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Cinnamon Apple and Red Grape Salad With Toasted Pecans

Cinnamon apple and red grape salad with toasted pecans is a crisp side dish with juicy halved grapes and diced apples coated in a yogurt-honey dressing. Toasted pecans add crunch, while cinnamon, lemon, and vanilla round out the flavor for a refreshingly sweet-tart bite.
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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 Use a mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp, cored and diced.
  • 1 cup red seedless grapes Halve them for juicy bites.
  • 0.5 cup celery Thinly sliced for fresh crunch.
  • 0.5 cup pecans Toast before adding to keep them crisp.
  • 0.25 cup dried cranberries Add a chewy, tart contrast.
For 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
  • 0.25 salt Use a pinch.

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Toast pecans
  1. Heat a dry skillet over medium heat and toast pecans for 3–5 minutes, stirring, until fragrant; cool completely.
Build the salad
  1. Add diced apples, halved grapes, thinly sliced celery, and dried cranberries to a large bowl.
Make the cinnamon-honey yogurt dressing
  1. Whisk Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, honey, lemon juice, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt together until smooth.
Coat and add crunch
  1. Pour the dressing over the fruit mixture and toss gently to coat evenly.
  2. Fold in the toasted pecans just before serving to preserve crunch.
Chill (optional)
  1. Chill the salad for 15 minutes before serving if desired so the flavors meld.

Notes

For best texture, cool the pecans fully before folding them in. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; keep pecans separate and fold in right before serving for the crunchiest bite. Freezing is not recommended because the grapes and celery soften. If you want it lighter, swap the mayonnaise for an equal amount of plain Greek yogurt to reduce calories while keeping the creamy dressing.