Whenever this Snickers salad recipe appears in a post, someone gets indignant that it is called a salad. "All that sugar!" they cry. You'll probably find it at any picnic or potluck in the Midwest. But is it a salad, or is it a dessert?
Snicker salad
That, my friend, depends on two things: one, the eye of the beholder, and two, where the hostess places it on the groaning food tables. Is it with the hot dishes, or is it with the desserts? It's entirely up to you!
Out here in the Midwest, we do love our sweet salads, like Frog Eye Salad, Watergate Salad, Glorified Rice, or orange fluff salad. Kids love them! But if a "salad" with whipped topping and candy bars as a key ingredient offends you, move it down to the dessert table if that makes you happy.
Wherever you decide this dish should reside on the buffet is completely up to you, but if you take a Snickers salad to a potluck, you'll come home with an empty bowl!
How Do You Want To Make Your Very Own Snickers Salad
It's difficult to track down the origin of the original Snicker salad recipe, but it's highly likely it was born in the kitchen of a Midwestern woman, quite possibly for a potluck at the Lutheran church. (I can say that with authority because I was raised Lutheran in Iowa.)
“The recipe for Snickers salad was included in a 2009 article “Salads worthy of a church picnic” in The Indianapolis Star. The author noted that “Despite what all my community and church cookbooks would say, I don’t think anything with marshmallows can really be called a salad.”
Traditionally, Snickers salad starts with instant vanilla pudding mixed with a very small amount of milk. Then, that mixture is folded into a tub of whipped topping or real whipped cream. Unpeeled Granny Smith apples are chopped and folded into the creamy mixture, along with marshmallows and five or six full-size Snickers bars cut into small pieces.
Snickers salad ingredients
I’ll give you what I think is the original recipe here, but you can decide how you want to make it yourself. Over time, we deleted the milk and folded the dry instant pudding mix into the whipped topping. Then, the chopped apples and Snickers bars are folded into the creamy mixture.
You do not HAVE to use Granny Smith apples, but it really is a beautiful combination of colors. You can use any firm, crisp apples you have on hand. This time I used Honeycrisp, but Ambrosia, Jazz, Braeburn, or Cosmic Crisp all make excellent Snickers salad.
Chopped Honeycrisp apples
Variations On Snickers Salad Make It Your Way
Feel free to modify your Snickers salad depending on what you have on hand and what your family likes! This salad serves a crowd- expect to get eight or more servings from this recipe.
One of our daughters skips the pudding entirely and uses a can of crushed pineapple in hers. The other daughter adds red grapes, and that’s how her kids like it! Some people use cheesecake jello; some people add more peanuts. Feel free to “do your own thing” when you make Snicker salad!
When I made it this time, I saved one Snickers bar for garnish and added a drizzle of caramel topping and a handful of chopped peanuts. I know what you're thinking: "Wow! Now it's really more of a dessert!" We still call it Snickers salad!
"Garnished" Snickers salad in a glass serving bowl
If you can't bring yourself to take this "salad" to an event, here are two excellent options with no mayonnaise or whipped topping that are great for picnics and potlucks! Amazing Sauerkraut Salad and Danish Style Cucumber Salad!
FAQ's About Snickers Salad
Why is it called a salad?
I can only tell you it's a Midwest tradition that defies explanation.
How can I lighten it up?
You can use sugar-free instant pudding and light Cool Whip. You could cut down on the number of Snickers bars, but risk complaints.
Can I make it ahead?
You can make it a day ahead, but no longer; this salad is best when made on the day you plan to serve it. I will keep it in the refrigerator for two to three days, and it will still taste good, but the apples will soften and turn slightly brown.
Can I freeze this "salad"?
Freezing is not recommended; the mixture will weep and separate.
This salad serves a crowd- expect to get eight or more servings from this recipe.
This recipe may be the original for a favorite Midwestern salad made with whipped topping, pudding, diced apples, and chopped Snickers bars. This "salad" could easily be a dessert.
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Ingredients
6 small unpeeled Granny Smith apples, cored and diced
6 full-size Snickers bars, chopped
One 3-ounce instant vanilla pudding mix
½ cup whole milk
One 8-ounce tub of defrosted Cool Whip*
About one cup of miniature marshmallows
½ cup ready-to-use liquid caramel topping for garnish, optional
1/2 cu chopped salted peanuts for garnish, optional
Instructions
Prepare the pudding according to package instructions, using only ½ cup of whole milk.
Gently mix the whipped topping with the pudding.
Stir in the apples, chopped Snickers, and marshmallows.
Add garnish if desired
Refrigerate at least an hour before serving.
Notes
*Or whip 1 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream instead of whipped topping.
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2 comments on “How To Make Everyone's Favorite Snickers Salad”
This would totally be my dessert! As far as using the crockpot, my first choice always is a pot roast. There's really no recipe for mine - just a nice meaty roast, some potatoes and carrots (peeled and chunked) first in the pot and then add the roast on top. I sprinkle on some salt and pepper along with paprika and then 2-3 cups of beef stock that gets poured around the roast. I let it cook on medium all day long. The aroma is heavenly and the meat gets SO tender and fall-apart good. Any leftovers get made into vegetable soup.
You are totally making me hungry! That sounds amazing- We have a couple of busy weeks coming up- so I will make that this week! Thank you- and yes, Snickers salad is really more of a dessert! LOL
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This would totally be my dessert! As far as using the crockpot, my first choice always is a pot roast. There's really no recipe for mine - just a nice meaty roast, some potatoes and carrots (peeled and chunked) first in the pot and then add the roast on top. I sprinkle on some salt and pepper along with paprika and then 2-3 cups of beef stock that gets poured around the roast. I let it cook on medium all day long. The aroma is heavenly and the meat gets SO tender and fall-apart good. Any leftovers get made into vegetable soup.
You are totally making me hungry! That sounds amazing- We have a couple of busy weeks coming up- so I will make that this week! Thank you- and yes, Snickers salad is really more of a dessert! LOL