Description

A refreshing Crisp Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad featuring tender chopped apples, toasted walnuts, and dried cranberries tossed in a creamy, spiced dressing made with Neufchatel cheese, sour cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar. This sweet and tangy salad is perfect as a light dessert or a festive side dish, offering a delightful blend of textures and seasonal flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Dressing:

8 oz Neufchatel cheese (room temperature)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
8 oz light sour cream

For the Fruit Salad:

1 cup chopped walnuts (toasted)
2 cups cold water
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup dried cranberries
4 lbs crisp apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)

Instructions

Prepare the dressing: In a medium bowl, combine the room temperature Neufchatel cheese, packed light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg. Beat these ingredients for about 3 minutes until well combined and creamy. Then, incorporate the light sour cream and vanilla extract, blending until smooth to create a lump-free dressing.
Prevent apple browning: In a large bowl, whisk together the cold water and fresh lemon juice. Core and chop the apples into bite-sized pieces. Immediately toss the chopped apples into the lemon-water mixture for about 1 minute, ensuring they are fully submerged. Then, drain the apples well.
Combine salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, mix the drained apple pieces with about three-quarters of the chopped toasted walnuts and dried cranberries. Add the creamy dressing from Step 1 and gently toss until the apples are thoroughly coated.
Chill the salad: Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld for maximum taste.
Serve and garnish: Just before serving, sprinkle the remaining chopped walnuts and dried cranberries over the top for added texture and visual appeal. Keep the salad cold and serve fresh.

Notes

Using room temperature Neufchatel cheese helps create a smoother, lump-free dressing.
To prevent apples from browning, immediately submerge chopped apples in lemon-water mix.
Toasted walnuts enhance the salad’s flavor and provide extra crunch.
Chilling the salad for at least 30 minutes improves flavor melding.
Best served fresh and kept cold until serving.

Prep Time: 6 minutes
Cook Time: 14 minutes (toasting walnuts and prep time combined)
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Apple salad, Cranberry walnut salad, Creamy apple salad, Fall salad, Holiday salad, Healthy fruit salad