There’s something delightfully fresh and festive about this Christmas Cranberry and Apple Salad Recipe that just makes holiday meals shine. The crisp sweetness of apples combined with tart cranberries and a tangy dressing is a flavor combo that’ll have you reaching for seconds — trust me, this one’s a keeper.

A white bowl filled with a fresh salad showing three main layers: the base layer is bright green leafy lettuce, the middle layer has light cream and red small chopped apple pieces, and the top layer is sprinkled with roasted brown almonds, dark red dried cranberries, and small chunks of pale blue cheese with dark veins. In the background, there is a small white plate with a piece of blue cheese, a silver spoon, and a glass jar with golden dressing on a white marbled surface. A white cloth with thin black stripes is placed near the bowl. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Christmas Cranberry and Apple Salad Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Cranberry and Apple Salad Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Cranberry and Apple Salad Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Cranberry and Apple Salad Recipe

Why You'll Love This Christmas Cranberry and Apple Salad Recipe

This salad feels like the perfect holiday balance — fresh, sweet, tangy, with a little crunch and creamy blue cheese richness. Whenever I make it, guests always comment on how unique yet approachable it is, making it a favorite on my Christmas table.

Festive Flavor Combo: The mix of dried cranberries, crisp apples, and blue cheese creates a beautiful contrast that tastes like Christmas on a plate.
Quick & Easy: It’s ready in just 15 minutes — perfect for when your holiday schedule is packed but you still want something special.
Customizable: You can easily swap ingredients or tweak the dressing to suit your taste or dietary needs.
Pairs Perfectly: It complements turkey, ham, or any festive main with a crisply refreshing bite.

A fresh salad served in a white bowl placed on a white marbled surface shows bright green leafy lettuce as the first layer. On top, there are small cubes of red and yellow apples spread evenly, mixed with dark red dried cranberries. Whole roasted almonds add a crunchy texture and a warm brown color, scattered among the other ingredients. Small bits of blue cheese with its white and dark blue veins sit atop the salad, giving a creamy look. The mix of colors and textures makes the salad look fresh and tasty, with a silver spoon visible near the top right corner. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This salad’s ingredients come together like old friends — each adding texture, sweetness, or tang to create that full festive flavor we crave. Here’s why I love each component and some tips for your shopping trip.

Flat lay of eight large fresh Romaine lettuce leaves, a handful of vibrant green baby rocket leaves, a small mound of deep red dried cranberries, a neat pile of glossy candied almonds, a wedge of creamy blue cheese with visible veins, a small white ceramic bowl filled with cubed fresh apple, a small white bowl containing smooth golden honey, another small white bowl with bright yellow Dijon mustard, a small white bowl of clear red wine vinegar, a small white bowl of pale yellow lemon juice, a small white bowl filled with rich green olive oil, and two whole uncracked brown eggs, arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white ceramic plate, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Romaine Lettuce: Offers a crisp, sturdy base that holds up well under the dressing without wilting.
Baby Rocket: Adds a nice peppery bite to balance the sweetness of the fruit and honey in the dressing.
Dried Cranberries: Their natural tartness is key for that Christmas-y pop and contrast.
Candied Almonds: Provide a sweet crunch — if you can’t find them, plain toasted almonds with a bit of honey work too.
Blue Cheese: Creamy and bold, it enriches the salad with that tangy depth — don’t skip it if you love cheese like I do!
Apple: Fresh and crisp apple cubes bring juicy sweetness; I prefer a tart apple like Granny Smith or Pink Lady for balance.
Dijon Mustard: Helps emulsify and add a gentle zing to the dressing.
Honey: Sweetens naturally and blends beautifully with the mustard and vinegar.
Red Wine Vinegar: Brings acidity to brighten the salad’s flavors.
Lemon Juice: Adds fresh, sharp brightness that lifts all the ingredients.
Olive Oil: The base of the dressing that ties everything together smoothly.
Salt and Pepper: Pinch to taste enhances all the flavors without overpowering.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love how flexible this Christmas Cranberry and Apple Salad Recipe is. Sometimes I swap blue cheese for feta if I want something milder, or toss in walnuts instead of almonds when I’m out. Feel free to tweak it until it feels just right for your holiday spread.

Variation: One year, I added some finely diced celery for an extra crunch and fresh flavor — that was a lovely surprise that my family asked me to repeat!
Dietary Swap: Use a vegan blue cheese or omit cheese altogether, adding more nuts or seeds for texture.
Seasonal Swap: In case cranberries aren’t handy, pomegranate seeds work beautifully here too and add a jewel-like sparkle.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Cranberry and Apple Salad Recipe

Step 1: Whisk Together the Dressing

Start by combining the Dijon mustard with honey, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Whisk it all while slowly drizzling in the olive oil to emulsify the dressing until it’s smooth and creamy. This sets the tone for the salad's bright and balanced flavor — don’t skimp on this step!

Step 2: Prep the Salad Ingredients

While the dressing chills, wash and dry your romaine leaves and baby rocket. Cube your apple — I leave the skin on for that great color and texture. Set aside a few candied almonds and cranberries for garnish later; this little trick makes the presentation look extra special.

Step 3: Toss and Dress

Mix the romaine, rocket, dried cranberries, candied almonds, apple cubes, and crumbled blue cheese gently in a large bowl. Add half the dressing and toss carefully so everything gets a nice glaze but stays crunchy and fresh. Finally, add the reserved nuts and berries on top along with the remaining dressing for that “finished” look.

Top Tip

From my experience making this salad over the years, a few simple things really make a difference between good and unforgettable.

Dry Greens Thoroughly: Wet lettuce dilutes the dressing and wilts faster. Give those leaves a good spin in a salad spinner or pat dry with paper towels.
Emulsify the Dressing: Whisking in the oil slowly prevents separation, giving a luscious texture that clings to every leaf.
Reserve Garnishes: Save some candied almonds and cranberries for the top — it makes your salad look professionally finished and adds that lovely last-minute crunch.
Serve Immediately: This salad tastes best fresh; wait too long, and the greens might droop or the apple might brown.

How to Serve Christmas Cranberry and Apple Salad Recipe

Christmas Cranberry and Apple Salad - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually stick to a handful of candied almonds and dried cranberries sprinkled on top, along with a few apple cubes. The pops of red and crunch just make the salad sing on the plate. Sometimes I add a light shower of freshly cracked black pepper for that extra zing.

Side Dishes

This salad goes hand in hand with classic Christmas mains like roast turkey or honey-glazed ham. I also love pairing it with buttery mashed potatoes or roasted Brussels sprouts to round out the festive feast.

Creative Ways to Present

Once, I served this salad in individual glass parfait cups layered with a little honey yogurt instead of blue cheese to wow my guests with a pretty holiday presentation. Another time, I wrapped small salad servings inside butter lettuce leaves for a casual, hand-held appetizer vibe.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you happen to have leftovers (rare in my house!), keep them in an airtight container and add any extra dressing just before serving again to keep the salad tasting fresh. The apples and greens are best eaten within a day or two.

Freezing

This salad doesn't freeze well because of the fresh greens and apples. If you want to prep ahead, keep the dressing separate and toss everything fresh on the day.

Reheating

Since it’s a fresh salad, reheating isn’t part of the plan, but it’s an excellent make-ahead cold salad that you can prepare a few hours before your meal and refrigerate ready to serve.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I substitute the blue cheese in the Christmas Cranberry and Apple Salad Recipe?

Absolutely! If you’re not a fan of blue cheese or want a milder flavor, feta or goat cheese work beautifully too. For a dairy-free option, try a sprinkle of toasted nuts or seeds instead.

How do I prevent the apples from browning in the salad?

To keep the apple cubes looking fresh and crisp, toss them quickly in a little lemon juice before adding to the salad. This simple trick slows oxidation which causes browning.

Can I prepare the dressing ahead of time?

Yes, the dressing can be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge in a tightly sealed jar. Just remember to whisk it again before tossing with the salad, as the oil and vinegar might separate.

Is this Christmas Cranberry and Apple Salad Recipe suitable for a big party?

For sure! Just multiply the ingredients accordingly and keep the dressing separate until just before serving to keep everything fresh and crunchy. It’s great for buffet-style serving.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Cranberry and Apple Salad Recipe is one of those festive side dishes I always feel excited to bring to the table. It’s fresh, colorful, and full of flavors that scream holiday cheer without being fussy or complicated. Give it a try and see—it might just become your go-to seasonal salad that friends and family keep asking for year after year.