Michigan Cherry Salad is a popular salad you’ll find on menus in restaurants all around Michigan. And it’s one of my favorites. A mix of spring greens, baby spinach topped with sliced apples, red onion, dried cherries, pecans or walnuts and gorgonzola or blue cheese.

Michigan Cherry Salad with Cider Dijon Dressing

Gah! This salad. Filled with fall flavors and with lots of delicious goodies.

If you’re ever in the mitten and see this on the menu, order it! Spring greens topped with Michigan apples and dried cherries, thinly sliced red onion and blue cheese? What’s not to love about this salad? It even has candied pecans! Which is exactly why the is my favorite salad.

Michigan Cherry Salad with Cider Dijon Dressing

It’s a collaboration of fruits, nuts, tender greens and red onions in a light vinaigrette. Sometimes it’s a raspberry vinaigrette and sometimes it’s not. I like making a super simple cider Dijon dressing. I also candied some pecans. Overachiever much? That is me.

This salad is not just a pretty face, it’s delicious one.

Michigan Cherry Salad with Cider Dijon Dressing ingredients

To Make This Michigan Cherry Salad You Will Need:

cider dijon vinaigrette:

  • dijon mustard
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • real maple syrup
  • cider vinegar
  • olive oil

for the maple candied nuts:

  • pecan halves or walnuts
  • maple syrup
  • kosher salt

for the salad:

  • baby spinach
  • spring mix
  • honeycrisp apple
  • small red onion
  • crumbled gorgonzola
  • dried cherries
  • candied nuts
  • minced fresh parsley, for serving
  • freshly ground black pepper, for serving

cider dijon dressing

Make the Dressing:

Now for the dressing! Add 1 heaping teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1-1/2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1/4 cup cider vinegar and lastly, pour in 6 tablespoons of olive oil into a glass jar.

cider dijon dressing combined

Shake well to combine.

maple candied pecans

Make The Candied pecans:

Lately, I’ve been all about candying nuts. First it was candied almonds, then these honey candied pistachios and now maple candied pecans but hey, walnuts work here too. These are ridiculously easy and only take 3 simple ingredients.

Start by adding 1 cup of pecans [or walnuts] to a 10-inch skillet. Then pour in 5 tablespoons of real maple syrup and a pinch of sea or kosher salt.

making candied pecans

Next heat on medium-high and stir often.

transfer nuts to parchment lined pan

Once the maple syrup caramelizes and thickens and the nuts are toasted, then remove from the heat and carefully transfer the hot nuts to a parchment paper lined sheet pan. They’ll harden as they cool.

cooled candied pecans

I have noticed that pecans tend to be a little softer than the walnuts afterwards. But maybe that’s just me.

Michigan Cherry Salad with Cider Dijon Dressing

Next toss 5 ounces of both spinach and spring greens and top it with 1 to 2 sliced honeycrisp apples, 1/2 of a red onion – thinly sliced, 1/2 cup dried Michigan cherries, the maple candied pecans (or walnuts), 2 to 3 ounces crumbled gorgonzola. Lastly season with fresh black pepper and sprinkle with minced fresh parsley.

drizzle with dressing.

Then drizzle spoonfuls of the cider dijon dressing over the Michigan cherry salad. Prepare to fall in love.

Michigan Cherry Salad with Cider Dijon Dressing

This is what salad perfection looks like.

Michigan Cherry Salad with Cider Dijon Dressing

To make this an entree, pile the salad onto plates and top with sliced grilled chicken breasts.

It’s a gorgeous salad and all of these ingredients work so harmoniously together. Crispy, salty and tangy, sweet and nutty… it’s fall’s best salad.

Michigan Cherry Salad with Cider Dijon Dressing

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

Michigan Cherry Salad with Cider Dijon Dressing

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Yield: 6 servings

Michigan Cherry Salad with Cider Dijon Dressing

Michigan Cherry Salad is a popular salad you'll find on menus in restaurants all around Michigan. And it's one of my favorites. A mix of spring greens, baby spinach topped with sliced apples, red onion, dried cherries, pecans or walnuts and gorgonzola or blue cheese. Every bite you get a little something special. A little candied nut and cheese and apple is my favorite.

Ingredients

CIDER DIJON VINAIGRETTE:

  • 1 (heaping) teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup cider vinegar
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil

MAPLE CANDIED NUTS:

  • 1 cup pecans, or walnuts
  • 5 tablespoons maple syrup
  • pinch kosher salt

MICHIGAN CHERRY SALAD:

  • 5 ounces baby spinach
  • 5 ounces spring mix
  • 1 large honeycrisp apple, cored and sliced
  • 1/2 small red onion, sliced thin
  • 4 ounces crumbled gorgonzola
  • 1/2 cup dried cherries
  • minced fresh parsley, for serving
  • freshly ground black pepper, for serving

Instructions 

FOR THE DIJON VINAIGRETTE:

  • In a glass jar, add Dijon, salt, pepper, maple syrup, cider vinegar and olive oil. Secure the lid, shake well before serving.

FOR THE CANDIED NUTS:

  • Place the pecans, maple syrup and a pinch of kosher salt into a 10-inch skillet. Heat on medium-high, stirring often until he syrup caramelizes and thickens and the nuts are toasted. Remove the pan off of the heat and carefully spread the hot candied nuts onto a parchment lined metal sheet pan.

FOR THE SALAD:

  • Toss the spring greens with the spinach. Top with sliced apple, red onion, crumbles of the gorgonzola, cherries and the candied nuts. Drizzle spoonfuls of the cider dijon dressing over top. Sprinkle with a little chopped fresh parsley and a few turns of black pepper.
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 430kcal, Carbohydrates: 32g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 31g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 18g, Cholesterol: 14mg, Sodium: 489mg, Potassium: 399mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 3017IU, Vitamin C: 15mg, Calcium: 176mg, Iron: 2mg