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A favorite at potlucks and family movie nights, this Snickers Apple Salad is a fun recipe to make with the kids, especially if you have a bevy of apples or candy bars in your kitchen. A nostalgic no-bake dessert made with pudding, Cool Whip, crisp apples and chopped Snickers bars.

Snickers Salad Recipe

Snickers Apple Salad is a beloved Midwestern American dessert that is a celebration of contrasts: crisp, tart apples, a creamy, sweet pudding base and soft, chewy Snickers bars with crunchy peanuts.

The balance of the fresh apples along with the heavier dessert toppings (chocolate, caramel, whipped cream and pudding) makes for a tasty dessert that isn’t too heavy while being incredibly satisfying.

This no-bake classic has been a staple at potlucks and family gatherings since the 1980s – and for those curious why this Snickers apple salad (which clearly has little in common with salads of the leafy green variety), in Midwestern and prairie cooking traditions, “salad” often refers to any chilled, mixed dish – especially those bound by whipped topping, pudding or Jell-O. Snickers apple salad follows that lineage: crisp apples, candy and whipped topping folded together, so it earns the “salad” title in true Midwestern spirit, if not in nutrition.

I think it’s fun to still use the original “Snickers apple salad” name, but alternatively you can refer to this recipe as:

• Caramel Apple Snickers Delight
• Candy Bar Apple Fluff or Apple Snickers Fluff
• Granny Smith Snickers Trifle
• Creamy Caramel Apple Crunch
• Snickers Apple Dream Bowl
• or, Snickers Apple Pudding

While this is a great dessert to serve year-round, it is especially fitting during the fall months when apples are in season and the giant boxes of Halloween candy bars start appearing on store shelves. If serving in the warmer months, be sure to keep it in the fridge until just before you are ready to serve to prevent a sad, melted salad.

Snickers Apple Salad FAQs

Can I make Snickers Apple Salad ahead of time? Yes, you can make it up to 24 hours in advance. Just store it covered in the refrigerator and add the final drizzle of caramel right before serving.

How long does this snickers apple salad last? Snickers salad is best enjoyed within two days of making it, as the pudding mixture may start to loosen and the candy can soften.

How do I stop the apples from turning brown and soft? The first step of this recipe is soaking the chopped apples in lemon-lime soda; this helps prevent browning and keeps them crisp by preventing oxidation.

Can I use homemade whipped cream instead of Cool Whip? Yes, but make sure it’s stabilized with powdered sugar or whipped cream stabilizer so the salad doesn’t deflate.

What apples work best for making snickers apple salad? Granny Smith apples are ideal for their tartness to balance out all of the sweet elements of the recipe, but Honeycrisp or Fuji will make the salad sweeter and juicier. You can use a combination, as well.

Snickers Apple Salad Main Ingredients

• Granny Smith Apples, cored and chopped
• Lemon Soda <– this is just being used to soak the apples before incorporating them in the salad, it is not to be mixed into the salad
• Vanilla Pudding Mix
• Milk
• Cool Whip (can use 8 oz, if desired)
• Caramel Sauce, as desired
• Chopped Snickers

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: if you have time, chill the Snickers bars before chopping to keep clean edges and prevent melting.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Mixing Bowl
• Electric mixer <– this is a great hand mixer if you don’t want to make the investment into a stand mixer
• Sharp Kitchen Knife
• Cutting Board
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula <– I like these spatulas because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty

How to Make Snickers Salad

Chop the apples into 1″ pieces and place in a bowl or container with the lemon soda to prevent browning. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the vanilla pudding mix and milk for 2 minutes until well-thickened. Make sure the pudding mixture is thick before folding in the whipped topping; this keeps the salad fluffy rather than runny.

Gently stir or beat the cool whip into the pudding mixture.

Drain the apples from the lemon soda and place in the pudding mixture. Stir to coat the apples completely.

Drizzle on the caramel sauce, if using (reserving a Tablespoon for drizzling over the final dish). Stir to combine.

Stir in the chopped Snickers bars.

Refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight to allow flavors to combine.

Drizzle on the remaining caramel sauce just before serving.

Makes approximately 4-5 cups of salad, approximately 10 servings.

Pin this Caramel Apple Snickers Salad for the next time you want a quick and easy no-bake dessert:

Grab your free printable recipe card for our Snickers apple salad recipe:

I hope your family loves this easy Snickers salad recipe as much as mine does!

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