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    Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

    By Julia | Updated: Dec 05, 2023 | Published: Nov 08, 2015 | 22 Comments

    212.4K shares
    • Facebook1.3K
    Jump to Recipe Print SaveSaved!
    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our affiliate policy.

    Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad with Cashews and Balsamic Vinaigrette - healthy, delicious, easy-to-make salad! With lots of good for you ingredients, this recipe is packed with fiber, and it's gluten free! It's a great salad to make whenever you have spinach and apples, any time of the year. But this salad is definitely a great choice for the holidays, too, especially for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Eve.

    Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad with Cashews and Balsamic Vinaigrette

     

    I love using nuts in fresh salads, and cashews are often my favorite choice, as in this Cranberry Spinach Salad with Cashews and Goat Cheese and Lemon-Honey Poppy Seed Dressing or in this Strawberry Spinach Salad, with Blueberries, Mango, Avocado, and Cashew nuts.   Cashews add so much flavor and a nice crunch to any salad.

    Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad with Cashews and Balsamic Vinaigrette

    Tips

    • Grind half of cashews into smaller bits, and keep the other half of cashews whole. This adds more texture to the salad and make a pretty presentation.
    • Use 1 green apple and 1 red apple, for color. In this recipe I use 1 sliced Granny Smith apple and 1 sliced Gala apple.
    • Use store-bought or homemade balsamic dressing.  Creamy balsamic dressing will work as well as balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

    Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad with Cashews and Balsamic Vinaigrette

    How to make apple cranberry spinach salad

    Just slice up the apples (one Gala apple and one Granny Smith apple). Then combine with other salad ingredients, such as spinach, cashew nuts, and cranberries. Do not add the salad dressing yet.

    combine apples, cranberries, spinach, cashews together (step-by-step photos)

    Next, add the Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing (the creamy kind) right before serving:

    add balsamic dressing to the salad (step-by-step photos)

    apple cranberry spinach cashew salad with balsamic dressing
    4.42 from 110 votes

    Apple Cranberry Spinach Cashew Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

    Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad with Cashews and Balsamic Vinaigrette - healthy, delicious, gluten free, easy-to-make salad! Great choice for the holidays, too, especially for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Eve.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories per serving 289 kcal
    Author: Julia

    Ingredients

    Salad

    • 6 oz baby spinach
    • 1 Granny Smith apple sliced
    • 1 Gala apple sliced
    • 1 cup cashew nuts
    • ½ cup dried cranberries

    Salad dressing

    • ¼ cup mayo
    • ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
    • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons honey or more, to taste
    US Customary - Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions 

    • In a large bowl, combine all salad ingredients, except for the salad dressing.
    • In a mason jar, combine all salad dressing ingredients, and whisk to emulsify with a fork. Taste, and add more mayo for more creaminess, if desired. Add more honey for more sweetness, if desired.
    • Drizzle the salad with the dressing and toss. Serve immediately. You don't have to use the whole amount of salad dressing.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Information
    Apple Cranberry Spinach Cashew Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    289
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    17
    g
    26
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    19
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0.02
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    6
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    7
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    4
    mg
    1
    %
    Sodium
     
    144
    mg
    6
    %
    Potassium
     
    401
    mg
    11
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    33
    g
    11
    %
    Fiber
     
    4
    g
    17
    %
    Sugar
     
    23
    g
    26
    %
    Protein
     
    5
    g
    10
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    2701
    IU
    54
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    12
    mg
    15
    %
    Calcium
     
    49
    mg
    5
    %
    Iron
     
    3
    mg
    17
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Nutrition Disclaimer:

    The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Keyword apple cranberry salad, holiday salad, spinach salad
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sue

      December 06, 2023 at 7:14 pm

      Delicious! I may try it with other nuts, too.

      Reply
      • Julia

        December 09, 2023 at 6:48 pm

        Sue, I am so glad you loved this salad!!

        Reply
    2. Brenda

      December 01, 2023 at 12:58 pm

      Made this salad last night to have with Julia’s “Creamy Butternut Squash Orzo with Sausage” and it was a match made in heaven. I drizzled just a little lemon juice over the apples before adding them to the salad so they would be nice and fresh for lunch leftovers today. So good!

      Reply
      • Julia

        December 02, 2023 at 7:27 pm

        Brenda, thank you for reminding me and anybody who wants to make this salad to toss sliced apples in lemon juice to prevent them from browning! ❤️❤️ It's a great tip for salads like this! And, I am so glad you loved my butternut squash orzo as well! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Opal

      October 31, 2022 at 9:50 am

      Hello the recipe says use “creamy kind” of balsamic…there is a link to a homemade balsamic vinaigrette recipe…..is that the creamy one you are referring to?

      Reply
      • Julia

        November 07, 2022 at 1:46 pm

        Opal, what I actually meant is the dressing similar to this one:

        https://www.target.com/p/briannas-american-dressing-12fl-oz/-/A-47110805#lnk=sametab

        P.S. This recipe is long overdue for the update and I need to post the homemade balsamic dressing recipe here instead.

        Reply
    4. Carol Smith

      November 28, 2021 at 2:29 pm

      What kind of cheese would you put on this salad?? Blue cheese???

      Reply
      • Julia

        November 29, 2021 at 10:24 pm

        Blue cheese or Gorgonzola would be delicious with apples and spinach - I do that all the time. I think goat cheese will be great too!

        Reply
      • Vicki

        September 18, 2022 at 5:14 pm

        YES!!

        Reply
    5. MaryAnn Coy

      November 30, 2020 at 2:46 am

      There are many new “healthy nut and seed mixes on sale for Christmas 2020. Perhaps 1 of those would work. Was buying stocking stuffers for Hubs on Amazon, when I came across pages of them, by entering nut mixes. I agree on the cranberry issue too. A serving of a lightly sweetened Cranberry Orange Relish, or Cran-Raspberry Relish would provide a flavor contrast to the sweet fruit and earthy nuts and seeds. A Vinaigrette from a Cranberry Juice of choice, or Cranberry Wine, would work. Or leave the Cranberries out and use Pomegranates instead. Then you could use the fruit Vinaigrette or a Cranberry Wine. You could also serve it with a Sweet Riesling, or even a Sweeter Champagne. Mandarin sections, skinned or un skinned would work, or pineapple. Blueberries, or Raspberries as a colorful garnish, Citrus Zest Curls. These salads have infinite possibilities. Merry Christmas.

      Reply
      • Julia

        November 30, 2020 at 12:14 pm

        MaryAnn, I just love your feedback! So many great ideas! I myself like to use nut and seed mixes in salads. I think many of those flavored nuts and seeds go really well in salads. My recent favorites are caramelized pecans. Love the idea of using cranberry relish, as well. Pomegranates are a great addition, too!

        Reply
    6. jane Hahn

      December 20, 2019 at 5:03 pm

      How do you keep the apples from turning brown?

      Reply
      • Julia

        February 20, 2020 at 5:29 pm

        I would slice and add the apples right before serving the salad.

        Reply
        • Sally

          July 30, 2020 at 9:33 pm

          Apples, pears, peaches stay fresh using FruitFresh. Find it in the grocery near canning supplies.

          Reply
      • Janet

        November 22, 2020 at 10:02 am

        You can also dip them in orange juice and they will not turn brown!

        Reply
        • Julia

          November 22, 2020 at 2:40 pm

          Janet, excellent advice! Thank you!

          Reply
      • Rachel

        December 16, 2021 at 1:01 pm

        Honey crisp apples don't turn brown & they would be a great substitute for the gala. You can also place the sliced apples in a strainer & rinse them with fresh lemon juice to preserve the color

        Reply
        • Julia

          December 17, 2021 at 5:51 pm

          Rachel, great tips! I never knew that about honey crisp apples!

          Reply
    7. S

      December 07, 2019 at 11:07 pm

      I like to make this salad in the winter.

      Reply
      • Julia

        February 20, 2020 at 7:26 pm

        Perfect salad for the cold season!

        Reply
    8. Man

      March 27, 2018 at 1:54 pm

      Perfecto!

      Reply
    9. cheri

      November 09, 2015 at 4:17 pm

      Hi Julia, this is the perfect salad for the holidays, everyone loves spinach and this combination of add-ons sounds delicious.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Julia!

    I am a full-time food blogger living in beautiful Colorado. I focus primarily on savory recipes (protein-based & fiber-rich main dishes, pasta, salads) using fresh & seasonal ingredients. A food blogger since 2012, I help home cooks create well-balanced and visually appealing dinners (many of which are 30-minute ONE-PAN meals). Find out more about me and my cooking philosophy. 

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