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Fresh and simple Honeycrisp apple salad recipe made with just a few ingredients. A delicious side dish that’s perfect any time of year.
I’m sharing this Honeycrisp apple salad recipe in honor of my mom. When she was cooking for our family of six, this salad made regular appearances on the table—and it was always a treat. As some of you may remember, my mom was diagnosed with dementia in 2009 and passed away in 2016. During the early stages of her illness, my dad began spending more time in the kitchen with her. She taught him how to make some of their favorite dishes, and over time, he simplified many of them to suit his own style. This version of apple salad is his, and it’s wonderfully fresh and flavorful. I usually save my apple recipes for fall, but this one is an exception. It’s perfect any time of year.
Which Apples Are Best For Salads?
Any kind of apples can be used…just use what you have on hand, or your favorite. Some other good choices in addition to Honeycrisp are Gala, Granny Smith apples, Golden Delicious, or Fuji apples. It’s also delicious to use a mix of different types of apples.
Ingredient Notes + Variations
- In my family, the celery and walnuts are not optional! Other good add-ins are raisins, dried cranberries, blue cheese crumbles, feta cheese, or other types of nuts such as sliced almonds, pecans, or lightly salted peanuts.
- Miracle Whip or regular mayonnaise can be substituted for the light mayonnaise, however the taste of the salad will change accordingly.
- My mom always added sugar to the mayonnaise because it adds a bit of sweetness. If you prefer to leave it out, the salad will still be delicious. One of my readers left a comment and said that she reduced the amount of sugar to 2 teaspoons, and the salad was still delicious. So that’s an option too!
- To turn this apple salad into a main course, add chunks of chicken or turkey.
How to Make
- Place the chopped apples, celery and walnuts in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, stir or whisk the light mayonnaise and sugar until smooth.
- Pour mayonnaise mixture over apples/celery/walnuts and toss until well combined.
- Refrigerate 1 hour before serving.
Tips For Success
- It’s a personal decision whether or not to peel the apples before adding them to the salad. I love the skin, and it adds great color and texture to the dish.
- This honeycrisp apple salad is best served immediately after the refrigeration time. It won’t keep overnight, so make sure to eat it all!
- Don’t skip the refrigeration time before serving. It’s necessary for the flavors to meld together.
- To make this apple salad ahead, chop the ingredients and lightly drizzle the apples with lemon juice. Keep the ingredients separate in the refrigerator. You can do this several hours in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Making this Honeycrisp apple salad recipe brings back such good memories, and it always reminds me of times gone by. For a few years after my mom passed away, I could only think of her as she was when she was ill. I wasn’t capable of remembering back before that. Those days are gone, and now I remember my mom as she really was. Fun, loving, caring, and one of the best cooks ever!
Honeycrisp Apple Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large apples (washed and diced)
- 1/2 cup celery (chopped)
- 1/2 cup walnuts (chopped)
- 3/4 cup light mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
Instructions
- Place the chopped apples, celery and walnuts in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, stir or whisk the light mayonnaise and sugar until smooth.
- Pour mayonnaise mixture over apples/celery/walnuts and toss until well combined.
- Refrigerate 1 hour before serving.
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If you make this recipe, and love it, please come back to leave a comment and a 5-star review. I would really appreciate it, and it would help me so much. Thank you!
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Just made up a batch, delicious!
My tip: lightly dust it with cinnamon to enhance that classic apple taste.
I’ve made this several times and my wife and I always enjoy it. I toss the unpeeled chopped apples with a tablespoon or so of lemon juice to prevent browning. I also add a cup of sliced seedless green grapes. We find this lasts a day or two, depending on how rapidly she and I eat it up. And like one of your reviewers, I only use Miracle Whip. Yum!
Hi Joe! Thank you so much for this lovely comment, and for the rating. I appreciate it more than you can know!
My mother made this every Christmas, she used the same but added the miniature marshmallows , using Miracle whip with a pinch of sugar she did that every time she used miracle whip never n knew why, I make it every year and I am the only one that likes it, getting close to 82
I like my pecans candied in a light coating of cinnamon and sugar and then also adding shelled pumpkin seeds along with always using feta, and instead of just plain mayonnaise it’s half mayonnaise half sour cream with a bit of sugar ( it’s the same kind of dressing I use in seven layer salad, half miracle whip have sour cream and sugar ) it’s especially good on the seven layer salad if you try it let me know if you like it .
My mother always made apple salad on the holidays but she put apples celery seed and a vinaigrette that she cooked and had put an egg in she did it with apple cider vinegar and oh it also had walnuts but I can’t find that version anywhere have you ever heard of it made that way?
No…I’m sorry I haven’t. If you do a google search with the words “apple salad with egg” something might come up. Good luck!
Very good. Followed recipe except I lowered sugar to 2 teaspoons. I was using sweet honeycrisp apples and figured I could add more sugar if needed. It was perfect. Will be great for summer luncheon.
Love this recipe! Tastes like what my grandma used to make.
I’ll definitely be trying this!❤️
I l made this for dinner last night, and my husband and I loved it. It was delicious!
A delightful chopped salad. L Thank you! I used Opal apples. Loved it on a croissant!
Why would you need sugar with the apples, aren’t they sweet enough?
My mom always added sugar, so that’s what we do too. Feel free to leave it out if you prefer!
love this recipe and i use it often but i add raisins and little marsh mellows in mine.
Loved it. It reminded me of the apple salad we used to make together. We only have one mama in this life an anything that brings back a fond memory of her, deserves 5 stars. The salad was delicious, but the memories were priceless. Thank you and God Bless.
So easy…love this recipe.
I make this salad for dessert often and add pecans and raisins,if you like raisins. Also will add maraschino cherries and /or grapes.instead of mayo we like cool whip to hold it together. Yummy.
Great recipe Ann. I like your Dad’s version. As your other readers commented my mom made this recipe and we called it Waldorf salad. It’s easy to make and refreshingly delicious.
Happy Mother’s Day to all and to our sweet moms!
My mom and grandmother made this salad often. We called it Waldorf Salad (named after the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in NYC, where it originated over 100 years ago). I’ve tweaked it to use vanilla yogurt and cinnamon instead of the mayo. It is delish. Thanks for bringing it to mind!
Love this recipe. It is always a fresh addition to any meal. Crisp and fresh apples make this salad. I uses the Fugi apples but will try the pink crisp apples next. Thanks for sharing.
I’m with you, Ann, this is a delicious salad- a favorite that my mom prepared often, too. For a main dish salad, I often add a large can of water packed tuna that has been drained. My husband really appreciates this version. Have you tried the Envy apples? I found some at Aldi’s and we love them as much as the Honeycrisp variety. You always share wonderful hints, thank you.
This recipe is a family favorite. Makes a quick and easy side dish year round. We also like it with cubes of cheddar cheese added in. I think I’ll make it for our Mother’s Day brunch.
My Mom would make this every Thanksgiving. She called it Waldorf Salad 🤷♀️. I’m with you on it being great anytime of the year!
Oh I love this salad! Thanks so much for the reminder ! I’m making today! Thanks again for all you do for us!
I forget about apple salad and love it! That and carrot salad are so refreshing. My memories of those salads are when we went to Morrison’s on Sunday after church:) Thanks for the recipe and have a wonderful Mother’s Day!
I make my Waldorf salad the same way but no sugar. Delicious recipe.
My mother had the same recipe! It was always so good and thanks for sharing it with us all, brought back sweet memories of helping my mother in the kitchen.
Thanks for reminding me of this wonderful salad! Sometimes we add chopped pineapple and mini marshmallows and don’t add sugar. Amazing how good this is considering that I would never dream of slicing an apple and slathering mayo on it, but the combo works in this salad!
Very good! Quick & easy.
Thank you for commenting…the weather here in the Midwest has truly been beautiful the past week or so. Hope you try the apple salad sometime!
Thanks for following! You know…I think you are right about chicken-less chicken salad! I bet adding chicken to this would be amazing. Especially rotisserie chicken. Thanks for the idea and comment!
Your comment brought tears to my eyes…thank you so much. It’s funny how a simple apple salad recipe can bring back so many good memories…but it does!
Oh pecans would be fabulous…I may have to try that the next time…thank you so much!
Hello. You make me hungry. LOL.
Looks so yummy. Crisp, fresh and Good!
This salad looks great!!
Cynthia
I grew up loving and eating this salad. We user pecans sometimes and do not add sugar.
Ann this looks so good. So very good. Thanks for sharing, I will have to give it a try.
YUMMY, Ann! Aren’t family recipes the very best! Thanks for sharing this beautiful apple salad! Pinning!
Big kudos to your dad! Salad looks delicious! ;)
MY MOM ALWAYS MADE THIS TOO BUT SHE ADDED CINNAMON. DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH SHE JUST PUT SOME IN. LOVED IT THANKS FOR THE REMINDER OF DAYS GONE BY.
Beautiful place setting, love the dishes as well as a great looking recipe !