This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Crisp baby spinach, spring mix lettuces, tart apples, sweet raisins, crunchy almonds, and the ultimate honey cider salad dressing create a fantastic Spinach Apple Salad.
I made this salad three times within a month the first time I made it. And in the years since then, this salad has made frequent appearances in my home.
Spinach Apple Salad
The apple cider and honey dressing is wonderfully tangy and sweet. The combination of those flavors with the rest of this spinach and apple salad immediately made this one of my all-time favorite salads.
And that says something because this parsley salad with oranges and the apple walnut salad with blueberries are big favorites too. There’s just something unforgettable about a fresh salad filled with fruits and tossed in a tangy sweet dressing.
Salad with Apples
I was determined to serve this with my Thanksgiving dinner a few years ago. So, I played with several different ways to make the salad in advance and still keep the apples fresh.
(Like most people I know, making as many of the Thanksgiving dishes as possible in advance keeps me the happiest!)
Everything I tried initially, changed the flavor of the salad too much. Fortunately, apple cider vinegar did the trick and after 36 hours in the fridge, the salad still had apples that were crisp, white, and tasting like fresh apples.
Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing
In a small glass bowl, warm the honey and the vinegar in the microwave. Stir together until the honey dissolves.
Combine the mayonnaise, mustard, onion, parsley, and oil in the pitcher of an electric blender. Add the honey mixture and blend until thoroughly combined.
Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Recipe for Spinach Salad
In a skillet over medium heat, toast the almonds (or caramelize them if you’re feeling fancy!) until they are fragrant and browned. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
In a large bowl or on a platter, combine the spinach, lettuces, raisins, almonds, and apple slices. Sprinkle with parsley.
Lightly drizzle the salad with approximately half of the prepared dressing just before serving. Store the remaining dressing in the refrigerator.
Make Ahead Directions
To prepare this in advance: I recommend treating the apples to avoid browning. As you are slicing them, place them directly into a small bowl filled with 2 cups of cold water and 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar.
Soak the sliced apples for about 5 minutes and then drain. Blot dry with a cloth or paper towels and then store in an airtight container until ready to assemble the salad.
Spinach Apple Salad
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 4 oz baby spinach leaves
- 4 oz spring mix lettuces
- 1 cup raisins
- ¾ cup sliced almonds, toasted
- 3 granny smith apples very thinly sliced, I cut medium size apples into about 40 slices each
- 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley
Honey Cider Dressing Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons honey
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1½ tablespoons yellow onion finely minced
- 1½ tablespoons fresh Italian parsley chopped
- ½ cup light flavor olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt adjust to taste
Instructions
Dressing Instructions
- In a small glass bowl, warm the honey and the vinegar in the microwave. Stir together until the honey dissolves. Combine the mayonnaise, mustard, onion, parsley, oil, and salt in the pitcher of an electric blender.
- Add the honey mixture and blend until thoroughly combined. Taste the dressing and add salt as desired. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Salad Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, toast the almonds (or caramelize them if you're feeling fancy!) until they are fragrant and browned. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
- In a large bowl or on a platter, combine the spinach, lettuce, raisins, almonds, and apple slices. Sprinkle with parsley.
- Lightly drizzle the salad with approximately half of the prepared dressing just before serving. Store the remaining dressing in the refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 11/15/11 – recipe notes and photos updated 10/23/24}
Recipe adapted from and with thanks to Apron Appeal.
I never think about serving a salad for Thanksgiving, but this sounds like a great choice. It's nice and light with some sweet and nutty flavors. I love this one!
I love that this salad has all of my favorite fall flavors in every bite! And tons of great texture from all the different components. Winner.
Please tell me you'll post a stuffing recipe!
That looks wonderful – I'm really craving salads at the moment so guess what's for supper! thanks for a lovely recipe
Mary x
Your salad is brilliant, I'm definitely going to use that cider vinegar trick. The light in your photographs is beautiful…it's raining here 🙁
That looks great!! I eat a lot of salads and never remember to put apples on them.
What a beautiful and delicious salad!
An apple spinach salad is one of my favorites! The dressing sounds fantastic.
I posted a response to your question about warm egg white meringue. I have never heard of it but did check out the link. I always use room temperature eggs but am intrigued about the lack of sweating. Very interesting! My thought is it's worth a try. Thanks for sending me the link. Spam away anytime! ha-ha Have a great day.
I love the combination of this simple salad. So fresh and delicious.
What a perfect fall salad. Now if only you could come over and cook for me tonight! This looks too good. Thank you for sharing with me…and thank you for visiting my blog! Your words mean a lot to me! I hope you have a great week!
What a beautiful salad Mary, and I love the sound of the honey cider dressing…beautiful pictures!
Hope you are having a wonderful week 🙂
Looks delish! Totally gonna try your dressing!
This salad is beautiful. I bet is really tasty. I love the pictures, the colors are great.
This salad looks and sounds amazing. Plan on delivering any of this??? : )
Lovely!! I adore salads like this.. so fresh and healthy and oh so delicious!
Look how totally behind I am in my google reader! 🙂 Thanks for hat tip….but now I'm hungry. I KNOW how good this one tastes. I also love the apple preservation idea. NICE!
This salad, especially the dressing, is delicious! I just had it tonight for dinner. It's great as written but tonight I subbed pears for the apples, cranberries for the raisins and pecans for the almonds. Tossed them over a kale/spinach mix. Yum!
I made this… with avocados and shrimp added! It’s so good.
I made this salad for Christmas and it was a huge hit!
WONDERFUL and tasty way to use up some lovely local apples! Really brightens up a gloomy day.
This is a lovely salad for the fall, isn’t it, Catherine? Enjoy!