Snickers Salad is a retro dessert mixing diced Snickers bars and chopped apples in a creamy vanilla pudding and whipped topping. Yes–it’s not really a “salad,” but a fun dessert!
Love a good dessert fluff salad? Try some other favorites like this Oreo Fluff, Raspberry Fluff, Orange Fluff Salad, Grape Salad, Watergate Salad, or Ambrosia Salad!
Snickers Apple Salad
Yes, this isn’t really a salad–it’s a dessert combining a mix of chopped Snickers bars, Granny Smith apples, vanilla pudding, and whipped cream.
But since it technically does have some fruit in it and gets tossed together in a salad bowl, it’s perfectly acceptable to pile it high on our dinner plates right alongside the Roasted Vegetables and Crockpot Turkey Breast. At least that’s how it goes where I’m from! 🙂
Note: Snickers® is a trademarked product name for a type of candy bar.
Snickers Salad Origin
I hear you: you’re asking, “What is Snickers Salad?” Well, it’s not totally clear where this salad originated. That said, if you attend a church or community picnic/potluck in the Midwest, there is a good chance you’ll find a “salad” like this that satisfies your sweet tooth!
At a potluck, these salads are usually served alongside other comfort-food-type casseroles (also called hot dishes) like Funeral Potatoes or Chicken Poppy Seed Casserole. So no matter how sweet, if it’s served on the same table as these hot dishes, you can bet it’s part of the main course!
Snickers Salad Ingredients
We make Snickers Salad with pudding instead of cream cheese– which is how we like it best! If you’d prefer to make a Snickers Salad with cream cheese, use an 8-ounce block of cream cheese as a replacement for the pudding and milk. Beat it with a hand mixer until smooth and then gradually fold in the whipped cream.
- Snickers bars. Yes, the candy bar! Grab full-sized or fun-sized bars and dice ’em into small pieces.
- Granny Smith apples. This is the traditional apple to use in this salad since it pairs so nicely with the caramel in the Snickers bars. These apples are tart which helps to balance the sweetness of the salad.
- Vanilla pudding mix. I recommend the Jell-O® brand here. Make sure to get the smaller (3.4 ounces) box, not the 5.6-ounce package. Stick to the regular vanilla pudding mix instead of the sugar-free kind, and use the instant pudding, not the cook-and-serve type.
Ingredients, Continued
- Milk. Don’t follow directions on the pudding mix–only add 1 cup of milk here. 1%, 2%, and whole milk all work great here.
- Frozen whipped topping. Make sure your frozen whipped topping (lite, sugar-free, or original) is fully thawed before using it in Snickers Salad. If it’s partially frozen, it won’t mix properly. Want to make your own whipped topping? Check out the “quick tip” box below!
Quick Tip
To make homemade whipped topping using heavy cream check out this recipe for How to Make Whipped Cream.
Snickers Salad Toppings
To finish off this Snickers Salad, I love adding a few toppings. These are optional, but they make the treat look and taste even better!
- Top with sSome of the diced Snickers bars (reserved from the salad).
- Heath® milk chocolate English toffee baking bits add a nice crunch and complementary flavors.
- Add a drizzle of caramel sauce (either homemade or store-bought).
Use Leftover Granny Smith Apples:
- Apple Crumble with a thick crumble topping
- Apple Bread Recipe with grated apples
- The best ever Apple Pie with a homemade Pie Crust Recipe
- Apple Crumble Bars with caramel
- Easy Apple Nachos
Snickers Salad
Equipment
- Large bowl
Ingredients
- 1 (3.4-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix see note 1
- 1 cup whole milk or 1% or 2%
- 1 (8-ounce) container frozen whipped topping like Cool Whip, fully thawed
- 4 Granny Smith apples diced
- Club soda if making ahead of time, optional
- 5 full-sized Snickers candy bars or similar chocolate-nougat-nut candy bar
- Caramel sauce optional topping
- Toffee bits optional topping
Instructions
- Unwrap and dice the candy bars to bite-sized pieces. Set aside 1/3 cup of the diced Snickers bars (for topping later). Then, dice the apples (no need to peel). If making ahead of time, toss apples in club soda and pat dry to prevent browning.
- In a large bowl, briskly whisk together the vanilla pudding and milk until smooth and creamy. Use a spatula to fold in the thawed whipped topping until smooth and combined.
- Add the cut Snickers and apples to the bowl. Gently stir through and chill, covered tightly, for 30 minutes or until ready to serve. Gently stir again before serving.
- Smooth the top of the fluff, and if desired, garnish (right before serving) with reserved Snickers pieces, a sprinkle of crushed toffee, and a drizzle (3–4 tablespoons) of caramel sauce. Serve promptly.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
