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Waldorf Salad with Whipped Cream

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close up shot of Waldorf Salad with a spoon grabbing a piece
This Waldorf salad is brimming with fresh fruit, including a blend of apples, juicy grapes, and crisp celery to create the ultimate crowd favorite.
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Table of Contents
  1. Waldorf Salad Ingredients
  2. Substitutions And Additions
  3. How To Make Waldorf Salad
  4. Serving This Apple Waldorf Salad
  5. How To Store This Recipe For Waldorf Salad
  6. Why We Love This Recipe
  7. Waldorf Salad Recipe FAQs
  8. More Recipes You’ll Love
  9. JUMP TO RECIPE

This Waldorf salad is a classic American salad that’s the perfect blend of sweet and savory. The autumn favorite features delicious crisp apples, juicy grapes, fresh celery, and crunchy walnuts, all coated in a creamy dressing.

overhead shot of Waldorf Salad with a spoon grabbing a piece

Waldorf Salad Ingredients

Waldorf Salad raw ingredients that are labeled
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This Waldorf salad is a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.

Loaded with plenty of fresh fruit and veggies, plus the irresistible crunch of walnuts, this refreshing and satisfying salad will be a guaranteed winner.

You’ll need:

For the Dressing

  • ½ cup of heavy whipping cream
  • ¼ cup of mayonnaise 

For the Salad

  • 1 cup of diced Granny Smith apples, cored with the skin left on
  • 1 cup of diced Gala apples, cored with the skin left on
  • ¾ cup of finely diced celery
  • ½ cup of halved green seedless grapes (3-4 extra halved grapes for an optional garnish)
  • ½ cup of halved red seedless grapes (3-4 extra halved grapes for an optional garnish)
  • ½ cup of chopped walnuts
  • 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar

PRO TIP:

Make sure you buy seedless grapes for this recipe. If the green or red ones at the grocery store don’t look nice, you can just use one color in the salad as long as the amount of grapes adds up to 1 cup.

Substitutions And Additions

NUTS: Any chopped nuts can be used in this easy Waldorf salad.

SAVORY: If a more savory salad is desired, you can omit the granulated sugar and add kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper.

GRAPES: If you’re looking for a different fruit option or want to adjust the sweetness, consider using seedless raisins, dried cranberries, or chopped pineapple in place of the grapes.

Raisins will add a natural sweetness, while cranberries bring a tart element to the salad.

Pineapple adds a tropical twist, offering a burst of juicy flavor. Remember that your choice will impact the overall sweetness and texture of the salad, so choose accordingly.

CELERY: If you’re not a fan of celery or don’t have it on hand, thinly sliced green bell peppers can be a great alternative.

They offer a similar crispness and a mild, slightly sweet flavor that complements the other ingredients well.

MAYONNAISE: If you’re looking for a lighter dressing option, Greek yogurt or sour cream can be excellent substitutes for mayonnaise.

Greek yogurt adds a tangy creaminess, while sour cream brings a milder tang. You can even combine the two for a balance between richness and tanginess.

Best Apples For Waldorf Salad

Any apples can be used in this classic recipe. The combination of sweet Gala apples and tart green Granny Smith apples makes a nicely balanced salad.

How To Make Waldorf Salad

This salad is as easy as whipping up the simple dressing and combining all the fruit and veggies together in a bowl.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

The Waldorf salad dressing can be made the night before and stored in a mason jar in the fridge until you are ready to use it.

For The Dressing

STEP ONE: Using a medium-sized mixing bowl and a handheld mixer at high speed, beat the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. 

STEP TWO: Gently fold in the mayonnaise. Set it aside.

mayonnaise and whipped cream folded in a bowl

For The Salad

STEP ONE: Add the diced apples, celery, grapes, and walnuts to a large bowl.

STEP TWO: Sprinkle the lemon juice and granulated sugar over the apple mixture.

PRO TIP:

The lemon juice and sugar will help prevent the apples from turning brown in your salad.

lemon juice and sugar sprinkled over the fruits and nuts in a bowl

STEP THREE: Using a large spoon, stir to completely coat the apple mixture.

stirred the sugar and lemon juice mixture in a bowl

STEP FOUR: Gently fold the mayonnaise mixture into the apple mixture. Cover tightly and refrigerate for one hour.

Just before serving, garnish with the reserved halved grapes.

mayonnaise folded with the lemon juice mixture in a bowl

Serving This Apple Waldorf Salad

This refreshing salad makes the perfect side dish for any grilled or potluck meal.

Try it with our grilled chicken breast, slow cooker corn on the cob, and tomato cucumber salad, and you’ll have a delicious meal on your hands.

Transform your Waldorf Salad into a delicious sandwich or wrap filling. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise or Greek yogurt on a tortilla or between slices of bread, add the salad, and roll it up.

Our grape salad and strawberry banana cheesecake salad are two more easy recipes where fresh fruit is the star of the show.

How To Store This Recipe For Waldorf Salad

Now that you’ve mastered the art of making a delicious Waldorf salad, let’s talk about how to store it to keep it fresh and enjoyable.

MAKE AHEAD: If you’d like to get a head start on your meal prep, you can prepare the Waldorf salad a few hours in advance.

However, it’s best to hold off on adding the dressing until just before serving. Keep the prepared salad ingredients in an airtight container in the refrigerator and the dressing in a separate container.

When it’s time to enjoy, simply combine the two, ensuring that your salad stays crisp and vibrant.

IN THE FRIDGE: To store your Waldorf salad in the fridge, place it in an airtight container to prevent any odors from affecting the flavor.

It can last for up to two to three days when properly refrigerated. Remember that the salad contains fresh apples, which may brown over time.

To minimize browning, you can toss the apple slices with a bit of lemon juice before adding them to the salad. This will help preserve their color and freshness.

IN THE FREEZER: This salad is not recommended for freezing as the ingredients will not stay crisp once thawed.

How Long Will Waldorf Salad Keep In The Fridge?

Store any leftovers of this fruit salad tightly covered or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

overhead shot of Waldorf Salad on lettuce

Why We Love This Recipe

REFRESHING AND CRISP: This salad bursts with the refreshing crunch of crisp apples and celery, making it a delightful, textural experience that’s perfect for a light and satisfying meal.

BALANCED FLAVORS: The combination of sweet grapes, tangy dressing, and a hint of nuttiness from the walnuts creates a beautifully balanced flavor profile.

MAKE AHEAD FRIENDLY: You can prep the ingredients ahead of time and assemble the salad just before serving, making it an excellent choice for meal preppers and busy individuals.

This classic Waldorf salad recipe features a medley of different flavors, including red apples, green apples, red and green grapes, celery, and the tasty crunch of walnuts, all coated in a creamy dressing. Enjoy this as a side dish to any meal that you want to add a little extra freshness.

Waldorf Salad Recipe FAQs

How do I store this salad?

This great recipe can be stored in the fridge for up to three days.

What are the best apples to use for this recipe?

We used Royal Gala and Granny Smith apples for this salad as we like the combination of tart and sweet apples, but any of your favorite apples would also be a great option in this amazing salad.

What kind of grapes are best for this salad?

The best grapes for this easy apple and grape salad recipe are red and green seedless grapes. You don’t want to be using a variety of grapes that have seeds in them for this salad.

What is a Waldorf salad?

A Waldorf salad is a classic American salad that typically consists of fresh apples, celery, grapes, and walnuts, all mixed together with a creamy mayonnaise-based dressing. It’s often served as an appetizer or side dish.

Why is it called a Waldorf salad?

The Waldorf salad is named after the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. The salad’s creation is attributed to Oscar Tschirky, the maître d’hôtel of the Waldorf-Astoria, who is believed to have invented the dish in the late 19th century.

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close up shot of Waldorf Salad with a spoon grabbing a piece

Waldorf Apple Salad

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This Waldorf salad is brimming with fresh fruit, including a blend of apples, juicy grapes, and crisp celery to create the ultimate crowd favorite.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

Dressing

  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise

Salad

  • 1 cup diced Granny Smith apples, cored with the skin left on
  • 1 cup diced Gala apples, cored with the skin left on
  • ¾ cup finely diced celery
  • ½ cup halved green seedless grapes, 3 to 4 extra halved grapes for an optional garnish
  • ½ cup halved red seedless grapes, 3 to 4 extra halved grapes for an optional garnish
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Instructions
 

Dressing

  • Using a medium-sized mixing bowl and a handheld mixer at high speed, beat the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form.
  • Gently fold in the mayonnaise. Set it aside.

Salad

  • Using a large mixing bowl, add the chopped apples, celery, grapes, and walnuts.
  • Sprinkle the lemon juice and granulated sugar over the apple mixture.
  • Using a large spoon, stir to completely coat the apple mixture.
  • Gently fold the mayonnaise mixture into the apple mixture. Cover tightly and refrigerate for 1 hour. Just before serving, garnish with the reserved halved grapes.

Notes

  • Make sure you buy seedless grapes for this recipe. If the green or red ones at the grocery store don’t look nice, you can just use one color in the salad as long as the amount of grapes adds up to 1 cup.
  • The Waldorf salad dressing can be made the night before and stored in a mason jar in the fridge until you are ready to use it.
  • The lemon juice and sugar will help prevent the apples from turning brown in your salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 88mg | Potassium: 351mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 346IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 272mg | Iron: 7mg
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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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