Midwest Snickers Salad for Holiday Potlucks
Midwest Snickers Salad is a nostalgic dessert salad perfect for holiday potlucks, combining crisp diced apples, chopped Snickers bars, and a creamy pudding-whipped topping base. This sweet and salty treat captures the essence of Midwestern communal dining and is easy to prepare, chilled to meld flavors and textures for a crowd-pleasing dessert.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes + chilling time of 1-3 hours
- Yield: 8-12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Midwestern American
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 10–12 regular-sized Snickers bars (20–25 oz total), chilled
- 6–8 medium crisp apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala), cored & diced
- 1 (8 oz) container frozen whipped topping, thawed (or 2 cups heavy cream + 1/4 cup powdered sugar, whipped)
- 1 (3.4 oz) box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1/2 cup cold milk
Optional Garnishes
- Caramel sauce
- Chopped peanuts
- Extra diced Snickers
Instructions
- Prepare Snickers bars: Chill Snickers bars in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes to firm them up. Once chilled, unwrap and chop into pieces about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in size. Set aside for later use.
- Prepare apples: Wash, core, and dice apples into 1/2 to 3/4 inch pieces. To prevent browning, soak the diced apples in lemon water for a few minutes, then drain and pat dry thoroughly.
- Make creamy base: If making homemade whipped cream, whip heavy cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. In a separate bowl, whisk instant vanilla pudding mix with 1/2 cup cold milk for approximately 2 minutes until it thickens. Gently fold the thickened pudding into the whipped topping or homemade whipped cream until just combined to maintain a light texture.
- Combine ingredients: Gently fold the prepared diced apples into the creamy pudding and whipped topping mixture. Then fold in the chopped Snickers pieces carefully to distribute evenly without breaking them down too much.
- Chill and garnish: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 1 to 3 hours to allow flavors and texture to meld. Before serving, optionally garnish with caramel sauce drizzle, chopped peanuts, or extra diced Snickers pieces for added flavor and texture.
- Storage: Store any leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Consume within 2-3 days for optimal freshness and taste.
Notes
- Soaking apples in lemon water prevents discoloration and keeps them fresh-looking.
- Chilling Snickers bars prior to chopping makes cutting cleaner and easier.
- Use a variety of crisp apples for texture contrast and balanced sweetness.
- If preferred, homemade whipped cream can substitute store-bought whipped topping for a fresher taste.
- The salad can be garnished with caramel sauce, chopped peanuts, or extra Snickers pieces but these are optional.
- Best served chilled to allow flavors to meld and maintain dessert’s refreshing quality.