by Holly
Cranberry Waldorf Salad is a welcome addition to any family meal, it is packed with colorful ingredients to make a one of a kind side that can please a crowd!
Fresh tart cranberries, juicy grapes, raisins and crisp fresh apples make this delicious twist on Waldorf salad a new fall favorite!
What is Waldorf Salad?
What is Waldorf Salad?Waldorf Salad is a legendary side dish. Created in 1896 by the dining room manager at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Waldorf Salad was an instant success and has been gracing dining room tables around the world since then!
While a traditional Waldorf salad contains apples, celery, grapes and mayonnaise, this recipe has no mayonnaise and few fun additions to lighten it up a little bit and make it festive.
Apple Waldorf Salad with Yogurt
I absolutely love this apple Waldorf Salad, it has so many flavors and textures, crisp apples, juicy grapes, crunchy celery paired with tart cranberries and sweet yogurt.
Yogurt is used in place of mayonnaise for the Waldorf salad dressing to offset the tartness of the cranberries. Because of the yogurt, my kids are happy to enjoy this dish as a dessert or for breakfast too!
A combination of fresh and dried cranberries along with apples, give this side salad a delicious fall flavor. I use a long Microplane style zester to zest the orange. You’ll want to be sure you’re only getting the very outer orange skin and none of the white pith underneath (the pith is bitter). You can find more info on zesting fruit here.
Waldorf Salad Goes Great with Turkey!
This salad can be enjoyed as a salad year round, and I think it is perfect as a side for a turkey dinner!
The dish is sweet, fresh and crisp, making it a great fruity option for family gatherings. From a Thanksgiving dinner to a potluck picnic, you can’t go wrong serving a batch of this Cranberry Waldorf Salad.
More Turkey Dinner Sides You’ll Love
- Millionaire Cranberry Salad – Reader favorite!!
- The BEST Mashed Potatoes
- Homemade Creamed Corn – Comfort food!
- Green Bean Casserole
- Watergate Salad – Classic recipe!
- Easy Cranberry Sauce
CRANBERRY WALDORF SALAD
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups chopped cranberries
- 2/3 cup seedless green grapes chopped
- 2/3 cup seedless purple grapes chopped
- 1 apple chopped
- 1 cup celery chopped
- 1/3 cup raisins
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1-2 tablespoons white sugar or to taste
- 1 cup vanilla yogurt
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
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Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Toss to combine well.
- Cover and chill 2 hours before serving.
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
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Loved this salad. My family says it’s a keeper
Very good, my husband thought a little more Apple would be good
Glad you enjoyed it! You can certainly increase the apple in this recipe.
A big hit a a potluck Christmas luncheon! Crisp, fresh tasting. I also put chopped walnuts in a light sugar/water syrup and roasted them a few minutes. Sprinkled them over the top. Nice crunch!
i recommend Tillamook, or any other custardy type vanilla yogurt. The reason is because the 1st time I made it, I used a different brand, and by the time I went to serve it, the juices from the fruit and the less thick style yogurt made it kind of weepy. Another option would be to not put all the yogurt in till after your refrigeration time. Then add it if you need it.
Soooooo good! I doubled it, left out the raisins (but used the dried cranberries), and used 1/2 vanilla & 1/2 lemon yogurt. Even the kid loved it! Definitely making again.
I am trying this recipe but I am macerating the cranberries first. Will report back with how that goes :)
Can this recipe be doubled.
It will double easily. Enjoy!
How many will this serve??
It will serve at least 8!
In my area fresh cranberries are seasonal and I just noticed them for the first time this Autumn in my last week’s grocery circular.
I’m looking forward to adding this to my Thanksgiving menu. Sounds delicious.
I’ve made Waldorf salad every Thanksgiving but use several apples, celery & grapes with miracle whip. Never used yogurt or cranberries. I’m hesitant to use fresh cranberries as they are usually cooked to make soft & would be hard instead, but I will try it.
Cannot Find fresh cranberries anywhere where I live… any suggestions what else might work? That’s with the Waldorf salaf
How do you keep it from not getting soggy?
I haven’t had problems with this salad getting soggy.
I plan on preparing this salad and serving at my bunch party. Sounds an looks delicious.
Looks delicious
Would love to make my first Wadorf’ salad with your recipe
when this recipe says 1.5 cups choppedcranberries, does this mean frozen cranberries? Ive never seen fresh in my grocery store. thanks!
Most grocery stores sell bags of fresh cranberries in the produce section. If you don’t see them, maybe double check with the produce manager.
Could you use thawed frozen cranberries?
I’m sure that would work just fine!
Great recipes
Looks great!!! Do you know if it’ll hold up well if i make it the day before or is it a make the day off kind of thing?
This one was great overnight! If you are making it overnight, start with the apple and you might like to add a small spoonful of lemon juice.
Hi Holly
This looks like a great alternative to a regular green salad. I’m thinking of using pomegranate instead of the fresh cranberries. We have several vegans…any ideas what I can use instead of mayo and yogurt?
The pomegranate would be so yummy! Unfortunately since I’m not vegan I’m not sure what options are available. You might ask at a health food store if they have any suggestions (or ask your vegan friends/family members what they would suggest).
So do you buy the whole cranberries &!boil them to soften them then cut up???
The cranberries are not cooked. I buy whole cranberries, rinse and chop them.
Cranberries are very tart. I’m concerned people will pick them out due to being very tart. How do you overcome that challance?
The fruit is naturally sweet, the yogurt is sweetened as well as adding a couple of tablespoons of sugar.
I can’t wait to try this it looks like it’s going to be so good
Thank you Peggy! We love it!
oh my goodness this looks so absolutely fantastic! Wow! Super yummy! Love your pictures and I just love everything cranberry! I can’t wait to make this!
Thank you Amanda! :)
Love this recipe! I just bought 2 bags of fresh cranberries today. I thing I’ll try your recipe with some leftover turkey!
Enjoy! It’s a nice fresh change for the holidays!
Cranberry and apple are such a great combination together. I love how you have lightened up a classic by using yoghurt instead of heavy mayo.
You just made me hungry. I like that yogurt is used too. Then the orange zest would be a nice tang
I always love cranberry and orange together!
I’m SO excited for cranberries this year! But still haven’t seen them sold anywhere. This salad sounds SO good!
This looks absolutely delightful!
Thank you so much for posting.
I love the INFUSED Cranraisins for recipes like this and may make that adjustment for the raisins and dried cranberries!
Those would be delicious in this recipe! Enjoy!!
Looks wonderful!
Thank you Karen! We love this dish!