Festive Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad for the Holidays

This Holiday Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad is a bright, refreshing dish that perfectly balances sweet, tart, and savoury flavours – ideal for your Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any holiday gathering. Crisp apples, juicy cranberries, and toasted walnuts create a satisfying crunch, while a brandy-ginger-maple dressing ties everything together with warmth and subtle sophistication.

Hey, folks – I hope you all are doing well.

Today I’m excited to share this Holiday Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad – a vibrant, elegant salad that combines crisp fruit, toasted nuts, and a fragrant maple-brandy dressing. It’s simple to make yet stunning enough for any holiday celebration. So, let’s dive into.

Why You’ll Love This Holiday Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad

• Vibrant and festive: A colourful mix of apples, cranberries, and arugula adds brightness to any holiday spread.
• Sweet-tart balance: The combination of fresh and dried cranberries with crisp apples delivers a perfect flavour contrast.
• Nutty crunch: Toasted walnuts lend richness, texture, and earthy depth.
• Elegant dressing: Brandy, maple syrup, ginger, and herbs create a fragrant, lightly boozy vinaigrette with festive flair.
• Quick to prepare: Comes together in minutes — ideal for busy holiday cooking.
• Versatile: Delicious as a light starter or paired with roasted mains and cheese platters.

Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad: Flavour and Texture Profile

This Holiday Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad offers a lively contrast of flavours and textures. The apples are crisp and juicy, balanced by the chewy sweetness of dried cranberries and the bright tartness of fresh ones. Toasted walnuts add crunch and a buttery nuttiness that grounds the fruit. The arugula contributes a gentle peppery note, keeping everything fresh and lively.

The brandy-ginger-maple dressing brings warmth and depth – the maple syrup adds smooth sweetness, the ginger a gentle spice, and the splash of brandy a hint of festive richness. Fresh herbs and citrus juice lift the flavours, resulting in a salad that’s refreshing, aromatic, and elegantly seasonal.

Possible Additions and Variations

Although this Christmas Apple Walnut Salad is already delicious, you can customize it to your liking:

• Cheese: Add crumbled feta, goat cheese, or blue cheese for extra creaminess and a touch of saltiness.
• Greens: Substitute or mix arugula with spinach, baby kale, or mixed spring greens for a milder base.
• Fruit: Swap apples for pears or add pomegranate seeds for an extra festive touch and pop of colour.
• Nuts: Try pecans, almonds, or candied walnuts for a sweeter crunch.
• Dressing twist: Replace brandy with orange liqueur, apple cider, or omit the alcohol entirely for a family-friendly version.Herbs: Experiment with mint or parsley instead of rosemary and thyme for a brighter herbal accent.

More Festive Cranberry Recipes for Holidays

Looking for more holiday cranberry recipes just like this Holiday Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad? Please be sure to check more below:

• Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites
• Brussels Sprouts Chestnut Dip (or Bruschetta)
• Christmas Buckwheat Crêpes (Buckwheat Crêpes with Turkey)
• Leftover Turkey Salad
• Cointreau Cranberry Sauce

I’d love for you to try this Holiday Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad. If you give the recipe a go, please share your results in the comments, message me on Instagram, or post your photos with the hashtag #havocinthekitchen. I look forward to seeing your creations and hearing your thoughts!

Meow, I mean Cheers!

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Festive Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad for the Holidays

Recipe by Ben | Havocinthekitchen

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: Christmas, Festive Cheese and Appetizers, Slaws and All-Season Salads

Servings

2-4

servings

Cooking time

20

minutes

A vibrant holiday salad made with crisp apples, cranberries, arugula, and toasted walnuts, tossed in a maple brandy ginger dressing – fresh, flavourful, and festive.

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

• Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad:

• 2 large apples, preferably crisp and sweet & tart, cubed or sliced

• 1/3 cup (about 40 gr.) dried cranberries

• 1/4 cup (about 40 gr.) fresh cranberries, sliced or cut in half

• 1/2 cup (about 50 gr.) walnut halves, toasted, roughly chopped

• a few handfuls of arugula

• Brandy Ginger Maple Dressing:

• 1 tbsp. (14 ml.) olive oil

• 1/2 tbsp. (7 ml.) maple syrup

• 1/2 tbsp. (7 ml.) brandy

• a few good squeezes of orange or lemon juice

• a small piece (about 20-25 gr.) ginger – or 1/4 tsp. dried

• 1/2 tsp. fresh minced rosemary and thyme, each

• a pinch of salt

Directions

• For the dressing, using a fine grater, grate the ginger, then squeeze the juice to a small bowl; discard the solids. Add the olive oil, brandy, maple syrup, orange or lemon juice, herbs, and salt. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
• For the salad, in a large-medium bowl, combine the apples, both cranberries, walnuts, and arugula. Add the dressing and toss to coat. You can enjoy it right away, but it will also stay fresh when refrigerated for up to a few hours.