Go Back

Cinnamon Apple And Red Grape Salad With Toasted Pecans

Cinnamon apple and red grape salad with toasted pecans is a crisp, sweet-tangy side made by tossing diced apples, halved grapes, and celery in a cinnamon-honey yogurt dressing. Toasted pecans add crunch while the fruit mixture stays juicy and bright.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Chill 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Salad
  • 3 apples Mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp, cored and diced
  • 1 cup red seedless grapes Halved
  • 0.5 cup celery Thinly sliced
  • 0.5 cup pecans Toasted
  • 0.25 cup dried cranberries
Dressing
  • 0.25 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 0.5 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.125 tsp salt Pinch

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Toast the pecans
  1. Toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring, until fragrant. Cool completely before adding to the salad.
Build the salad
  1. Combine the diced apples, halved grapes, thinly sliced celery, and dried cranberries in a large bowl. Toss lightly just to distribute the fruit evenly.
  2. Whisk the plain Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, honey, lemon juice, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt together in a bowl until smooth. The dressing should look creamy and evenly tinted.
  3. Pour the dressing over the fruit mixture and toss gently to coat. Stop tossing once everything is glossy so the fruit stays crisp.
  4. Fold in the toasted pecans just before serving. Keep this step for the end so they stay crunchy.
Chill (optional)
  1. Chill the salad for 15 minutes before serving if desired. The flavors will meld while the fruit remains fresh and cool.

Notes

Pro tip: cool the toasted pecans fully before folding them in so they don’t soften. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 2 days; pecans may lose some crunch. Freezing is not recommended because the apples and grapes can become watery. For a lighter option, use 0% plain Greek yogurt and reduce mayonnaise to 1 tablespoon while keeping the honey and lemon juice the same.