This apple, cherry and candied walnut salad is delicious! apples, dried cherries, blue cheese, candied walnuts with spring greens and drizzled with a cherry balsamic vinaigrette.

I’m on a salad spree.

Yes, there’s such a thing.

Kind of like a shopping spree… but with vegetables and fruit, I guess.

I’m not sure why I’m craving salads, because it’s definitely not like I have grand plans for any New Year’s resolutions, but I’ve been craving salads like I was pregnant or something. I’m not… swear. But when I’m at the grocery store there’s a magnetic pull to the produce section and I want them ALL. The other day I made this salad to bring to a friend’s house. Then I made this salad dressing because I have mad plans for a week of Greek {salad}. Then prior to both of those I made this amazing salad I’m sharing with you today. This salad has tart apples, candied walnuts, dried cherries and pungent {in a good way} blue cheese. It’s bonkers good and the homemade cherry balsamic dressing I drizzled over it wasn’t too shabby either.

Add 1 cup walnuts and 1/4 cup sugar to a skillet and heat on medium to medium-low heat until the sugar melts, browns and then sticks to the walnuts. See the exact recipe here.

For the cherry balsamic vinaigrette I reduced a half cup of cherry juice in a small pan…

…until there is a quarter cup left.

I added a minced clove of garlic to a bowl.

Measure and add in the teaspoon of kosher salt and a quarter teaspoon of coarse black pepper.

Pour in the cherry reduction.

Add in a quarter cup of honey.

A quarter cup of balsamic vinegar…

And a splash of raspberry vinegar.

Whisk that all together to dissolve the honey.

Then continue whisking while you slowly pour in the grapeseed oil.

Yummmah!

Now, the salad!

Slice the sides off of one medium pink lady apple or you could use a granny smith, but I have a long-term crush on the pink lady.

Then slice and chop.

Finally build your salad by throwing your favorite leafy salad greens into a big bowl. I’m using a spinach/spring mix blend.

Then toss in those chopped apples…

Next add in 1/4 cup of dried cherries.

Then add in 2 ounces of crumbled blue cheese.

Lastly, break up the candied walnuts and throw them on top of everything else.

Toss together….

And there you have it friends. My newest salad obsession, the apple, cherry and candied walnut salad!

It was hard for me to pick out my favorite salad aspect. Crunchy tart apples with blue cheese is a match made in heaven, but crunchy candied walnuts and the sweet, tart, dried cherries is darn good too. Oh and then there’s the dressing. It’s so good on all of it! So I orchestrate that every bite has a little of everything in it.

Enjoy! And if you give this Apple, Cherry and Candied Walnut Salad recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

My cookbook Simply Scratch : 120 Wholesome Homemade Recipes Made Easy is now available! CLICK HERE for details and THANK YOU in advance! 

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Yield: 6 or 8 depending

Apple, Cherry and Candied Walnut Salad + Cherry Balsamic Vinaigrette

Crunchy, tart apples, dried cherries, blue cheese and candied apples are mixed with leafy salad greens and drizzled with a homemade cherry balsamic vinaigrette.

Prep Time 25 minutes

Additional Time 10 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

CHERRY BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE:

• 1/2 cup cherry juice
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 splash of raspberry vinegar
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup grapeseed or olive oil

FOR THE SALAD:

• candied walnuts
• 1 medium pink lady apple (or granny smith)
• 1/4 cup dried cherries
• 2 ounces blue cheese
• 5 ounces of your favorite salad greens

Instructions

FOR THE VINAIGRETTE:

1. Bring a half cup of cherry juice to a boil and whisk until it's reduced by half {1/4 cup}.
2. In a bowl add in the minced garlic, salt, pepper, cherry juice, honey, balsamic vinegar and a splash of raspberry vinegar. Whisk until the honey is dissolved and keep whisking while you slowly pour in the 1/2 cup of grapeseed or olive oil.

FOR THE SALAD:

1. Add your leafy salad greens to a large bowl and top with the chopped apples, dried cherries, blue cheese and candied walnuts. Toss and serve with drizzle of the cherry balsamic vinaigrette.

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