Apple Brie Salad

This Apple Brie Salad is a show-stopper! Plus, it's quick, easy, sweet + savory. You and your guests will love the contrasting flavors and textures. Perfect for the fall and winter holidays.

This Apple Brie Salad is a gorgeous, vibrant addition to any menu, bursting with crispy apple slices, creamy brie, crunchy candied pecans and citrusy orange-flavored dried cranberries with a homemade apricot balsamic vinaigrette. This loaded salad features contrasting flavors and textures that are sure to wow you and your guests. Perfect in the fall for everyday nights and of course, this Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.

If you are looking for more holiday favorites you have to try my Truffle Honey Baked Brie and Ornament Pesto Sun-dried Tomato Cheese Balls. Or serve this salad with a bowl of my Pumpkin Ricotta Pasta for a warm and cozy meal.

Why You'll Love this Recipe

Keeping it Simple - This salad is easy to make with just a few simple steps and its ready in 15 minutes or under.

Showcase Salad -  Such a great salad for Thanksgiving or Christmas. It's stunning and super festive.

So Customizable – The great thing about salads is they are so very customizable. See more on that below, but you can add and subtract just about any ingredient you want and make it your own!

Ingredient Notes

• Mixed Greens - I love the variety using mixed greens but other options could be kale, arugula, or spinach.
• Apples - I love Honeycrisp apples and always have a couple on hand. I love sweetness and crunch from a Honeycrisp. However, Granny Smith apples would give a delicious tartness to the salad. You could also use a Gala, Fuji or Pink Lady.
• Candied Pecans -  Both pecans and walnuts fit in well here. I use a candied pecans because I love the crunch and sweetness. I found a great store-bought brand but you could make your own. Spicy candied pecans could also be a wonderful twist as well if you enjoy a bit of spice.
• Dried Cranberries - Dried cranberries make a wonderful addition to this fall/winter salad. I use an orange flavored dried cranberries because I love the addition citrus that I get from each bite. However, regular dried cranberries work just as well if you can't find orange flavored.
• Brie Cheese -  a small 8-ounce wheel of Brie is all you need for this salad. Camembert would be a good substitute.

Dressing Ingredient Notes

• Olive Oil - We love the flavor of extra virgin olive oil, but a lighter one will work if that’s all you have.
• Apricot Preserves - I like to find a variety without high fructose corn syrup, but use what you like best!
• Balsamic Vinegar - Apple cider vinegar would also work in this recipe.
• Dijon Mustard - A touch of mustard ties it all together and helps the dressing emulsify (so it doesn’t separate).
• Salt + Pepper - to season

Variations

• Use pears in place of the apples
• Substitute feta or goat cheese in place of Brie cheese
• Substitute walnuts or almonds in place of pecans. Can be candied, raw or toasted
• Substitute dried cherries, dried apricots or pomegranate arils in place of dried cranberries

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prep Ingredients - Slice apples thinly either using a knife or a mandolin slicer. Also, cut brie into 8 equal wedges. If you are making homemade candied pecans or nuts, make those now as well.

2. Make Dressing - In a small food processor or handheld blender, add in all ingredients and blend for at least 30 seconds until dressing has been blended together.

3. Assemble Salad - On a platter or in a large bowl, add in mixed greens, sliced apples, candied pecans, dried cranberries and brie. Serve dressing on the side. If you are wanting to pre-toss, toss all ingredients including dressing except for brie. Add brie on top and serve right away.

Expert Tips

• Make it a Meal - If you want to serve this as a main dish, add a sliced grilled chicken breast or salmon for a complete dinner.
• Dividing Brie - Depending on how many people you are serving, I like to serve 1-2 pieces of brie per person. Cutting the brie into 8 pieces could serve 8 people OR 4 people can get 2 wedges of brie cheese. If you are serving 5-6 people, You could just cut the brie into slightly larger wedges so everyone can get a piece. See my next tip.
• This is a Knife & Fork kind of Salad - When serving this salad, make sure knives are available. While the inside of the brie is soft and creamy. The brie rind can be a bit hard to cut through with just a fork. You could of course, slice the brie into much smaller piece but I found the brie cubes would stick together and there is something really elegant about serving the brie in wedges.

Recipe FAQ

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