Snickers Apple Salad is an apple fruit salad with cool whip. The combination of creamy vanilla pudding, fluffy Cool Whip, crisp apple chunks, and delightful candy pieces is a surefire hit. Moreover, our no-bake apple Snickers salad can be effortlessly prepared in just 10 minutes using only 5 ingredients.
This Midwestern classic is a perennial crowd-pleaser, guaranteed to satisfy every time it’s served.
For budding young chefs, this kid-friendly dessert offers an excellent learning opportunity. They’ll gain valuable culinary skills as they mix, measure, and chop, experiencing the joys of creating a dish that earns rave reviews from everyone who tries it.
Apples are probably one of our favorite fruits to use in the kitchen. If you are looking for more recipes featuring apples, check out Easy Sautéed Apples, Caramel Apple Slices and Canning Applesauce.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- 3.4 ounces dry instant vanilla pudding mix ✅
- 1 cup skim milk
- 8 ounces cool whip ✅
- 3 green apples, cored and diced
- 1-2 snickers, cut into pieces
Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.
How To Make Apple Fruit Salad
In a large bowl, whisk the dry vanilla instant pudding mix with the milk until it is thickened.
Add the rest of the ingredients: Stir in the Cool Whip and apples. Top with candy chunks.
Serve: Serve or refrigerate until serving.
Substitutions & Variations
Once your apple pieces are stirred into the salad, toss in candy chunks or another ingredient. This is the part of the recipe to get creative!
Check out all the fun ways to change up this salad and make it your own. You can pick a single ingredient or a combination.
- Dark Milky ways
- Snickers
- Peanuts
- M&Ms
- Sprinkles
- Caramel drizzle
- Pecan or walnut pieces
- Coconut flakes
- Mini marshmallows
- Mandarin oranges
- Maraschino cherries
- Crushed pineapple
Tips for Making Snickers Apple Salad
- Use whole, 2% or skim milk with the pudding mix.
- We typically use a vanilla pudding mix for this recipe because the vanilla flavor pairs well with the cool whip and apple chunks but you could swap for banana, coconut, cheesecake, butterscotch or a chocolate mix.
- Continue to whisk the pudding mix and milk together until the mixture becomes creamy.
- Greek yogurt could be used instead of the cool whip in this recipe. Picking a vanilla Greek yogurt would add an extra boost of flavor.
- We prefer to use green apples because the tartness of the Granny smith adds a great flavor to the salad. Other tart apples like Cortland or Pink Lady varieties could also be used. If looking for a sweet apple, Fuji, Gala, Jonagold and Honeycrisp are great options.
- Make nut-free by removing the snickers and adding gluten-free pretzels for a crunchy topping.
How To Make Ahead
This recipe can be made up to a day in advance if desired. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
The only tweak that needs to be made would be to coat the chopped apples with lemon juice before mixing with the other ingredients. This will keep the apples from browning when stored overnight. If you are worried about a strong lemon flavor, you can pat the apples dry after treating with lemon juice then add to the mix.
Right before serving, stir the ingredients really well then add a few candy pieces to the top.
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe will last up to 3 days but is best when served within the first 24 hours of making. The longer the salad sits, the more likely it is to become watery. Always give leftovers a good stir before serving.
A single batch makes up to 8 servings. Keep in mind that if you’re planning to serve this recipe to a group of more than 8 people at an event, it’s wise to make a double or triple batch. It is also best to make a double batch if you have teenagers running around the house, they will finish off this snickers dessert quicker than you think.
Sure! You are not limited to apples for candy apple salad. You can swap or add additional fruit such strawberries, banana slices, grapes or pineapple chunks to the mix.
Kids In The Kitchen
Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.
- Continue to whisk the pudding mix and milk together until all the clumps are gone. A fork also works if you don’t have a whisk at home.
- The apples can be chopped with or without the peel. It can be fun to keep the peel on for a pop of color.
- The candy pieces can be chopped with a knife or placed into a food processor to break into small pieces.
Storage Instructions
To maintain the freshness and quality of your snicker salad, it’s essential to store it properly. After preparing, place it in the refrigerator in a covered container.
The ideal storage time for your snicker salad in the fridge is up to 3 days. Beyond this period the ingredients may start to lose their freshness, and the overall quality of the salad could deteriorate.
It’s worth noting that we do not recommend freezing this snicker salad recipe. Freezing can significantly alter the texture and taste of the ingredients, particularly the whipped cream or Cool Whip and the candy bars. When thawed, these components may become mushy and lose their original appeal. Therefore, for the best snicker salad experience, it’s best to enjoy it within the 3-day window of refrigerated storage.
More Healthy Dessert Ideas
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Snickers Apple Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 3.4 ounces dry instant vanilla pudding mix ✅
- 1 cup skim milk
- 8 ounces cool whip ✅
- 3 green apples, cored and diced
- 6-8 small snickers, cut into pieces
Instructions
- Blend the pudding and milk. In a large bowl, whisk dry instant pudding mix with milk.3.4 ounces dry instant vanilla pudding mix, 1 cup skim milk
- Add the rest of the ingredients. Stir in cool whip and apples. Top with candy chunks.8 ounces cool whip, 3 green apples, cored and diced, 6-8 small snickers, cut into pieces
- Serve. Serve or refrigerate until serving.
Video
Notes
-
- Use whole, 2% or skim milk with the vanilla pudding mix.
-
- We typically use a vanilla pudding mix for this recipe because the vanilla flavor pairs well with the cool whip and apple chunks but you could swap for banana, coconut, cheesecake, butterscotch or chocolate mix.
-
- Continue to whisk the pudding mix and milk together until the mixture becomes creamy.
-
- Greek yogurt could be used instead of the cool whip in this recipe. Picking a vanilla Greek yogurt would add an extra boost of flavor.
-
- We prefer to use green apples because the tartness of the Granny smith adds a great flavor to the salad. Other tart apples like Cortland or Pink Lady varieties could also be used. If looking for a sweet apple, Fuji, Gala, Jonagold and Honeycrisp are great options.
- Make nut-free by removing the snickers and adding gluten-free pretzels for a crunchy topping.
Nutrition
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Debbie says
I’ve been craving this salad, but not wanting all the calories. I can’t wait to try this version!
April Jessee says
I made this Sunday and it amazing we added mandarin oranges, crushed pineapple, and walnuts! Wonderful!!!!!
Helen T says
Very simple recipe which I liked. I added some cut up pineapples, marshmallows and sweetened coconut flakes. It was a hit at our family gathering.