Waldorf Salad Recipe

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Waldorf Salad recipe may be old-fashioned but it never goes out of style because it’s a classic. Crispy apples, celery and walnuts with sweet raisins make a perfect fall salad. Always great for a HOLIDAY meal too.

Around the holidays we were talking with friends about some of their favorite family dishes and it reminded me of the apple Waldorf salad my mom would make for Thanksgiving. I don’t know when this became old-fashioned or just not in style, but I haven’t had it in years. I generally just go with a classic cranberry relish, but there’s no reason you can’t do both.

While in New York one year we went to the Waldorf-Astoria just so we could order the salad for lunch, what a treat it was to eat in that beautiful lobby. Theirs was similar to my mom’s but they slivered the apples, while we always just chop them.

The Waldorf-Astoria in NY is currently closed for renovation as of the date of this post, so you’ll have to just try my version. It’s such a nice salad to round out a weeknight dinner or Holiday meal and it’s so simple to make.

I think it’s time to bring this salad back to life. It’s an ideal side for almost any meal, whether it’s grilled chicken or Thanksgiving dinner.

A bowl of apple salad with raisins and walnuts.

Why you’ll love this Waldorf salad recipe

This fall salad uses crisp naturally sweetened apples & walnuts to give it a great texture and crunch.
You can make this salad earlier in the day so you are free to work on other tasks
This is a great idea if you need to bring something to a potluck. It goes with everything.

What is Waldorf Salad

An apple salad recipe was created in the late 1800’s at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in NY for a charity ball and was still being served before they closed it for reconstruction. A Waldorf salad always has apples and celery with a mayonnaise based dressing. Some add grapes or chicken. You can tweak the recipe based on your preferences, but I think it should have raisins, walnuts and celery along with the apples.

What you’ll need

Apples – Use an apple that’s crisp, it’s even more interesting if you use a variety, some sweet and some tart. Fuji are my favorite.
Walnuts – but not just plain walnuts, toast them first. They will offset the sweet apples beautifully!
Celery – chopped small so you get a little crunch
Raisins – to add a bit of sweetness

What’s in the dressing

The dressing is so simple with just three ingredients: mayonnaise, sugar and lemon juice. Choose your favorite mayonnaise, (Hellmans for me) and add just a little lemon juice and sugar. I like less dressing, just enough to coat the apples.

A spoon full of apple Waldorf salad in a serving bowl.

Step by step directions

Step 1: Whisk together the mayonnaise with just a little sugar and lemon juice.

Step 2: Don’t peel the apples, just cut into bite sized pieces and add raisins, walnuts and chopped celery. Add dressing and combine.

If you want to be fancy then you can do like they do at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel and cut the apples into match sticks.

Pro Tip: The lemon juice in the dressing will keep your apples from turning brown so you can make this earlier in the day by chopping the apples and mixing them into the dressing ahead of serving. It will still be good for at least 24 hours, but I think it’s best eaten the same day.

A bowl of waldorf apple salad in a glass bowl

FAQ’s and tips

Which apples are best for an apple salad?

The best apples to use for Waldorf salad are the ones that you like to eat. They should be crisp, and for a pretty salad, have red skins. I prefer fuji or gala or even a red delicious. I think Honeycrisps are too tart for this salad but that’s just my preference. For everything you want to know about apples, go to Stemilt’s website, they are my favorite brand.

What’s the best way to cut an apple?

You don’t need to peel the apples, just remove the core, cut into slices and cut slices into 1 inch bites. If you have a device that cores and slices, it makes it so much easier. I use this slicer all the time.

What kind of nuts are served in a Waldorf salad?

A classic Waldorf salad has walnuts in them. I prefer them toasted and in large pieces.

Can you make the Waldorf salad a complete meal with protein?

Rotisserie chicken or leftover shredded turkey would be a simple, healthy addition to your salad and can be tossed in right before serving.

Can’t get enough APPLES, here are some more recipes

If you aren’t in the mood for an apple salad, enjoy these fun salad combinations

Get your veggies with Corn and Cucumber Salad
Simple but delicious Burrata with Oranges
Feeling fruity, try Tequila Lime Blueberry Salad
Broccoli Salad will go with any meal you are preparing
Add some Cayenne for a spicy fruit salad