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A honeycrisp apple salad is the perfect dish to enjoy during the Fall season. The recipe calls for fresh greens, honeycrisp apples, and a sweet and tangy apple cider vinaigrette. This salad is sure to be a crowd pleaser!

Post Updated August 2022

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Below you will find tips, tricks and helpful hints for making this recipe including step by step instructions with pictures. If you would like to go directly to the recipe, scroll down to the recipe card.

Why I Love This Salad

I am so in love with this salad. It is one of my favorite Fall salad recipes! I’ve been in love with Honeycrisp Apples for awhile now, but adding them to this salad, has taken my love to the next level!

This Honeycrisp Apple Salad is filled with delicious crisp lettuce, topped with a few ingredients, and tossed together with a sweet and tangy Apple Cider Vinaigrette.

It’s everything I love about Autumn, wrapped up in a delicious salad. I’m hooked.

What are Honeycrisp Apples?

Honeycrisp Apples can cost almost as much as a pot of gold, if you buy them out of season. But, if you wait until just the right time, they will usually go on sale for a reasonable price. 

Even on sale, they are still pretty expensive, but boy are they sweet and juicy!

Honeycrisp is actually a cultivated variety of apple that originated in Minnesota. I am sure glad that those geniuses in Minnesota created this delicious apple variety.

Why Use Apples in Salad?

I love to use apples in recipes this time of year, and I was excited to experiment with adding them to a salad. That way you could still enjoy the tastes of fall, but without all of the guilt.

What are the best Apples to use in Salad?

Both sweet apples like pink lady and granny smith apples are great in salads.

When to Serve Honeycrisp Apple Salad

This salad is perfect for a Fall lunch or dinner. It would also be great for a holiday potluck or dinner party! This salad would also make the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

Apple Cider Vinaigrette

This tangy-sweet apple cider vinaigrette dressing with this Honeycrisp Apple Salad is amazing too. It’s just the right combination of tangy and sweet, but it takes the taste of this salad over the top!

To make the dressing, simply add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor. Mix until combined.

Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing Ingredients

*Ingredient amounts are located in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Oil: For this vinaigrette, you will want to use a neutral tasting oil like canola oil or vegetable oil. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil may also be used.

Apple Cider Vinegar: This is a key ingredient in the dressing, so don’t omit it.

Water: This is just to thin out the dressing a bit.

Dijon Mustard: I love the flavor that Dijon mustard adds to this dressing, but you could also use regular yellow mustard.

Sugar: You will want to use a granulated sugar for this recipe. Honey or maple syrup may also be used.

Black Pepper: Season to taste.

Honeycrisp Autumn Harvest Salad Ingredients

Romaine Lettuce: I like to use romaine lettuce in my salads, but you could also use baby spinach or spring mix.

Honeycrisp Apple: As I mentioned before, this salad is all about the apples. You could use a different type of apple, but I think the Honeycrisp Apples are key to the flavor of this salad. Cut the apples into bite-size pieces or apple slices.

Bacon Pieces: I like to use real bacon bits for this recipe, but you could also cook your own bacon and chop it up.

Dried Cranberries: I love the sweetness that dried cranberries add to this salad.

Bleu Cheese Crumbles: I think blue cheese goes really well with apples, but you could also use feta cheese or goat cheese.

Pecan Halves: Pecans are a great addition to this salad, but you could also use walnuts or almonds.

How to Make Honeycrisp Apple Salad

[1] Apple Cider Vinaigrette: Add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor. Blend together until smooth.

[2] Begin by chopping and rinsing the lettuce. In this recipe, I used Romaine lettuce because of its crunchiness.

[3] When I make a salad, I like to chop my lettuce small, almost like a chopped salad. I don’t like eating a salad with giant pieces of lettuce.

[4] Let’s face it, there is no way to look civilized while stuffing a giant lettuce leaf in your mouth! I also don’t like to have to cut up my salad while I’m eating it. I’m lazy that way. But, that is just a personal preference.

[5] When adding the apples, you can peel them or not. I usually don’t because it gives that much more beautiful color to the salad.

[6] I’ve also heard that most of the fruit’s nutrients are in the peel? Is that right? I don’t know, but it gives me another reason to take one less step in preparing this salad.

[7] The other ingredients are pretty self explanatory. With the bacon, you can totally make your own and chop it up, or you can just buy a bag of precooked bacon pieces from the salad dressing aisle at the grocery store. That is what I like to do when I’m short on time.

[8] To assemble the salad, put the lettuce into a large salad bowl with a lid. Drizzle vinaigrette (about two tablespoons of dressing per serving) over the salad, place the lid on, and shake to toss.

[9] Divide the lettuce into individual bowls or plates. Place the remaining ingredients on the salad and drizzle a little more dressing on the top.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this salad be made ahead of time?

The salad can be made ahead of time, but I would not add the dressing until you are ready to serve. The apples will start to turn brown if they sit in the dressing for too long.

Can I use a different type of apple?

Yes, you could use a different type of apple, but I think the Honeycrisp Apples are key to the flavor of this salad.

Can I use a different type of cheese?

Yes, you could use a different type of cheese, but I think bleu cheese goes really well with apples.

Can I use a different type of nut?

Yes, you could use a different type of nut, but I think pecans are a great addition to this salad.

What is the best way to store leftovers?

The salad will keep in the fridge for a day or two, but the apples will start to turn brown. I would recommend adding the dressing just before serving if you have leftovers.

How do you keep apples from turning brown?

The best way to keep apples from turning brown is to coat them in lemon juice. You could also add the dressing just before serving if you are worried about the apples turning brown.

Final Thoughts

This Honeycrisp Apple Salad recipe is perfect for Fall! The apples are delicious and fresh, and the vinaigrette is sweet and tangy. I hope you enjoy it! Please leave a rating and comment below if you give it a try.

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Here are some great Fall desserts to go with this salad: 

• Disneyland’s Apple Pie Funnel Cake
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
• Caramel Pecan Turtle Cheesecake

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