was updated in October, 2018.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
Wow 54 pounds of apples is a lot! But you are so creative with your apple recipes, I love it! This salad looks delicious, Blair! I'm loving that creamy dressing. Sounds perfect for breakfast or lunch!
Blair
Thanks, Gayle!
Jen | Baked by an Introvert
Apples are the only reason I'm excited for fall. I simply love them. This apple salad is the perfect way to start my Friday!
Blair
Thanks, Jen!
lindsay
so i don't have peel these? YAY!! pinned
Anna @ Sunny Side Ups
Yay for apple season!! I love that this is such a perfect dish to add to any meal! Definitely keeping this recipe close by this fall!! Pinned!
Blair
Thanks, Anna!
Holly Waterfall
I love everything about this recipe! My son would gobble it up for sure too!
Blair
Thanks so much, Holly! 🙂
Dana Gary
I thought this salad sounded great. I didn’t have golden raisins, so I used regular. I didn’t have nutmeg, so I used 1/2 tsp cinnamon. It turned out great. Not as creamy as I expected, but you could always increase the dressing recipe.
Thanks for the recipe!
Anthony Pouliot
There are many facets to the health benefits of apples. For example, they contain large amounts of vitamins and minerals that strengthen the blood. The skin of an apple contains pectin. Pectin can help remove toxic substances from the system by supplying galacturonic acid.
Apple can be use for different recipes like juice, salad, cake, bread etc. Thank you for this post, love this.
Melissa
My family loved this recipe! I tweaked it a bit by adding 1 tsp brown sugar (for the kids) and used coconut Greek yogurt since we are fans of coconut. I know its good when others want the recipe.
Blair
Your version sounds great, Melissa! So glad that everyone enjoyed it!