Apple Cranberry Pecan Salad

Ingredients — Serves 6

Salad

3 medium apples, diced — about 3 cups
1 cup green grapes, halved
1 cup dried cranberries
¾ cup pecans, roughly chopped
¼ cup walnuts, chopped — optional
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1–2 tbsp lemon juice

Creamy Dressing

½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
1 tbsp lemon juice
½ tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp salt
⅛ tsp black pepper

Instructions

Wash and dry the apples and grapes thoroughly.
Dice the apples into bite-size pieces. Toss immediately with 1–2 tbsp lemon juice to help prevent browning.
Cut the grapes in half.
In a large bowl, combine apples, grapes, dried cranberries, pecans, walnuts, and parsley.
In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, honey, lemon juice, vanilla, salt, and pepper until smooth.
Pour the dressing over the fruit mixture.
Gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
Cover and refrigerate for 30–60 minutes before serving.
Sprinkle a few extra pecans and cranberries on top just before serving.

Nut Information

Pecans: Contains tree nuts — ¾ cup
Walnuts: Contains tree nuts — ¼ cup optional
Total nuts with walnuts: 1 cup
For a completely nut-free version, replace the pecans/walnuts with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds, provided they are safe for the person eating them.
If serving someone with a tree-nut allergy, check the labels of dried cranberries, mayonnaise, yogurt, and other packaged ingredients for allergen warnings and cross-contact.

Q&A

Q: Can I make it ahead?
Yes. Refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Add a little extra dressing before serving if needed.

Q: How do I stop the apples from turning brown?
Toss them with lemon juice immediately after cutting.

Q: Can I use only pecans?
Absolutely. Use 1 cup pecans instead of pecans plus walnuts.

Q: Can I make it without mayonnaise?
Yes. Use 1 cup Greek yogurt for a lighter dressing.

Q: Is this gluten-free?
The basic ingredients are naturally gluten-free, but check packaged ingredients for labeling.

Q: Is it dairy-free?
Not with Greek yogurt. Use a dairy-free yogurt alternative if needed.

Q: How long does it keep?
Best within 1–2 days refrigerated. The apples and grapes will gradually soften.

Author
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Sara Mitchell

Sara Mitchell is an expert restaurant content creator who writes easy-to-read guides about CAVA and other Mediterranean fast-casual chains in the United States. She covers locations, menus, prices, and hours, making it simple for visitors to find nearby restaurants and what to order quickly.

With years of experience in restaurant research and local SEO, Sara creates accurate, user-friendly guides that work for both people and search engines. Her goal is to help users go from search results to their nearest restaurant or menu choice with as few clicks as possible.