Kale Apple Salad Recipe with Cranberries and Pecans

If you think kale salads are tough, bitter, or just plain boring, this Kale Apple Salad is about to change your mind. The secret is simple: massage the kale before adding the other ingredients. It softens the leaves, mellows their bitterness, and creates the perfect base for crisp apples, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy pecans, and fresh vegetables.

The homemade dressing brings everything together with a tangy, slightly sweet flavor that balances the earthy kale and tart apple. The result is a salad that’s crunchy, fresh, colorful, and satisfying enough to serve alongside dinner—or turn into a light lunch with your favorite protein.

Best of all, this Kale Apple Salad is easy to prepare and works beautifully for fall dinners, holiday gatherings, meal prep, and busy weeknights. Keep reading to learn which apples and kale work best, how to massage kale properly, and all my tips for making this salad ahead of time.

Recipe Ingredients

Salad:

• Kale: I love curly kale in this salad recipe, but you can use lacinato kale.
• Apples: Tart and sour green apples balance the sweeter ingredients. Any crisp apple variety such as Honeycrisp can be used!
• Veggies: Celery and cucumber add refreshing crunch.
• Pecans: Coarsely chopped so they can be in each delicious bite.
• Dried cranberries: Sweetened dried cranberries add some color, texture, and sweetness.

Dressing:

• Dijon Mustard
• Dairy-Free Yogurt
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Garlic
• Honey

Measurements for each ingredient, along with instructions for making Kale Apple Salad, are in the printable recipe card below.

Ingredient Substitutions & Variations

Substitutions

These ingredients are flexible, so here are a few ways you can adjust them based on your needs.

• Dairy-Free Yogurt: Use avocado mayo or vegan mayo.
• Veggies: Roasted veggies would be great, like butternut squash or Brussels sprouts, as I use in this warm winter salad.
• Apples: Try sliced pears instead of apples.
• Dried fruit: Raisins, golden raisins, dried blueberries, or even dried cherries would be a great substitute.
• Candied pecans: Use candied pecans for extra crunch and a touch of sugar. You could also use walnuts or almonds instead.

Variations

It’s easy to change up this salad based on what you have in the kitchen. The combination of kale, apple, cranberries, and pecans gives you a great starting point, but you can easily make it your own.

Try some of these simple variations:

• Make it vegan: Replace the honey in the dressing with maple syrup, or swap the dressing for this creamy oil-free almond butter and lime dressing.
• Make it nut-free: Skip the pecans or replace them with roasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
• Add cheese: Crumbled feta, goat cheese, or sharp cheddar add a delicious, savory contrast.
• Change the fruit: Try dried cherries, raisins, or chopped dates instead of cranberries.
• Add more vegetables: Shredded carrots, thinly sliced red onion, roasted butternut squash, or roasted beets. The beets are delicious in this salad and in this holiday quinoa salad.
• Turn it into a meal: Add grilled chicken, chickpeas, tofu, salmon, or another favorite protein.

You can also adjust the dressing to suit your taste. If you like a sweeter salad, add a little extra maple syrup or honey. Prefer more tang? Add another splash of apple cider vinegar.

Print Recipe

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Printable Kale Apple Salad Recipe Card

This kale apple salad is sweet and crunchy with tart green apples, tender massaged kale, sweet dried cranberries, and pecans tied together with a simple tangy dressing.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Dinner, Lunch, Quick & Easy, Salad

Keyword: Kale Apple Salad

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 6 cups kale leaves, chopped and washed
• 1 stalk celery, sliced
• 1 English cucumber, chopped
• 1 green apple, cored and sliced
• ¼ cup pecans, coarsely chopped and toasted (optional)
• ¼ cup dried cranberries

Salad Dressing:

• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp dairy-free yogurt, plain
• ½ tsp sea salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp honey
• 2-3 tbsp water

Instructions

• In a small bowl, mix all of the salad dressing ingredients and set aside.
• Add all of your chopped kale in a large mixing bowl.
• Drizzle in your dressing, then use your hands to gently massage the dressing into the kale leaves for a couple of minutes until the leaves darken a bit and become more tender.
• Add the celery, cucumber, apples, pecans, and cranberries to the kale, then toss lightly to mix all the salad ingredients.
• Serve and enjoy!

Expert Tips

A few simple tricks can make the difference between a good kale salad and a great one. Keep these tips in mind for the best flavor and texture:

• Dry the kale thoroughly: Excess water can dilute the dressing and make the salad soggy.
• Remove tough stems: The stems can be chewy, so strip the leaves from the thick center ribs before chopping.
• Don’t over-massage: Massage the kale just until the leaves soften. Overdoing it can make them mushy.
• Don’t overdress: Start with a little dressing and add more as needed. You want the kale coated, not swimming in dressing.
• Toast the pecans: A few minutes in a dry skillet brings out their natural flavor and makes them extra crunchy.
• Cut the apples and veggies to the same size: Similar-sized pieces make the salad easier to eat and help distribute all the flavors.
• Taste before serving: Give the salad a final taste and adjust the dressing, salt, or acidity as needed.

How to Make Kale Apple Salad

In four simple steps, this kale apple salad is ready to go!

1. In a small bowl, whisk together all the salad dressing ingredients and set aside.
2. Add all the chopped kale to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle in the dressing, then use your hands to massage it into the kale for a few minutes, until the leaves soften a bit.
3. Chop your apples, celery, and cucumbers.
4. Toss everything together with the kale, mix all the salad ingredients evenly, and enjoy.

Make-Ahead Instructions

Kale Apple Salad is an excellent make-ahead salad because kale is much sturdier than delicate greens like lettuce or spinach. In fact, letting the dressed kale sit for a little while can make the leaves even more tender and let the flavors come together, so you can do most of the work ahead of time.

The day before:

• Wash, dry, and chop the kale.
• Prepare the dressing and refrigerate it in a covered container.
• Chop the celery and cucumber.
• Toast the pecans, if desired, and let them cool completely.
• Massage the kale with some or all of the dressing.

Closer to serving:

• Slice the apple.
• Add the cranberries and remaining vegetables.
• Toss everything together.
• Add the pecans toward the end if you want them to stay especially crunchy.
• Taste and add more dressing, salt, or acidity if needed.

For the freshest texture, I’d prepare the kale and dressing ahead but add the apple and pecans shortly before serving. That gives you the convenience of a make-ahead salad while keeping those ingredients crisp and crunchy.

How to Turn It Into a Complete Meal

This Kale Apple Salad is the perfect fall salad recipe, and it can be served as a year-round side dish! But it’s also easy to turn it into a filling lunch or light dinner by adding a source of protein and a few hearty ingredients.

Try adding grilled chicken, chickpeas, or tofu served on top of the salad. Mix in quinoa or farro for extra heartiness, and toss in some roasted sweet potatoes that work beautifully with the apples and cranberries.

Crumbling some cheese over the salad is a perfect finish that adds a creamy touch. Try feta or goat cheese for a delicious addition to this sweet and savory salad.

I love it during the holidays along with this romaine pear salad .

Kale Apple Salad FAQs

For more questions or comments about this kale apple salad recipe, write to us below!

Do I have to massage kale?

Massaging kale isn’t absolutely necessary, but it makes a big difference in the salad’s texture. Gently rubbing the leaves with the dressing for a minute or two helps soften the kale and makes it less tough and bitter.

Can I use spinach instead of kale?

You can use spinach if you prefer a more delicate, tender green. Baby spinach works especially well, but there’s no need to massage it since the leaves are already soft; keep in mind that spinach won’t hold up quite as well as kale if you’re making the salad ahead.

Can I make this vegan?

A simple swap makes this salad vegan: replace the honey in the dressing with an equal amount of maple syrup. The rest of the ingredients are plant-based, so you can enjoy the same sweet and tangy flavor without using honey.

Closing Out

I created this Kale Apple Salad to give you an easy salad recipe that you’ll actually look forward to eating. The combination of tender massaged kale, crisp apples, sweet cranberries, crunchy pecans, and tangy dressing gives you plenty of flavor and texture in every bite.

If you’re making it ahead, keep the salad chilled and add the ingredients that you want to stay extra crisp just before serving. You can also easily make it your own with a different apple, another type of nut, or added protein like chicken, chickpeas, or tofu.

Whether you’re serving it as a simple weeknight side, bringing it to a holiday dinner, or preparing it for lunch, this Kale Apple Salad is an easy recipe worth keeping in your rotation. Give it a try, and don’t skip the kale massage—it’s the step that makes all the difference!

Keep In Touch

If you love a fresh and satisfying salad recipe, let us know your thoughts on this recipe! Did you make any tweaks or serve it up in a fun, new way? Inspire other readers and write to us in the comments.