Snickers apple salad is a no-bake dessert salad that mixes chopped Granny Smith apples, Snickers candy bars, vanilla pudding, and Cool Whip into a creamy, sweet, crunchy bowl of nostalgia. Drizzle caramel sauce on top right before serving.
It takes ten minutes, needs no oven, and the bowl comes back empty every time. That is the kind of recipe I want in my back pocket when I need something fast.
Why This Snickers Apple Salad Works
- Granny Smith apples, not Red Delicious. Tart apples cut through the sweetness of the Snickers and the pudding. Red Delicious or Pink Lady apples add a pop of color if you want to mix them in, but Granny Smiths carry the flavor. Dice them small, about half-inch pieces, so every spoonful gets apple and candy bar together.
- Toss the apples in lemon juice. The second you cut an apple it starts to brown. A quick toss in a little lemon juice keeps the salad looking fresh, even made a few hours ahead.
- Instant vanilla pudding and Cool Whip make the base. Whisk the pudding mix with milk until smooth, then fold in the Cool Whip. That is it. No gelatin. No baking. No stovetop. The pudding thickens the Cool Whip into a creamy coating that clings to the apples and Snickers.
- Fun-size Snickers bars are easier to chop. Full-size bars work fine, but the fun-size ones are already smaller and take fewer cuts. Chop them into bite-sized pieces. The caramel, nougat, peanuts, and chocolate all mix into the salad differently and you get a little bit of everything in each bite.
- Caramel sauce goes on last. Drizzle it across the top right before serving. If you stir it in too early, it disappears into the pudding mixture. The drizzle on top is what people see when they walk up to the buffet table.
How to Make Snickers Apple Salad
- In a large bowl, whisk the instant vanilla pudding mix and milk together until smooth. Fold in the Cool Whip until fully combined and creamy.
- Peel if you want to, then core and chop the apples into small, bite-sized pieces. Toss the chopped apples in a small amount of lemon juice to prevent browning.
- Chop the Snickers bars into bite-sized pieces.
- Add the apples and Snickers to the pudding mixture. Gently stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. At least 30 minutes, but a few hours is even better.
- Drizzle caramel sauce over the top right before serving.
Quick Tips
- Use Granny Smith apples. The tartness cuts the sweetness.
- Toss apples in lemon juice. It stops them from browning.
- Fun-size Snickers are faster to chop.
- Chill before serving. The pudding and Cool Whip mixture sets up better cold.
- Drizzle caramel sauce at the last minute. It stays visible on top.
Make Ahead and Storage
Make the salad a few hours ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator. The apples stay crisp and the pudding mixture firms up.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It is best the next day. The apples soften a little but the flavor holds.
More No-Bake Desserts
For another quick fruit dessert, try my quick and delicious fruit dip. My no bake chocolate lasagna is a no-bake layered classic that feeds a crowd.
📖 Recipe
Snickers Apple Salad
Ingredients
- 1 3.4 oz box instant vanilla pudding mix
- ¾ cup whole milk
- 1 8 oz tub Cool Whip
- 3 large Granny apples - chopped
- 2 large red apples - chopped
- 5 fun-size Snickers bars - chopped
- Caramel sauce - for topping
Instructions
- Whisk the pudding mix and milk in a large bowl until smooth.
- Fold in the Cool Whip until combined.
- Stir in the chopped apples and Snickers bars.
- Cover and chill until ready to serve.
- Drizzle with caramel sauce before serving.
Notes
- Toss chopped apples in lemon juice to prevent browning.
- Use Granny Smith apples. The tartness balances the sweet candy bars.
- Chill at least 30 minutes before serving. A few hours is better.
- Drizzle caramel sauce on top right before serving.
- Store leftovers in the fridge. Best eaten the next day.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
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Let us know how it was!Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
