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    Home » Recipes » Salad » Apple Cranberry Salad

    Apple Cranberry Salad

    Published: Sep 10, 2021 · Modified: Apr 6, 2023 by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

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    This Apple Cranberry Salad is sweet and crunchy, crisp and tart! It’s simple enough for a weekday lunch yet fancy enough for holiday dinners!

    white bowl with a salad topped with apples and cranberries

    I’m a huge fan of fruit on salad and this one has diced apples and dried cranberries. Plus, anything with freshly shaved parmesan and glazed pecans is going to be good, right?!!

    ingredients in bowls

    Apple Cranberry Salad Ingredients

    The crunchy apples and crispy croutons work perfectly with the chewy dried cranberries and sweet glazed pecans to make this an outstanding salad! I’ve been eating this salad, with slight variations, on repeat for months now. Scroll down for the complete recipe with ingredient measurements.

    • Lettuce: We used organic spring mix lettuce for this salad because it is a great combinations of flavors, textures, and colors. You can use whatever your favorite lettuce is.
    • Apples: Diced Granny Smith apples are what we chose when making this salad but any crunchy apple variety would work too.
    • Parmesan: Shaved parmesan is fantastic on this salad. You can shave it yourself or you can find shaved parmesan in the deli area at your local grocery store.
    • Croutons: For the croutons we crumbled rosemary and olive oil bruschetta toasts. Any croutons would work or you can use parmesan crisps as well.
    • Cranberries: The dried cranberries add a little sweet, a little tart and some chewiness to this apple cranberry salad.
    • Pecans: We chopped up a few glazed pecans for the salad and you only need a few to really make the salad something special.
    • Lemon Vinaigrette: Homemade lemon vinaigrette (find my recipe here) is the perfect dressing to serve with this salad!
    pouring on lemon salad dressing

    How To Make Apple Cranberry Salad

    To make this apple cranberry salad, simply layer the ingredients, add the dressing and enjoy! Feel free to add extra ingredients or swap things out as you see fit. Scroll down for the printable recipe card and complete instructions.

    • Arrange the lettuce in one large bowl or in several individual bowls depending on the occasion.
    • Next layer on the toppings in any order you want. This could be served buffet style so each person can add what they want. I keep the toppings together in my pantry and fridge so they are easy to pull out every time I want another salad.
    • Drizzle with salad dressing. Whether you use one large bowl or not it is a good idea to leave the dressing on the side to let everyone add the amount of dressing they prefer.
    top down view of apple cranberry salad

    Apple Cranberry Salad Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make this apple cranberry salad salad ahead of time?

    I would suggest preparing the ingredients (chopping the pecans, shredding the parmesan, making the vinaigrette, etc.) ahead of time but waiting until the last minute to assemble everything.

    How can I turn this salad into a main dish?

    When you serve a salad a main dish, it often includes protein and larger portions. I would suggest adding diced turkey or chicken to this salad.

    What else can I add to this salad?

    You can add more veggies such as diced cucumbers or sliced onions. Or add more fruit like diced pears, sliced grapes or pomegranate seeds. Toasted walnuts and walnuts could be added too!

    side view of apple cranberry salad in a white bowl

    Want more salad recipes? Try these next:

    This Corn Salad recipe is a creamy combination of fresh sweet corn, colorful peppers, and ripe tomatoes! It is the perfect summer salad for potlucks, picnics, and barbecues.

    This Cranberry Pecan Pretzel Salad recipe with cranberry sauce, sugared pecans, and pretzels is perfect for holiday dinners from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

    Always a crowd favorite, this Taco Salad recipe is topped with tomatoes, corn, beans, taco meat, onions, cheese, and easy-to-make creamy salsa dressing.

    Raspberry Parmesan Chicken Salad is my favorite salad recipe! It has baby spring mix, chicken, Parmesan, olives, raspberries, and raspberry vinaigrette.

    apple cranberry salad in a white bowl

    Apple Cranberry Salad

    This Apple Cranberry Salad is sweet and crunchy, crisp and tart! It's simple enough for a weekday lunch yet fancy enough for holiday dinners!
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    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
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    Equipment

    Dowan Serving Bowls
    Glazed Pecans
    Bruschetta Toasts
    Craisins

    Ingredients

    • 4 cups spring mix lettuce
    • ½ cup diced green apples
    • ½ cup shaved parmesan
    • ½ cup croutons
    • ¼ cup dried cranberries
    • ¼ cup glazed pecans
    • ½ cup lemon vinaigrette

    Instructions

    • Arrange the spring mix lettuce in a large serve bowl or divide it between individual bowls.
      put lettuce in a bowl
    • Top the lettuce with diced green apples, shaved parmesan, croutons, dried cranberries, and candied pecans.
      add toppings to salad
    • Serve with homemade lemon vinaigrette (see recipe here).
      pour dressing on salad

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 309kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 321mg | Potassium: 498mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 17625IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 243mg | Iron: 2mg
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Tonia Larson

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    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 12+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

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    Tonia Larson and Brian LarsonHi, We are Brian and Tonia Larson! We hope you enjoy our family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and tasty desserts!
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