Our classic Waldorf Salad is crisp, creamy, and full of fresh flavor from apples, celery, grapes, and crunchy walnuts folded together in a tangy, creamy dressing—perfect for holidays or any time of year.
What Is Waldorf Salad?
Fun fact: The original Waldorf Salad was created for a charity ball in 1896 by Oscar Tschirky, the maître d’hôtel at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City! It’s still just as refreshing and full of flavor and texture!
The classic Waldorf Salad recipe skips the lettuce but delivers big on crunch and flavor with apples, celery, grapes, and walnuts in a creamy dressing. It’s a timeless favorite that’s never gone out of style!
What Is Waldorf Salad’s Dressing
The original Waldorf Salad dressing was made with just mayonnaise—simple and creamy, but a little heavy on its own. I like to lighten things up with mom’s secret ingredient: heavy whipping cream. It’s still rich and tangy, but just feels softer, fluffier, and a bit fresher.
Recipe Ingredients
- Heavy whipping cream: You can substitute the whipped cream with sour cream if you prefer a tangier, more tart dressing.
- Mayonnaise: For a lighter, protein-packed version, swap the mayo with plain Greek yogurt. It will still provide a creamy texture but with added protein, calcium, and fewer calories.
- Apples: I like to use both Gala and Granny Smith apples in this recipe, but any crisp, crunchy apple will work well. The combination of sweet and tart apples makes a really balanced salad recipe.
- Celery
- Seedless grapes: Use a combination of seedless green grapes and seedless red grapes for a pretty pop of color.
- Walnuts: You can substitute any chopped nuts for the walnuts, like pecans, pistachios, macadamia nuts, or even pine nuts.
- Lemon juice
- Granulated sugar: If a more savory salad is desired, you can omit the granulated sugar and add kosher salt and cracked black pepper.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Waldorf Salad
- Make The Dressing: Beat the heavy whipping cream with a hand mixer at high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold in the mayo and set it aside.
- Make The Salad: Add the chopped apples, celery, grapes, and walnuts to a large bowl. Sprinkle the lemon juice and granulated sugar over the apple mixture and toss to coat.
- Combine: Stir the mayonnaise mixture into the apple mixture. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Serve: Garnish with grapes and a sprinkle of fresh parsley. Serve and enjoy!
Tips & Variations
- Turn It Into a Meal: Add 1 to 2 cups of cooked, shredded or diced chicken (rotisserie works great!) for a protein-packed twist. Perfect for meal prep or easy weekday lunches.
- Pick Your Produce: Go for crisp, sweet-tart varieties like Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala. They hold their shape well and add great flavor contrast.
- Toast For Crunch And Taste: A quick toast in the oven or skillet brings out the walnuts’ natural nuttiness and adds extra crunch. It’s a small step that makes a big difference.
- Add A Tangy Twist: A splash of fresh lemon juice helps brighten the dressing and prevents the apples from browning.
- Make Your Own Mixture: Try swapping grapes for golden raisins or dried cranberries, or add diced pears for extra sweetness.
What to Serve with Waldorf Salad
Whether you’re planning a festive holiday spread or a simple weekday lunch, Waldorf Salad pairs perfectly with so many savory mains. Serve your salad with roasted chicken or turkey, grilled salmon, delicate tea sandwiches, or a slice of rich quiche. It’s a versatile side that adds a refreshing touch to any plate!
STorage & Make Ahead Tips
- To keep your Waldorf Salad fresh and crunchy, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Be sure to keep the dressing separate until just before serving to prevent the salad from getting soggy.
- To prep in advance, make the salad and store it in the fridge separate from the dressing. This prevents the salad from getting watery or soggy. You can also toss the fruit in a bit of lemon juice to keep it from browning. When you’re ready to serve, simply toss everything together for a fresh, crisp salad!
More Easy Side Salad Recipes
- Ambrosia Salad
- Watergate Salad (Pistachio Salad)
- Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad
- Strawberry Pretzel Salad
If you tried this Waldorf Salad Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!!!
Waldorf Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped granny smith apple
- 1 cup chopped sweet apple fuji, cosmic crisp, red delicious or ambrosia
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice fresh -or- bottled
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 cup halved green seedless grapes
- 1 cup halved red seedless grapes
- 1 cup toasted and chopped walnuts
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon strained honey
Instructions
- Add the chopped apples to a large bowl. Drizzle the lemon juice over the apples and stir to completely coat.1 cup chopped granny smith apple, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 cup chopped sweet apple
- Next, add the diced celery, halved grapes and toasted walnuts and stir to combine.1 cup diced celery, 1 cup halved green seedless grapes, 1 cup halved red seedless grapes, 1 cup toasted and chopped walnuts
- In a small bowl, whisk or stir together the heavy cream, mayonnaise and honey until well incorporated and smooth.3 tablespoons heavy cream, 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon strained honey
- Pour the dressing over the salad and stir to coat the ingredients. Cover tightly and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour before serving.
Jenn’s Notes
- Use crisp, sweet-tart apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala for the best texture and flavor.
- Toast the walnuts in a skillet or oven for extra crunch and nuttiness.
- Add a splash of lemon juice to brighten the dressing and keep apples from browning.
- Swap grapes for golden raisins, dried cranberries, or diced pears.
- No honey? Use 2 tsp sugar or 1 tbsp agave instead.
- Pecans or almonds work great in place of walnuts.
