The flavors of sweet, crunchy apples along with chewy, delicious Snickers bars come together in this classic Snickers Apple Salad recipe. Made with just six simple ingredients, this Snicker salad side dish is perfect for just about any occasion.
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What is Snickers apple salad?
Originating in the Mid-west region of the US, Snickers apple salad is a sweet, creamy dessert salad that mixes together vanilla pudding and Cool Whip with Snickers candy bar chunks and Granny Smith apple chunks mixed in to the pudding base. It’s also called taffy apple salad, candy bar salad or Snicker salad.
My mom made this sweet and creamy Snickers Apple Salad when I was a kid growning up in South Dakota. It was a great pot-luck dish to share with friends and family. It was so popular because it’s made with just six ingredients, and easily comes together in 10 minutes. Mixed together with crisp Granny Smith apples and chunks of Snickers candy bars, this simple side dish can be served as a dessert for just about any occasion.
What do I need to make Snicker salad?
Here’s a quick reference check list of the ingredients you’ll need to grab at the store for this simple Snicker salad recipe:
- Instant vanilla pudding mix – a 3.4 oz package
- Milk
- Cool Whip whipped topping – thawed and ready to use. You could also substitute my Homemade Cool Whip, which is made with healthier ingredients, no oils or syrups.
- Granny Smith Apples – the slightly tart, crispy apples are perfect in this recipe. However, you can also use almost any other variety of apples. Honey Crisp, Pink Lady and even Red Delicious are all great options.
- Snickers Candy Bars – 5 full sized candy bars
- Caramel ice cream topping – this is optional, but a great garnish and topping.
For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post to the recipe card. Thanks!
Which apples work best in a Snickers salad?
Winner: tart Granny Smith apples are the best apple variety for this Snicker salad. The crisp, tart flavor and texture of Granny Smith apples are ideal to balance out the sweetness of the pudding base and sweet candy bars. These apples also tend to stay crisp long after they’re cut into pieces. Here are some other varieties to consider:
- Pink Lady – these are a sweeter variety than Granny Smith, but are also very crisp in nature.
- Honey Crisp – like Pink Lady, Honey Crisp have a very crispy texture and great for snacking just by themselves. They will also pair well with the pudding and candy bar chunks.
- Cosmic Crisp – wonderfully crisp, this apple variety is also great for snacking and will stay crisp and sweet after slicing. Will go well with the pudding base and candy bars.
- Fuji – a more mild flavor, this apple is subtle and slightly tart. Would also be a good pairing for this sweet salad.
How do I make Snickers apple salad?
First, start by mixing together the pudding and milk. This creamy mixture will act as the base for the salad. Add in the container of thawed Cool whip and whisk together until well combined with the pudding mixture. I like to use a whisk to make sure the texture is super smooth.
Next, chop the apples into bite-sized chunks. Cut the Snickers candy bars into small pieces. Mix both the apples and Snickers pieces into the pudding mixture. Refrigerate and chill the salad until ready to serve. Optional, but super-delicious, drizzle the top of the salad with caramel ice cream topping.
How to make Snickers apple salad ahead of time
This creamy Snickers salad recipe can be made up to 24 hours in advance. To prevent your apple chunks from browning will need one extra step in the prep process. When you’ve sliced and chopped the apple chunks, soak them in 7-up or lemon juice for 5-10 minutes. After soaking, drain off the liquid and lightly pat with paper towels before mixing the apples into the salad.
I also recommend not mixing the candy bar chunks into the salad until the day you serve the salad. If needed chop the candy bars, then store in a separate container and mix in just before serving.
How do I store Snicker apple salad?
Store the salad in an airtight container with a tight fitting lid. You could also add the salad to a serving dish and cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or press-and-seal wrap. Keep the salad refrigerated until ready to serve.
Snicker Salad Ingredient substitutions and recommendations:
- Candy Bars – you can definitely change up the type of candy bars you use. Twix, Milky Way and Payday Bars are all great options.
- Pudding Variations – you can definitely substitute the vanilla pudding mix with a Cheesecake, French Vanilla, Pistachio or even a Butterscotch flavor.
- Mix-ins – try mixing in crisp, sliced green grapes, chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds to add some extra crunch. Mini marshmallows would also be another great mix-in to add some fluff to the salad.
- Cool Whip – yes, you can also use real whipped cream. However, I recommend making a stabilized whipped cream, that will hold up to the volume of the other ingredients in the salad.
- Greek Yogurt – you can substitute the Cool Whip for Greek Yogurt. Do 1 1/2 cups of Greek yogurt instead of the 8 oz. carton of Cool Whip.
- Caramel sauce – I used Smucker’s Salted Caramel Ice Cream Topping. This ingredient is optional, but a great addition, especially if you love the combination of caramel and apples.
I also use Cool Whip for my Cranberry Fluff Salad and my Pistachio Fluff Recipe. It adds a great creaminess to the salad and keeps it fluffy after refrigerating.
What to serve with Snickers caramel apple salad?
This sweet side dish is great for a potluck, BBQ or even a holiday meal like Easter or Thanksgiving. It goes well with BBQ chicken, grilled chicken, burgers, and even holiday ham. Here are some of our favorite main dishes that pair well with this sweet salad.
- Orange Glazed Spiral Ham
- Italian Grilled Chicken
- Brown Sugar Balsamic Grilled Chicken
- BBQ Bacon Burgers
- Air Fryer Brats
- BBQ Grilled Chicken Leg Quarters
- Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken
- Slow Cooker BBQ Beef
FAQ about making a Snickers Apple Salad recipe:
Snickers apple salad is best the same day it is made. Refrigerated, it will keep for 2-3 days. After a couple days, the apples will begin to brown and soften.
Yes, Snicker salad can be made in advance of an event or party. For best results, making the salad the same day as your event is ideal. Making the salad 2-3 hours in advance is best.
Yes, you can use whipped cream instead of Cool Whip. You’ll need about 8 oz. of whipping cream whipped to stiff peaks. I recommend making stabilized whipped cream, like my Homemade Cool Whip recipe, to ensure the salad stays creamy when the other ingredients are added to the salad.
For best results, mix in the apples just before serving. If you’re making the salad in advance, soak the apple chunks in 7-up or lemon juice for 10 minutes. Drain off the liquid and pat the apples dry with paper towels before mixing in to the salad.
Instead of vanilla, you can also use cheesecake, French vanilla, pistachio or even butterscotch. Make sure you are choosing an instand pudding and not a cook-and-serve pudding mix.
If you’re storing your salad in the refrigerator overnight, I recommend using a resealable container with a tight fitting lid. If serving right away, go with a serving bowl. Store any leftovers covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container.
Love cooking and baking with apples? Check out some of my other apple recipes:
- Apple Pie Filled Cinnamon Rolls
- Microwave Apple Crisp – a fantastic 5-minute single serving dessert!
- Healthy Apple Crumble
- Healthy Apple Muffins
- Apple Pie Tarts
- Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
- Baked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Apple Pie Bars
- Applesauce Crumb Cake
- Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad
Love sweet side dishes? Check out my other sweet salad and side recipes:
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Creamy Snickers Apple Salad with Cool Whip
Equipment
- Large Whisk Great for mixing batters, puddings fillings and much more!
- Rubber Scrapers These Cuisinart rubber scraper spatulas are fantastic for fillings, batters, and so much more!
- Mixing Bowls These stainless steel mixing bowls are an essential cooking tool for every kitchen.
Ingredients
- 1 (3.4 oz. pkg.) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 cup milk cold
- 1 (8 oz. carton) Cool Whip thawed
- 5 medium Granny Smith apples chopped
- 5 Snickers candy bars full sized, chopped
- 2 Tablespoons caramel sauce optional
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the pudding mix and milk. Fold in the thawed Cool Whip topping. You could also use my Homemade Cool Whip recipe, as an alternative to Cool Whip. Mixture should be smooth and creamy.
- Once apples and Snickers bars are chopped, fold into the pudding mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Once ready to serve, transfer to a serving dish and top with a drizzle of the caramel topping.
Notes
Nutrition
That looks amazing and great served that way when many people are over! (client)
Wow, these look amazing! All of my favorite things in one! I love that they’re single serve!
My family would love this!!