{"id":7065234,"date":"2026-09-23T23:21:55","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T23:21:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/cranberry-waldorf-salad-recipe-no-grapes\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T23:21:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T23:21:55","slug":"cranberry-waldorf-salad-recipe-no-grapes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7065234","title":{"rendered":"Cranberry Waldorf Salad Recipe (No Grapes)"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Give the well-loved classic a fall makeover with my Cranberry Waldorf Salad (No Grapes)<\/strong>. Dried cranberries replace the more typical raisins, adding a brighter, tarter note against crisp apples, celery, and chopped pecans.<\/p>\n

Did you know that the original Waldorf salad had no grapes in it? That\u2019s right. The original, created by Oscar Tschirky in the 1890s at New York\u2019s Waldorf Hotel, was nothing more than apples, celery, and mayonnaise. The grapes and nuts that everyone thinks are essential were added years later.<\/p>\n

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The version I grew up with in south Georgia never had grapes either, but it did have raisins. My mother\u2019s version (and her mother\u2019s and grandmother\u2019s as well) consists of apples, celery, raisins, and pecans, with a little mayonnaise. We had it often because it was easy to make, everyone enjoyed it, and Mama almost always had the ingredients on hand.<\/p>\n

Of course, the pecans were a given. In south Georgia, pecans are a big money crop, and pecan trees grow everywhere. Nearly everyone\u2019s yard has several trees, and picking up the nuts in the fall was a childhood chore. Some of us were even allowed to carry them to a local ag business to sell for pocket money.<\/p>\n

My one change to Mama\u2019s recipe is the dried cranberries in place of raisins. I first added them on a whim because the two are so alike in texture, and it worked out great. Even though cranberries are a little brighter and more tart than raisins, either one works here. For the classic recipe that my family always made, just swap the raisins back in.<\/p>\n

This is a creamy fruit salad with a sweet-tart flavor. It\u2019s good for family dinner or as a side dish on your holiday table. If you like this type of salad, you\u2019ll also enjoy my carrot and dried cranberry salad<\/a>, which has the same creamy-crunchy balance.<\/p>\n

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Recipe Snapshot: Cranberry Waldorf Salad (No Grapes)<\/h2>\n
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Prep Time:<\/strong> 15 minutes
Cook Time:<\/strong> None
Total Time:<\/strong> 15 minutes
Servings:<\/strong> 4
Cuisine:<\/strong> American<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Cooking Method: <\/strong>None
Primary Ingredients:<\/strong> Apples, celery, pecans, dried cranberries, mayonnaise
Skill Level:<\/strong> Easy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING \u2026<\/h3>\n

\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never eaten Waldorf Salad before, but I just had to try this one. And it is delicious. It\u2019s going to be a favorite in our house from now on.\u201d<\/em>
\u2014 Melanie<\/h3>\n

\u201cI love Waldorf\u2026 now you got me thinking\u2026 cranberries, cherries, blueberries\u2026 yummy\u201d<\/em>
\u2014 Kathy<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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What Makes This Recipe Special<\/h2>\n

This is my slightly updated version of the Waldorf salad I grew up with in south Georgia: crisp apples and celery, chopped pecans, and dried cranberries, with just enough mayonnaise folded in to hold it together.<\/p>\n

The cranberries set this version apart from the salad most people know. They\u2019re a little brighter and more tart than raisins, and they contrast nicely with the crunch of the apples and pecans. The whole salad comes together in about 15 minutes with no cooking at all.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Ingredient Notes<\/h2>\n
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This post may contain affiliate links. Lana\u2019s Cooking is reader-supported and earns a tiny commission at no extra cost to you when you shop from our links.<\/p>\n