It’s apple season! This Snickers Caramel Apple Salad will be perfect for your next fall gathering! A rich vanilla pudding mixture is paired with chunks of tart apple and Snickers before being topped with a caramel drizzle. An easy dessert recipe or a sweet salad? You choose!
Snickers Apple Salad is a sweet treat combining candy bars, fruit, and creamy pudding. This unique dessert features caramel, chocolate, and fresh apples. You can easily make this tasty dish for potlucks, family gatherings, or as a special treat at home.
I call this easy recipe a “candy bar salad,” but it can also be served as a dessert. Its textures and flavors make it a hit with kids and adults. You can customize it with different apple types or add extra nuts for crunch.
Simple Ingredients Needed
This sweet and savory salad combines candy bars, fruit, and creamy elements. Six key ingredients are needed to make this tasty treat.
Snickers Bars
Snickers bars are the star of this salad. Chop them into small pieces. The chocolate, nougat, and caramel blend perfectly with the other ingredients. Use regular-sized bars rather than fun-size or king-size.
For best results, chill the Snickers before cutting. This helps prevent them from melting or becoming too sticky. You can chop them by hand or pulse them briefly in a food processor. Aim for bite-sized pieces about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in size.
Tart Apples
Granny Smith apples work best for this recipe. The tart flavor of these green apples balances the sweetness of the other ingredients. You’ll need to core and chop the crisp apples into small cubes.
Leave the skin on for added color and texture. To prevent browning, toss the chopped apples with lemon juice.
Whipped Topping
Whipped topping adds a light, fluffy texture to the salad.
Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix
Vanilla instant pudding mix thickens the salad and adds flavor.
Choose regular vanilla pudding, not sugar-free or cook-and-serve varieties. One small box (about 3.4 ounces) is usually enough for a standard recipe.
Milk
Whole milk works best, but you can use 2%. The milk helps create a creamy texture without making the salad too runny.
Caramel Sauce
Caramel sauce adds an extra layer of sweetness and flavor. You can use store-bought caramel ice cream topping or make your own. Look for a thick sauce that will hold its shape when drizzled.
Warm the caramel slightly before adding it to the salad. This makes it easier to mix in evenly. You can drizzle some on top as a garnish, too. The caramel complements the flavors of the Snickers bars and apples.
Step-By-Step Directions (Full Printable Recipe Card Down Below!)
Chopping the Ingredients
Start by washing and drying your apples. Cut them into bite-sized chunks, about 1/2-inch pieces. Don’t peel the apples—the skin adds color and nutrients.
Chop the Snickers bars into small pieces. Bite-size pieces ensure you get a bit of candy in every bite without overwhelming the salad. Set aside.
Mixing the Pudding Base
In a large bowl, whisk together the vanilla pudding mix and milk. Mix until smooth with no lumps. This takes about 2 minutes of steady whisking.
Fold in the whipped topping. Use a spatula to incorporate it gently into the pudding. Be careful not to overmix—you want to keep the light, fluffy texture.
Save a cup of the chopped apples, and one chopped Snickers bar. Set aside.
Combining Everything
Add the chopped apples and chopped Snickers to your pudding mixture. Fold them in gently to coat each piece with the creamy base.
Refrigerate Before Serving
Cover the salad with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the pudding to set slightly.
Before serving, transfer to a serving bowl. Top with remaining apples and Snickers. Drizzle the caramel sauce over the top. I hope you enjoy this Apple Snickers Salad Recipe!
Helpful Tips
- Do not garnish if you’re going to store this salad. Only garnish when ready to serve. This salad is best served the day you make it. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. If you store it for too long, the chocolate breaks down, making it look hideous, although it is still tasty. Do not freeze.
- You can adjust the amount and type of apples and candy bars in your salad. It’s a fun recipe to customize!
- If you want a richer taste, use cheesecake-flavored pudding instead of vanilla.
- This salad is not traditionally served with the apples peeled. However, if you don’t like the apple peel, peeling the apples before adding them will be fine.
Variations Of Classic Snickers Caramel Apple Salad Recipe
Here are a few variations you might enjoy!
Fruit Variations
While apples are classic, you can mix them up with other fruits. Try pears for a similar crunch and sweetness. Add sliced bananas for extra creaminess.
Berries work well, too. Strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries add color and tartness. For a tropical twist, use chunks of pineapple or mango.
If fresh fruit isn’t available, you can also use canned fruit. Drained mandarin oranges or fruit cocktails are good choices.
You can mix and match fruits to create a unique blend. Just keep the total amount of fruit the same as in the original recipe.
Chocolate Options
Snickers bars are my go-to, but other candy bars work, too. Try Milky Way for a softer caramel taste. Twix, with its cookie center, adds extra crunch.
Use Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or Butterfinger bars for a nutty boost. They pair well with the apples and caramel.
Dark chocolate lovers can use chopped dark chocolate bars. This adds richness and less sweetness.
You can skip the candy bars and use chocolate chips, mini M&Ms, or cocoa nibs instead. These give you chocolate flavor in smaller, more evenly distributed pieces.
Check Out More OF My Delicious Recipes!
- Fall Recipes, Crafts & More
- Chocolate Caramel Apples
- Easy Apple Cobbler
- Apple Cider Cupcakes
- Apple Crumble (My favorite apple dessert!)
- Delicious Apple Bundt Cake
- Ambrosia Salad
Snickers Caramel Apple Salad
Snickers bars and crisp apple chunks are folded into a creamy vanilla pudding mixture and topped with caramel sauce. So easy and so good!
Ingredients
- 4 ½ Regular Sized Green Apples (Granny Smith)
- 5 Regular Sized Snickers Bars
- 1 3.4-Ounce Box Vanilla Pudding
- 1 ¾ Cups Whole Milk
- 8 Ounces Whipped Topping
- ¼ Cup Caramel Sauce
Instructions
- Wash, core, and chop apples into bite-sized pieces—do not peel them. Chop the Snickers into bite-sized pieces. Set both aside.
- Combine the pudding and milk in a medium mixing bowl and whisk until thickened (about 2 minutes).
- Add the whipped topping to the pudding and stir until thoroughly combined.
- Save a cup of the chopped apple and add the rest to the pudding bowl.
- Save one chopped Snickers bar and add the rest of the chopped Snickers to the pudding bowl.
- Fold the apple and Snickers pieces into the pudding mixture until evenly distributed.
- Chill the mixture for at least an hour before serving.
- When you’re ready to serve the salad, place it in a serving bowl, top it with the remaining chopped apple and Snickers, and drizzle the caramel sauce evenly over the top. Enjoy!
Notes
- Do not garnish if you’re going to store this salad. Only garnish when ready to serve. I would not store this salad for longer than two days, in the fridge, in an airtight container. The chocolate breaks down and makes it look hideous, although still tasty. Do not freeze.
- You can adjust the amount and type of apples and candy bars in your salad. It’s a fun recipe to customize!Â
- If you want a richer taste, use cheesecake-flavored pudding instead of vanilla.
- This salad is not traditionally served with the apples peeled. However, if you don’t like the apple peel, peeling the apples before adding them will be fine.
Nutrition Information
Yield
10Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 326Total Fat 15gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 8mgSodium 144mgCarbohydrates 45gFiber 3gSugar 38gProtein 4g
