Classic Waldorf Salad

Crunchy with crisp apples, celery and toasted nuts, this easy Waldorf salad is a classic recipe perfect for a crowd any time of year.

With yearnings coming on strong for the good old days, I feel like there’s a retro resurgence coming to home cooking. Or is it already here?

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The comforts of familiar family recipes have been making their way back into the main stream for a while and classic potluck and picnic salad recipes are some of the quickest to rebound. Who needs fancy or fussy when you crave soothing and satisfying? And you guys agree, because the recipes for the best potato salad, macaroni salad, and creamy coleslaw are always at the top of the most popular recipes here on FoodieCrush.

This classic Waldorf salad recipe is from my Grandma Mary Jane. Like her Parmesan crusted chicken and classic lemon bars, I discovered it while digging through her recipe cards that are now mine, and also now yours.

What’s In Waldorf Salad

The Waldorf salad is said to have originated over 100 years ago at the Waldorf hotel in New York City. Starting out as a simple salad of apples, celery, and mayonnaise—ingredients that are in season all year long—over the years its flavor was tweaked with the addition of grapes and nuts added to the mix.

My grandma’s recipe pretty much follows course with these ingredients and the addition of whipped cream to add extra fluff:

• Tart apples
• Celery
• Walnuts or pecans
• Grapes
• Lemon juice
• Sugar
• Salt
• Mayonnaise
• Whipped cream (her secret ingredient!)

How to Make the Classic Waldorf Salad

This simple salad takes doesn’t require any cooking, just a little chopping, and only takes minutes to mix together.

Use the crispest varieties of apples. Grandma said to use tart green Granny Smith apples, but for a little variety in color, I used one green apple and one crunchy Fuji apples. Red delicious, honey crisp and gala are also good options.

Chop the ingredients the same size. Chopping the apples, celery, and grapes about the same size ensures you’ll get crunchy and sweet tastes in each and every bite.

Sprinkle the cut fruit with the lemon juice and sugar. Cut apples can quickly e discolor. Tossing with the lemon juice retards oxidation while sprinkling the fruit directly with sugar enhances it’s sweetness.

Mix the wet ingredients before adding to the dry. Whisk the mayonnaise and whipped cream together before adding to the fruit. This ensures a homogenous, creamy dressing.

Toast the nuts for deeper flavor. Toasting the nuts before adding to the salad intensifies their nutty flavor by releasing their natural oils, eliminating their raw taste.

Add Greek Yogurt to Waldorf Salad’s Dressing

The dressing for Waldorf salad always starts with mayonnaise. In fact, you could get away with using only mayo, but because this salad deserves a topping that’s more than just one note of flavor, I add my grandma’s secret ingredient.

Grandma’s secret ingredient for this dressing isssssss…whipped cream.

Now, you could go ahead and sub the whipped cream with plain Greek yogurt or even sour cream, and I have. But, I encourage you to try both ingredient combos and decide for yourself which you prefer.

If you prefer, use 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt or sour cream instead of the suggested 1/2 cup whipped cream.

More Ingredients to Add to Waldorf Salad

Keep this salad basic or jazz it up with these complimentary ingredients:

• Mini marshmallows
• Raisins
• Dried cranberries
• Diced pineapple
• Dried dates
• Chicken or turkey
• Red onion
• Broccoli or caulflower
• Sunflower seeds, pecans, or pistachios

Classic Waldorf Salad

Crunchy with crisp apples, celery and toasted nuts, this easy Waldorf salad is a classic recipe perfect for a crowd any time of year.

CourseSalad

CuisineAmerican

Keywordwaldorf salad

Prep Time10 minutes

Total Time10 minutes

Servings6

Calories245kcal

Ingredients

• 2cups diced tart apples , or 2 apples
• 1tablespoon sugar
• 2teaspoons lemon juice
• 1cup diced celery
• 1cup grapes , halved
• 1/2cup toasted walnuts or pecans , roughly chopped
• 1/2cup whipping cream , whipped
• 1/4cup mayonnaise
• 1/2teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

1. Add the diced apples to a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with the sugar and lemon juice. Toss to coat. Add the celery, grapes, and nuts.
2. In another bowl, whip the whipping cream until peaks form, then gently fold in the mayonnaise. Fold into the apple mixture and season with the kosher salt. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking. Chill for 1 hour or overnight. Serve by itself or on a lettuce leaf.

Notes

Instead of whipping cream, substitute 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt or sour cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 275mg | Potassium: 194mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 406IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg