Discover a Tasty Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad

Fresh • Crunchy • Sweet-Tangy • Perfect Anytime

This Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad is a beautiful balance of crisp apples, tart cranberries, crunchy walnuts, creamy cheese, and a bright homemade dressing. It’s ideal as a light lunch, holiday side, or elegant starter.

📝 Ingredients (Serves 4)

🥗 Salad

6 cups mixed greens (romaine, spring mix, or baby spinach)
1 large apple (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji), thinly sliced
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup walnuts, lightly toasted
⅓ cup crumbled feta or goat cheese

🍯 Apple Vinaigrette

3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional)
Salt & black pepper, to taste

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Toast the walnuts
Heat walnuts in a dry pan over medium heat for 2–3 minutes until fragrant. Cool.
Make the dressing
Whisk olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon (if using), salt, and pepper until emulsified.
Assemble the salad
In a large bowl, combine greens, apple slices, cranberries, walnuts, and cheese.
Dress & toss
Drizzle dressing just before serving and toss gently to coat.

🧮 Nutrition Information (Approx. per serving)

Calories: 260–280 kcal
Protein: 5–6 g
Carbohydrates: 22–25 g
Fat: 18–20 g
Fiber: 4–5 g
Gluten-free • Vegetarian

Nutrition varies based on cheese and sweetener used.

💡 Tips & Variations

Extra protein: Add grilled chicken, turkey, or chickpeas
Vegan: Skip cheese or use dairy-free feta
Low-calorie: Reduce nuts to ¼ cup and use less dressing
Seasonal twist: Add sliced pears or pomegranate seeds
Crunch boost: Add sunflower seeds or almonds

Q & A

Q: How do I keep apples from browning?
A: Toss slices lightly with lemon juice before adding.

Q: Can I make this ahead?
A: Yes—prep all ingredients separately. Toss with dressing just before serving.

Q: What cheese works best?
A: Goat cheese for creaminess, feta for saltiness, or blue cheese for bold flavor.

Q: Is this salad good for holidays?
A: Absolutely! It’s a Thanksgiving and Christmas favorite.

Q: Can I store leftovers?
A: Best eaten fresh, but undressed salad keeps 24 hours refrigerated.

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.