Best Snickers Salad Recipe (Creamy Caramel Treat)

Snickers Salad is the ultimate dessert salad—a delightful combination of sweet and tangy flavors! Made with creamy vanilla pudding, crisp apples, luscious caramel sauce, fluffy Cool Whip, and chunks of Snickers candy bars, this treat is perfect for any occasion and will be loved by everyone!

Snickers Salad

Before you think I’m a little bit crazy for putting candy bars into a fruit salad, hear me out: this is the tangiest, crispest, creamiest, most delicious thing on the planet!

The combination of flavors tastes just like a candy apple – only better!

Snickers Salad goes by many names.

Some folks call it Snickers Apple Salad or Snickers Caramel Apple Salad, while others might call it a Candy Bar Salad or even a Candy Bar Apple Salad.

No matter what you call it—Snickers Fruit Salad, Caramel Apple Snickers Salad, or simply an Easy Dessert Salad—this delicious recipe will have everyone asking how to make it!

What Is Snickers Salad?

Snickers Salad is made with bite-sized pieces of Snickers bars, chopped tart apples, and a creamy pudding mixture of instant vanilla pudding mix and Cool Whip or another whipped topping.

It’s an easy dessert salad that’s one of those favorite recipes you’ll reach for, especially during apple season!

Why You’ll Love Snickers Salad

• Perfect for sharing: This Snickers apple salad recipe is great to bring to any type of gathering or potluck. It’s sweet, creamy, and full of fun flavors that make it a standout sweet side dish or dessert.
• Easy dessert recipe: With simple ingredients, it comes together in no time. You can even have your kids make it (Wait! maybe not, they’ll eat it all!)
• Great for apple season: This recipe celebrates the fresh apples that shine during the fall. You can even mix a variety of apples for the perfect combination.
• Classic and nostalgic: This snickers caramel apple salad brings back memories of Ambrosia Salad and Watergate Salad, but with a modern twist. 

Ingredients for Snickers Salad

• Instant vanilla pudding mix: Vanilla pudding helps make this dessert salad nice and creamy.
• Milk: Whole milk works best here. It helps the pudding set just right without becoming too thin. Don’t use less milk—you’ll want the texture to be smooth and velvety.
• Cool Whip: Cool Whip works best for this. I’ve tried using homemade whipped cream and it was too runny.
• Granny Smith Apples: These crunchy apples are the best part, especially when paired with the sweetness of the candy bars. Stick with tart Granny Smith apples for the best results.
• Snickers candy bars: Chop up bite-sized pieces of full-sized Snickers bars.
• Caramel sauce: You can use my homemade caramel sauce recipe or grab a store-bought jar.

The Best Apples For Snickers Salad

Here’s a list of less sweet apples that work beautifully in Snickers Salad, starting with the classic choice:

1. Granny Smith – Tart and crisp, these are the perfect apples for this recipe. I always opt for these apples when making this salad!
2. Braeburn – These are just the right mix of tart and sweet, and they hold up nicely in the salad without getting mushy.
3. Crispin (Mutsu) – Firm and mildly tart, they’re perfect if you like a good crunch in every bite.
4. Jonagold – A little tart, a little sweet, and just right for adding balance to the mix.
5. Empire – Slightly tart and juicy, these give the salad a fresh flavor that’s not too sweet.
6. McIntosh – Softer and a touch tart, they’re a good choice if you like a mix of textures.
7. Honeycrisp – They’re a bit sweeter, but the crispness and light tartness make them a great option if you want some balance.
8. Pink Lady (Cripps Pink) – These are sweeter than Granny Smith, but that little bit of tartness still works beautifully in the salad.

For the best results, stick to apples with a good crunch and a tart flavor to balance the rich, creamy sweetness of the salad!

How To Make Snickers Salad

Whisk the vanilla pudding mix and milk in a large bowl until it is smooth and creamy.

Stir half the caramel sauce, and then fold in the Cool Whip.

Core and dice all but one of the apples. Set the remaining apple aside.

Dice the Snickers Bar into ½-inch pieces.

Fold the diced apples and Snickers. Mix well, then cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Top with remaining diced apple and Snickers, and drizzle with remaining caramel sauce before serving.

Want to make your own caramel sauce? My caramel sauce recipe is AMAZING and easy to make.

Recipe Tips

• Pudding: Make sure you’re using vanilla pudding powder. The kind that comes in a box. Ready-to-eat vanilla pudding won’t work in this recipe.
• Cool Whip: If your Cool Whip is frozen, pop the container in the fridge the night before, so it is perfectly thawed when you’re ready to use it.
• Make Ahead: Toss the diced apple with lemon juice or citrus soda if you’re making this Snickers Salad recipe ahead of time, so the apples don’t brown.
• Garnish: Save some Snickers and apple pieces for garnishing the top of the salad.

Variations

Feel free to experiment with this salad and see what other delicious combinations of ingredients you can come up with! Here are my suggestions:

• Change up the apples, or swap the apples for bananas, strawberries, pears, or blueberries.
• Use a different pudding flavor – there are no wrong answers here, try something new!
• Try the salad with other candy bars – use all your favorites!
• Swap the caramel sauce for chocolate sauce, butterscotch, or even strawberry syrup.

Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for about a day. The apples will start to turn brown if you leave this salad for too long, so it’s best eaten fresh.

Other Delicious Sides

• Grape Salad
• Red, White, and Blue Fruit Salad
• BLT Pasta Salad
• Jalapeno Popper Dip
• Best Deviled Eggs