This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
If you love Snickers salad but want a lighter option, try this creamy Apple Salad. Fresh apples are combined with honey, dark chocolate, and peanuts for candy bar vibes, and it’s all tossed in a sweet Greek yogurt and cream cheese dressing for tangy cheesecake flavor. Your new favorite fruit salad makes a great breakfast or a snack, but tastes indulgent enough for dessert!
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: No-bake
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free
- Skill Level: Easy
Why You’ll Love This Apple Salad
I have to be honest, when I learned that there are lots of people who eat things like Creamsicle Jello Mold or Snickers Salad as a side dish and not just dessert, I was a little surprised.
You see, Apple Snicker Salad is a popular potluck recipe made with chopped Granny Smith apples and Snickers bars tossed in a mixture of Cool Whip, vanilla pudding mix, cream cheese, and milk. Sometimes it is drizzled with caramel and topped with even more chopped chocolate bars. Not something I would generally have on my plate alongside my Thanksgiving turkey or next to the Baked Beans at a barbecue. The sweetest I usually get is my Waldorf Fruit Salad that we often have for Christmas breakfast.
But that candy bar salad sounded delicious, so I thought I’d lighten things up a bit, and that’s where I came up with this creamy Apple Salad recipe. You won’t miss out on any of the sweet and creamy deliciousness since it is made with Greek yogurt, honey, dark chocolate, and peanuts instead of whipped topping and Snickers candy bars. Here’s why it might replace all those fluff and seafoam and cheesecake salads…
- Simple ingredients. The short list reduces the sugar and artificial ingredients and replaces them with wholesome options. Yes, there’s still chocolate, but you can opt for dark chocolate that is less sweet and loaded with antioxidants and other benefits (source: Cleveland Clinic).
- Easy to prepare. This apple salad comes together in minutes, but the beauty is that you can even make it ahead of time and let the flavors blend overnight.
- Everything you crave. It still has the creaminess, chocolate, and peanuts from the usual Snickers salad, but with a few simple swaps, you get all the best parts of a candy bar in a treat you feel good about eating any time of the day or night!
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need to make this easy apple salad. You’ll find the full quantities and detailed instructions listed in the recipe card further down in the post.
- Greek yogurt. I use plain so I can control the sweetness, but feel free to use vanilla-flavored and omit the honey and vanilla extract. Nonfat, low fat, or whole milk yogurt can all be used, depending on your preference.
- Cream cheese. Regular or light are fine to use, but avoid fat free. Soften to room temperature.
- Vanilla extract.
- Honey. Adds sweetness to the creamy dressing, and some is drizzled on top to add the bit of sticky goodness you expect in traditional Snickers salad.
- Apples. Feel free to use your favorite firm apple. Wash, peel, and cut it into small chunks. Since this salad isn’t as sweet as the original, you might want to opt for red delicious or gala or another sweeter apple instead of the traditional Granny Smith.
- Chopped dark chocolate. Substitute with any chocolate you prefer or even mini chocolate chips.
- Peanuts. Add chopped roasted, salted peanuts to the salad and garnish with some more on top, if desired.
Tips for Success
- Make it smooth. Allow your cream cheese to come to room temperature so that it blends more easily. You can stir with a spatula or whisk, but a hand mixer also works nicely to really get it smooth. I have this very basic Hamilton Beach Hand Mixer and it does the job! I love that it has a whisk attachment in addition to the usual beaters.
- To peel or not to peel. That is up to you. I prefer to peel apples for my candy bar salad, but you can opt to not peel them.
- Chop as you like. I chop my apples to about 1/2 inch cubes. This does not have to be precise and you can adjust the size to your preference. The chocolate and peanuts can be chopped to the size you desire. I like having larger pieces and smaller flecks.
- Make it ahead. The apple salad will hold up well in the refrigerator for a day or two, and that will allow the flavors to fully develop. You will just want to add the extra topping of peanuts and honey right before serving.
Creamy Apple Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 4 oz cream cheese, regular or light, at room temperature
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup honey plus extra for drizzling
- 5 medium apples, peeled and chopped, about 5-6 cups
- 1/4 cup chopped peanuts
- 1/4 cup whole roasted peanuts
- 1 oz chopped dark chocolate or 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, cream cheese, vanilla, and honey, and stir or blend with a hand mixer until smooth.
- Fold in the apples, chopped peanuts, and chocolate.
- Transfer to a serving bowl or individual cups or glasses and sprinkle with whole peanuts and drizzle with additional honey, if desired.
Did you make this?
Leave a rating below and tag @cupcakesandkalechips on Instagram and hashtag it #cupcakesandkalechips
Categories:
Don’t think it can be a dinner’s side dish. Definitely a dessert to me. And it’s awesome! I love Greek Yogurt. Thanks for the recipe.
Looks so Yummy! Thanks for sharing for the #homemattersparty
Yeah Brianne you’re speaking up my mind. I really can’t stand for sweetness or dessert-like stuffs during my main course. It’s just really weird. Great recipe there! Very healthy. Thanks for sharing.
Looks just scrumptious and I have added it to my Diet 2016 board. It’s a salad, right? I guess it is time to make a Diet 2017 board now. I will be good for me anyway. Love any way to make apples!
Yes, Kim… it IS a salad, and one that I hope you’ll love! Best wishes with your healthy eating in 2017!
This is so interesting, beautiful and looks delicious too. I’d love to enjoy it as soon as possible. To be honest, pics are so inviting that it has alerted my taste buds.