Don’t let the word “salad” fool you: this sweet and tart confection is a creamy, chunky, dreamy dessert!
Have you ever heard the phrase “word salad”? It refers to a mix of random words and phrases that, when uttered as a unit, appear to lack any coherent meaning. You could say the same about “taffy apple salad”, a concoction of ingredients that may not seem to belong together and certainly don’t seem to be a salad, but after one bite, it will all make delicious sense.
The taffy apple is a Midwestern name for a caramel apple, a popular item associated with autumn and often sold at fairs. It features an apple—usually a Granny Smith—covered in melted caramel and sometimes coated with chopped peanuts. The origin of this delectable treat is debatable: some attribute the creation of the taffy apple to an employee of the Kraft Food Company in the 1950s, who was experimenting with caramels that were leftover from Halloween, but another claim is that Mrs. Edna Kastrup created the taffy apple for her family’s Chicago-based company, Affy Tapple, in 1948.
Whatever the origin, the caramel-covered apple was so popular that people started to create dishes based on its sweet-and-tart flavor combination; one of those evolutions is the taffy apple salad, which features chopped apples and peanuts in a custard-like sauce that gets its sweetness from pineapple juice and sugar, and some tang from white vinegar. But wait: there’s much, much more flavor and texture going on here. This scrumptious salad also includes crushed pineapple, mini-marshmallows, whipped topping, and for caramelly goodness and more peanuty crunch: chopped up Snickers bars!
Tips for perfect taffy apple salad
Our first tip is: plan ahead. Both Steps 1 and 3 in the instructions call for chilling time in the fridge, from eight hours to overnight. And while you can serve taffy apple salad as soon as you’ve combined the pineapple and mini-marshmallow mix with the sauce, apples, peanuts, and Snickers, the salad will taste even better if you chill the completed dish for a bit longer so all of the flavors can meld. When choosing the best type of apple for taffy apple salad, you can let your personal preferences guide you. Our recipe calls for tart apples, such as Granny Smith, Pink Lady, or Braeburn; but if you like more sweetness, Gala or Fuji apples are yummy in taffy apple salad, too. Can’t decide? How about a mix of both tart and sweet?
How do I store leftovers?
Store taffy apple salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days (it can begin to get watery after that).
Serving suggestions
Taffy apple salad is the perfect dessert for dinners that feature autumn flavors, such as Delicious Roast Pork Loin with Butternut Squash Mac And Cheese and The Best Spiced Vanilla Homemade Applesauce. But you don’t have to save this treat for fall! Celebrate the pineapple and the apple in this dessert with a dinner featuring Hawaiian Meatballs over Baked Rice and an Apple-Walnut Salad, and then complete this yummy meal with taffy apple salad (drizzled with Homemade Caramel Sauce).
Taffy Apple Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups miniature marshmallows
- 1 can crushed pineapple chunks (15 ounces), drained, reserve the juice
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg beaten
- 4 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted roasted peanuts
- 4 Snickers candy bars cut into bite-sized pieces
- 8-ounce container whipped topping thawed
- 2 tart apples peeled, cored, and chopped
- Caramel sauce for topping (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir together the miniature marshmallows and pineapple chunks. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- In a small saucepan, whisk together the reserved pineapple juice, sugar, beaten egg, vinegar, and flour. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens.
- Transfer the sauce to a bowl, cover, and chill for at least 8 hours or overnight. The next day, combine the chilled fruit mixture with the chilled sauce in a large serving bowl.
- Carefully fold in the peanuts, Snickers, whipped topping, and chopped apples until well mixed, reserving some candy or nuts for garnish if you like. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Before serving, drizzle with caramel sauce and add other toppings of your choice for garnish, if desired.
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