Snickers Salad might have “salad” in the name, but it’s really a creamy, candy-filled dessert that tastes like a caramel apple sundae. Tart Granny Smith apples balance the sweetness of the Snickers and pudding, making it both refreshing and indulgent.
We love that this no-bake treat is quick AND simple too; ready to dive into in only 10 minutes! It can also be made a day in advance and chilled to make it even quicker. It’s the perfect make-ahead dessert for potlucks, holidays, or casual get-togethers.
If you love this, try other creamy favorites like Ambrosia Salad, Pistachio Salad or Banana Pudding.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Like a caramel apple. If you love the flavors of caramel apples, you’ll love this easy dessert salad!
- Great for outings. Everyone goes nuts for this at potlucks, family get-togethers, BBQs in the summer, or even when celebrating caramel apple weather in the fall.
- It can be made ahead. Make this up to 1 day in advance to save time!
Snickers Salad Ingredients
- Instant vanilla pudding (1 box, 3.4 ounces): The creamy base that ties everything together. Be sure to buy INSTANT vanilla pudding mix. Also, note that when you combine the dry pudding mix with the ½ cup of milk, it will resemble more of a paste texture rather than a soft pudding mixture.
- Milk (½ cup): Helps set the pudding and keep it smooth. We use whole or 2% milk.
- Cool Whip (8 ounces): Adds a light, fluffy texture. We love homemade Whipped Cream, but Cool Whip works great.
- Granny Smith apples (4 large): Tart and crisp, they balance out the sweetness. We prefer the added tartness, but the type entirely depends on your preference. Choose apples that are firm and bruise-free.
- Snickers bars (4–5): The star ingredient, adding caramel, chocolate, and peanut crunch. Try changing the candy bar type to Milky Way, Mars Bars, or Twix.
- Caramel sauce: For drizzling on top and that final sweet touch – homemade Caramel Sauce or from the bottle.
- optional toppings – Chocolate Syrup, mini chocolate chips, or sprinkle with chopped walnuts or pecans
How to Make Snickers Salad
COMBINE. In a large bowl, whisk the milk and the box of instant pudding mix, then fold in the whipped topping.
CUT. Cut up apples and Snickers candy bars into bite-size pieces, and mix the chopped apples and candy pieces in.
TOP. Drizzle Caramel Sauce on top. Serve cold or layer and serve cold.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Do NOT use the cook-n-serve pudding; it will not set, and it will make the salad runnier.
- Fold ingredients gently so the whipped topping stays fluffy.
- Chill before serving to let the flavors come together.
- Change the pudding flavor to white chocolate, cheesecake, or butterscotch pudding for different variations.
- We like using tart granny smith apples to balance out the sweetness of the other ingredients.
Snicker Salad Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (3.4-ounce) box instant vanilla pudding
- ½ cup milk
- 8 ounces cool whip
- 4 large Granny Smith apples
- 4-5 Snickers Bars
- caramel sauce
Instructions
- Mix milk and pudding, then fold in the cool whip.
- Cut up apples and Snickers into bite-size pieces and mix in. Drizzle the caramel sauce on top. Serve cold or layer and serve cold.
Notes
- Do NOT use the cook-n-serve pudding; it will not set, and it will make the salad runnier.
- Change the pudding flavor to white chocolate, cheesecake, or butterscotch pudding for different variations.
- We like using tart granny smith apples to balance out the sweetness of the other ingredients.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Make this up to a day in advance. The coating of the Whipped Cream will help keep the apples from browning, but to be extra cautious, pretreat the apples (with previous suggestions), before mixing up the recipe.
Keep leftovers covered in the fridge for 2-3 days. Over time, the extra moisture from the apples will cause the whipped cream to separate. It is still safe to eat. Give it a good stir or add extra whipped cream to help smooth it out.
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This recipe was originally published June 2014.
could you advise on any change when using sugar free pudding mix, which has same servings but much less mix?
not enough milk. pudding was too stiff and wouldn’t incorporate with the cool whip.
Sorry to hear it wasn’t a hit for you! Thanks for giving it a try though.
That’s too bad! Hopefully, the next recipe you try of mine will be a winner.
This is a quick and easy sweet salad that is perfect for a Halloween/Fall get together!! So yummy.
We talking 4-5 king size snicker bars? Fun size?
Just your standard size Snickers bar.
This dessert wonderful…I used gala apples which worked great and I also added some mini marsh mellows…It was delicious….
Hello, could you substitute the vanilla pudding for a white chocolate or cheese cake flavor?
I love this salad/dessert! I came across it a few years ago while looking for a recipe that could pass as a salad but yet could be put on the dessert table for a family gathering we were planning. This filled the bill! It had the flavor of fresh crisp apples but the sweetness of pudding along with the taste of a caramel apple. What more could you ask for in a recipe?
I am down with dessert as salad. When I was a child, a balanced meal was a hot dog, blue box mac and cheese, and a “salad” made with a box of either jello or pudding. Miss those days.
I’ve made this recipe for years. Many times I only add half the vanilla pudding and substitute the other half with butterscotch pudding…so yummy!! It’s a family favorite. I also freeze the snickers for a few minutes before chopping them. It makes it a lot easier to cut it!
That’s a great suggestion. So glad to hear you love the salad! It’s a great one, isn’t it? 🙂
Very good but did granny and honeycrisp apples, diced and salted. A vanilla and butterscotch pudding with milk, added coolwhip and crushed butterfingers. Excellent
THANK YOU
You’re welcome! Thanks for sharing what you did.
This is a solid recipe. I added about 1/2 C regular fat sour cream. This cut down a bit of the sweetness, but not too much. I tossed the chopped apples in some Ball brand Fruit-Fresh to help prevent browning. Very tasty
Sounds delish!! Thanks for sharing what you did. So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe.
We love this salad and I’ve made it for years however the past couple times making this exact recipe the pudding cool whip mixture is way more runny and not thick like your video is. I’m not sure of the change but tips on how to thicken it once all ingredients are combined would be great.
Hmmm… I would suggest maybe adding a bit more cool whip to help thicken it a bit. Starting with cold ingredients helps too so it doesn’t start melting as you mix. I’m glad to hear you love the salad! Hope this helps.
My daughters best friend was unable to go home to Wisconsin for Christmas due to the weather so she spent the day with us. Food is my love language so I asked if there was something I could make for her. She shared this recipe and everyone loved it. Most importantly, Hannah said it was just like her grandmother’s.
Can make this salad the night before?
Could I use heavy whipping cream instead of milk?
I made this for Thanksgiving dinner- was a hit!! I used 4 SnickersBars and 1 Toffee Bar,was great!! Will beaking again!!
Is it good
Made this tonight to celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day. Added honey roasted peanuts because we had them. Very good!
How fun!! I bet the peanuts were tasty in there. So glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe.
Could I make this early the morning of for a 1:30pm lunch? I was wondering if the apples would brown if it sits that long?
All I can say is WOW!! This is so yummy, everyone loved it and devoured it!
Super loved this, really helpful! Highly recommended! Thanks a lot for this amazing and super easy to make apple snickers salad recipe! It’s really tasty and very flavorful! Will surely have this again!
This salad is totally irresistible! Everyone loved it!
I tried this at a Bridal Shower lady weekend and OMG! It was Amazing! Not too sweet & a bit refreshing! Delicious! Makibg it for the 4th of July this year! Lol unless I eat it before I go!! 😁
Kids LOVE this! Always get rave reviews when I make it.
Yay! So glad to hear that!
Love this salad
So happy to hear it!!
The adds are totally annoying and I skipped your recipe because of it
This is such a yummy salad/dessert! I was in a pinch and needed a quick easy side fruit salad and this was a hit! Everyone loved it! We used Granny Smith apples and the tart with the sweet ingredients was so good! Definitely a go to recipe.
What candy bar can REPLACE snickers? Family member with PEANUT allergy
The possibilities are endless! You can add whatever you like 😉
I usually make it with milky way instead of Snickers because my SIL has a peanut allergy
That’s a great idea for allergies! I bet the Milky Way tastes really yummy too!
A Mars bar is a Snickers bar without peanuts. They also make a Snickers bar with almonds instead of peanuts. Hope this helps 🙂
I took secOnds Because salads are healthy right?
Dessert and salad all in one! Creamy, crunchy and yummy!
Yummy – all my favorites in one! great recipe
Yum! I made this for my family and they absolutely loved it! I will definitely be making this again. Thanks!
OK, this is officially one of my new favorite treats.
This is one of my summer favorites! “I love the idea of adding caramel! Can’t wait to give this a try 🙂
I had no idea that apples & snickers went so well together! Love the crunch & the vanilla pudding adds a delicious creaminess to it.
This combination is sooo delicious! This is a great dessert for any occasion.
Yes, great for anytime! Thank you for sharing that 🙂
I made this for family gathering today verY good felt like with pudding should be more then 1/2 cup of milk is this a typo or correct?
1/2 cup is correct. I am glad you liked it, though! Thank you for letting me know!
Wowsa! Think you need to make this
LOL…thanks!! It’s pretty delicious!
How far in advance can this be made or should be made in order to blend flavors?
I would just make it the morning of, but wait to add more apples and snickers on top, so the apples won’t brown. I haven’t made it sooner. Hope that helps!
I have this on my schedule to make for a bbq this weekend…any idea how many servings this makes? Trying to see if I’ll need to double the recipe or not!
It doesn’t make a whole lot, so if you’re going to a BBQ, I would maybe double it. Can’t say exactly how many it feeds, but doubling the recipe would feed more. Have fun!
Woo more quick, tasty, cool dessert. I love giving party’s this right for me.
Ohhh my that desert salad look’s too delicious!!! I have too make , I already know that I would love it!!!! Thanks!!
Thank you for stopping by Janice!! I hope you get a chance to try it. It’s AMAZING!!
Does the pudding get mixed in as powder or is it made up as “pudding” first?
It says 1 small box of vanilla pudding then to mix milk and pudding then fold in the whip cream.
How far in advance could you make this? I am wondering if the apples would start to turn brown after a few minutes after being cut up. Looks yummy!!
How many would it make with the above listed ingredients? Wanting to make this for a carry in at work
And needing to know how much I need to buy.
Thank you.
Love this Snicker’s salad recipe!!! Going to make this!!!!
If nuts are a no-no just use Milky Way.
i would like to see more salad recipes
I make this all the time for BBQ’S over last few years…it’s a HIT! Though mine is a hair different. I use red delicious apples, and instead of 1 pkg of vanilla pudding, I put one sm. Jello cheesecake pudding and 1 sm. White chocolate Jello pudding. It’s so yummy!!!
When you say green apples do you mean granny smith or more of a sweet apple? I know most carmel apples are made with a granny smith or a pippen..Thanks!!
We used Granny Smith. 🙂
Last month at Bunco, the hostess served this as dessert. It was wonderful. I was surprised how well it worked together (I was a little skeptical 🙂
Oh, I know, Crystal! I was skeptical too but it’s SO delicious!!
Did you mean to say layer the apples & Snickers and the pudding/milk mixture? I don’t see any pudding on the apples & Snickers (even in the middle section) so just wondering?
The combination sure looks good and one can never go wrong when there’s caramel involved.
Tavette – S. Fla..
Love the combination! Trying out this recipe!
Awe, thank you so much!!