There’s something about the festive colors and flavors that just brighten up the holiday table, and this Festive Cranberry Apple Salad with Blue Cheese Recipe nails it. It’s that perfect crunch, tang, and sweetness combo that makes every bite interesting and fresh – trust me, you’ll want to make it part of your holiday tradition.

A white bowl filled with a fresh green salad made of large leafy greens as the bottom layer, topped with small cubes of pale yellow and light red apple pieces spread evenly across the salad. Scattered on top are brown roasted almonds and dark red dried cranberries, with small crumbles of blue cheese adding white with blue veins spots. In the background, a white plate with a wedge of blue cheese and two silver spoons can be seen on a white marbled surface along with a small jar of dressing. A white cloth with black stripes is partially visible at the bottom edge. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Cranberry Apple Salad with Blue Cheese Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Festive Cranberry Apple Salad with Blue Cheese Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Festive Cranberry Apple Salad with Blue Cheese Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Honestly, this salad blows away your typical side dish. I first made it last Christmas and it instantly became a crowd favorite – and not just because of its festive looks. I love how it balances creamy, sweet, tart, and crunchy all in one bowl.

Balanced Flavors: The tangy cranberries paired with crisp apples and sharp blue cheese create a delightful contrast you won’t get from ordinary salads.
Simple to Make: Despite fancy flavors, it takes just about 15 minutes from start to finish, making it an easy, impressive addition to your holiday feast.
Eye-Catching and Festive: The colors – bright red cranberries and green leafy romaine with white chunks of apple and blue cheese – really pop on the plate.
Customizable: You can easily swap ingredients or dressings to suit your taste or dietary needs without losing the festive vibe.

The dish shows a white bowl filled with fresh green lettuce leaves as the base layer, topped with small red and white apple cubes scattered all over. On top of that is a layer of roasted brown almonds and dark red dried cranberries evenly spread. The final layer includes small chunks of blue cheese dotted across, creating a mix of green, red, brown, and creamy white colors with different textures. The bowl sits on a white marbled surface with a white cloth nearby and two silver spoons to the top right. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient plays a special role in this Festive Cranberry Apple Salad with Blue Cheese Recipe. From the crispness of the apples to the earthiness of the rocket, the combination sings holiday cheer. When you shop, aim for the freshest lettuce and apples to really elevate the texture and flavor.

Flat lay of fresh large Romaine lettuce leaves, a small pile of vibrant baby rocket leaves, a handful of plump dried cranberries, crunchy candied almonds, a wedge of creamy blue cheese, neatly cubed fresh apple pieces, small white ceramic bowls holding smooth Dijon mustard, golden honey, deep red wine vinegar, bright lemon juice, coarse salt and black pepper, and a small white bowl filled with rich olive oil, all arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Lettuce (Romaine): Its crunch and sturdy leaves hold up well under the dressing and add volume to the salad.
Baby Rocket: Adds a peppery bite that contrasts nicely with the sweeter ingredients.
Dried Cranberries: Bring tartness and chewiness, which lift the salad’s festive flavor.
Candied Almonds: These are my secret weapon for sweetness and crunch – plus, they make the salad feel extra special.
Blue Cheese: Its creamy sharpness cuts through the sweetness and makes every forkful complex and interesting.
Apple: I like crisp apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for their balance of sweet and tart with juicy crunch.
Dijon Mustard: For that slight tang in the dressing, it keeps everything bright.
Honey: Sweetens and balances the acidity in the dressing.
Red Wine Vinegar & Lemon Juice: Both add layers of acidity that tie the dressing together.
Olive Oil: Gives a rich mouthfeel and emulsifies the dressing.
Salt & Pepper: Essential for enhancing all the natural flavors.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

This Festive Cranberry Apple Salad with Blue Cheese Recipe is super flexible — I love how easy it is to swap some ingredients to match what you have or want. You can keep it classic or throw in your own twists to truly make it yours.

Variation: Try swapping blue cheese with feta if you prefer a milder flavor, or add toasted pecans instead of candied almonds for another texture twist — I did this last year, and my guests loved the nutty swap!
Dietary Modification: For a vegan option, ditch the blue cheese and try a tangy dairy-free cheese or extra nuts, then swap honey for maple syrup in the dressing.
Seasonal Changes: In autumn, I sometimes add pomegranate seeds instead of cranberries for a fun seasonal flair.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Cranberry Apple Salad with Blue Cheese Recipe

Step 1: Whisk Up the Dressing

Start by mixing the Dijon mustard with honey, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Use a whisk to really blend everything smooth. Then, while whisking continuously, slowly drizzle in the olive oil to create a nice emulsified dressing. This step makes the salad sing — don’t rush it!

Step 2: Prep Your Salad Ingredients

Wash and dry your lettuce leaves and baby rocket thoroughly — soggy leaves can really kill the vibe here. Cube the apple, and if you like, reserve a small handful of cranberries and almonds for garnishing at the end. Chop or crumble the blue cheese into bite-sized pieces so it distributes evenly.

Step 3: Toss and Finish the Salad

Combine the lettuce and rocket in a large bowl with most of the cranberries, almonds, apple cubes, and half of the dressing. Toss gently to coat everything evenly but don’t bruise the leaves. Then arrange the salad nicely on your serving plate or bowl, finish by sprinkling the reserved cranberries, almonds, and blue cheese on top, and drizzle the remaining dressing over everything. You want those visual pops of color and flavor left on top!

Top Tip

From making this salad for friends and family, a few tricks will help you nail it every time – I learned these after a couple of tries that were a little soggy or unevenly dressed.

Dry Your Greens Well: Use a salad spinner or pat your greens dry with paper towels; wet leaves make the salad watery fast.
Dress Gradually: Toss with half the dressing first, then add more if it needs it — it’s easier to add than to fix overdressing.
Reserve Some Toppings: Set aside a bit of cranberries, almonds, and blue cheese to sprinkle on top last – it gives a fresh look and flavorful bursts.
Use Crisp Apples: I’ve found softer apples make the salad mushy over time; Granny Smith or Honeycrisp keep that perfect crunch.

How to Serve Festive Cranberry Apple Salad with Blue Cheese Recipe

festive cranberry apple salad - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like finishing this salad with a few extra candied almonds and a sprinkle of freshly cracked black pepper. Sometimes, I throw on a couple of fresh rosemary sprigs around the edges for that holiday look and subtle aroma. It makes the salad feel extra festive and edible art!

Side Dishes

This salad pairs beautifully with roasted turkey, glazed ham, or even a hearty vegetarian main like stuffed squash. For sides, I often serve it alongside buttery mashed potatoes or warm, crusty bread — the freshness of the salad perfectly balances the rich dishes.

Creative Ways to Present

During a Christmas party once, I served this salad in individual clear glass cups layered with the ingredients, so guests got a beautiful peek at all the colors. Another fun way is spreading it out on a large wooden board alongside charcuterie elements for a festive salad platter experience.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I usually store leftover salad in an airtight container in the fridge but keep the dressing separate to avoid sogginess. When ready to eat, I toss it again with the dressing for fresh flavor and crunch. This way, the apple and greens don’t get too limp.

Freezing

This salad really isn’t freezer-friendly, especially the lettuce and blue cheese which lose texture and flavor when frozen. I’d recommend making it fresh, but you can freeze the dressing if you want to prep ahead.

Reheating

Since it’s best served fresh and chilled, I don’t recommend reheating the salad. Just give leftovers a fresh toss with some extra apple slices or toppings to revive it if it’s been sitting in the fridge for a day or two.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make the Festive Cranberry Apple Salad with Blue Cheese Recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can prep most of the ingredients ahead and store them separately but I recommend combining and dressing the salad shortly before serving to keep it crisp and fresh.

What type of apple is best for this salad?

I recommend crisp apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. Their tartness and firm texture really balance nicely with the creamy blue cheese and sweet dried cranberries.

Can I substitute the blue cheese with another cheese?

Absolutely. Feta cheese or goat cheese are good milder alternatives if you don’t care for blue cheese’s strong flavor. Just crumble them up and sprinkle as a topping.

Is this salad suitable for vegans?

The original recipe uses blue cheese and honey, which aren’t vegan. However, you can make it vegan-friendly by swapping the blue cheese for a dairy-free alternative and replacing honey with maple syrup.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Cranberry Apple Salad with Blue Cheese Recipe has a special place on my holiday table because it’s both simple and sophisticated in its flavor and presentation. Every year, it gets requests to be on repeat. Give it a try—and I bet you’ll find yourself looking forward to this crisp, colorful salad as much as I do during the festive season.