Classic Waldorf Salad

by Heidi Updated: Dec 1, 2023

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Crunchy with crisp apples, celery and toasted nuts, this easy Waldorf salad is a classic recipe perfect for a crowd any time of year.

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With yearnings coming on strong for the good old days, I feel like there’s a retro resurgence coming to home cooking. Or is it already here?

The comforts of familiar family recipes have been making their way back into the main stream for a while and classic potluck and picnic salad recipes are some of the quickest to rebound. Who needs fancy or fussy when you crave soothing and satisfying? And you guys agree, because the recipes for the best potato salad, macaroni salad, and creamy coleslaw are always at the top of the most popular recipes here on FoodieCrush.

This classic Waldorf salad recipe is from my Grandma Mary Jane. Like her Parmesan crusted chicken and classic lemon bars, I discovered it while digging through her recipe cards that are now mine, and also now yours.

What’s In Waldorf Salad

The Waldorf salad is said to have originated over 100 years ago at the Waldorf hotel in New York City. Starting out as a simple salad of apples, celery, and mayonnaise—ingredients that are in season all year long—over the years its flavor was tweaked with the addition of grapes and nuts added to the mix.

My grandma’s recipe pretty much follows course with these ingredients and the addition of whipped cream to add extra fluff:

Tart apples
Celery
Walnuts or pecans
Grapes
Lemon juice
Sugar
Salt
Mayonnaise
Whipped cream (her secret ingredient!)

How to Make the Classic Waldorf Salad

This simple salad takes doesn’t require any cooking, just a little chopping, and only takes minutes to mix together.

Use the crispest varieties of apples. Grandma said to use tart green Granny Smith apples, but for a little variety in color, I used one green apple and one crunchy Fuji apples. Red delicious, honey crisp and gala are also good options.

Chop the ingredients the same size. Chopping the apples, celery, and grapes about the same size ensures you’ll get crunchy and sweet tastes in each and every bite.

Sprinkle the cut fruit with the lemon juice and sugar. Cut apples can quickly e discolor. Tossing with the lemon juice retards oxidation while sprinkling the fruit directly with sugar enhances it’s sweetness.

Mix the wet ingredients before adding to the dry. Whisk the mayonnaise and whipped cream together before adding to the fruit. This ensures a homogenous, creamy dressing.

Toast the nuts for deeper flavor. Toasting the nuts before adding to the salad intensifies their nutty flavor by releasing their natural oils, eliminating their raw taste.

Add Greek Yogurt to Waldorf Salad’s Dressing

The dressing for Waldorf salad always starts with mayonnaise. In fact, you could get away with using only mayo, but because this salad deserves a topping that’s more than just one note of flavor, I add my grandma’s secret ingredient.

Grandma’s secret ingredient for this dressing isssssss…whipped cream.

Now, you could go ahead and sub the whipped cream with plain Greek yogurt or even sour cream, and I have. But, I encourage you to try both ingredient combos and decide for yourself which you prefer.

If you prefer, use 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt or sour cream instead of the suggested ½ cup whipped cream.

More Ingredients to Add to Waldorf Salad

Keep this salad basic or jazz it up with these complimentary ingredients:

Mini marshmallows
Raisins
Dried cranberries
Diced pineapple
Dried dates
Chicken or turkey
Red onion
Broccoli or caulflower
Sunflower seeds, pecans, or pistachios

What to Serve With Waldorf Salad

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.

5 from 499 votes