Waldorf Salad: The Ultimate Classic Waldorf Salad Recipe
This classic Waldorf salad combines crisp apples, celery, grapes, toasted walnuts, and a creamy whipped dressing. It’s a refreshing, crowd-pleasing salad perfect for holidays, potlucks, lunches, and family gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
2 cups diced tart apples
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup diced celery
1 cup grapes, halved
½ cup toasted walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped
½ cup whipping cream
¼ cup mayonnaise
½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
1. Add the diced apples to a large mixing bowl.
2. Sprinkle the apples with sugar and lemon juice, then toss to coat.
3. Add the diced celery, halved grapes, and toasted walnuts or pecans to the bowl.
4. In a separate bowl, whip the whipping cream until soft peaks form.
5. Gently fold the mayonnaise into the whipped cream until combined.
6. Fold the dressing into the apple mixture.
7. Season with kosher salt and stir gently until everything is evenly coated.
8. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
9. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour or overnight.
10. Serve chilled on its own or over crisp lettuce leaves.
Notes
For a lighter version, replace the whipping cream with 2 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream.
Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady apples work especially well.
Toast the nuts before adding them for deeper flavor.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
For best texture, serve well chilled.