Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Taffy Apple Salad

Teresa Ambra

Taffy Apple Salad is absolutely spectacular. It has lots of fruit in every bite and it tastes just like eating candied apples. It’s   A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! Taffy Apple Salad is made with unpeeled apples, crushed pineapple, marshmallows, and peanuts coated in a delightful syrup combined with whipped topping. When the salad is all stirred together it is absolutely divine.

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This is a great salad for holiday entertaining but it’s also great to make in the fall after apple harvest. It’s relatively easy to make and you’re family will feel like they’re being treated likes kings and queens when they eat this luscious salad. Taffy Apple Salad is light and fluffy, but it has a wonderful texture from the peanuts and apple pieces.

Years ago, I adapted and compiled this salad from two recipes in Women’s Circle Home Cooking Cookbooks circa 1991. These cookbooks are fantastic even though they don’t have pictures. I prefer recipes that really taste good  and these cookbooks are similar to Taste of Home recipes in that they present regular home cooking recipes everyone actually eats and enjoys.

I made this recipe many times when our children were growing up and they, along with my husband, always loved this festive and tasty salad. Quite frankly, Taffy Apple Salad tastes more like a dessert than a salad!

We love this delicious salad recipe and believe you and your family will love it too if you give it a try. If you like the taste of taffy apples, you will fall in love with this salad!

When I initially posted this recipe in December 2012, I had made it for company right before the Christmas holidays. That was back when I was using a iPhone 3 for a camera which produced poor quality results for a food blog.

I’ve been remaking all my first-year blog recipes so I can update the pictures and this one came up for remake last month (May 2015). I brought it to a large potluck gathering at our church and everyone loved it.

I prefer using Gala or Fuji apples anytime I make a recipe with apples because they are sweeter than other apples and hold up better than some with the tossing of ingredients. But I’ve used other apples with good results, as well. I highly recommend putting Taffy Apple Salad on your Thanksgiving or Christmas menu this year. Everyone will rave over it and beg you for the recipe, and you will go home with a clean bowl. 🙂

Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

Taffy Apple Salad is one of the most delicious salads you’ll ever eat.

Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

This spectacular salad tastes like eating candied apples!

Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

We served this tasty salad for company the other night and everyone raved over it!

Here’s what I did.

Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

I used these ingredients.

Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

In a saucepan over low heat, place cornstarch. Add sugar and whisk together until there are no more lumps. Add apple cider vinegar.

Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

Drain and reserve all the liquid from a large can of crushed pineapple.  Add pineapple juice to saucepan with sugar mixture. Stir ingredients together and cook over low heat until mixture begins to thicken. This may take several minutes.

Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

After mixture thickens, remove from heat and allow it to cool slightly–about 5 minutes (otherwise you will cook the egg). Stir in one beaten egg. 

Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

Whisk egg into sugar mixture. Remove whisk and place entire pan in a freezer for about 30 minutes to cool completely.

Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

Meanwhile, make up salad. Place dry roasted and salted peanuts in large salad bowl. This salad with works better with salted peanuts rather than unsalted. Add marshmallows, drained pineapple and diced, unpeeled Gala or Fuji apples.

Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

Pour cold taffy apple sauce over salad ingredients.

Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

Stir in cool whip topping.

Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

Taffy Apple Salad is a fabulous salad to serve for holiday dinners.

Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

Each bite is filled with apples, marshmallows, pineapple and peanuts in a scrumptious candied apple sauce. Doesn’t Taffy Apple Salad look wonderful? 

Here’s the recipe.

TAFFY APPLE SALAD

(Recipe adapted from two Women’s Circle Cookbooks)

Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Taffy Apple Salad

Teresa Ambra
Taffy Apple Salad will rock your world. Seriously! This lovely, fruity and fluffy salad is great for holiday entertaining or company dinners. It includes apples, crushed pineapple, peanuts and marshmallows in a tasty sauce that tastes like eating taffy apples. This is an absolutely wonderful salad to serve family and friends for special occasions. This recipe is gluten free.
4.50 from 2 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Salads and Salad Dressings, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 354 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 medium sauce pan
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 sharp knife to dice apples

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups Gala or Fuji apples, unpeeled chopped, usually about 4 large apples or two of each
  • 16 oz. can crushed pineapple drained, reserving juice
  • 1 cup salted peanuts
  • 2 cups miniature marshmallows
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tbsp. cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 16 oz. container Cool Whip non-dairy whipped topping or other non-dairy whipped topping

Instructions
 

  • Place apples, drained pineapple, marshmallows and nuts in bowl; mix.
  • Combine cornstarch, granulated sugar, vinegar and reserved pineapple juice in a medium sized sauce pan.
  • Cook over low heat until mixture starts to thicken.
  • Remove from heat and cool at least 5 minutes.
  • Add beaten egg after mixture has cooled. (So the eggs don't scramble!)
  • Cool.
  • (I usually put it in my freezer—saucepan and all—for about 20-30 minutes while I’m preparing the apples.)
  • Stir cooked sugar-cornstarch mixture into apple mixture adding whipped topping.
  • Stir well to combine.
  • Refrigerate overnight, or at least 6 hours.

Notes

NOTE: This reminds you of eating taffy apples.
 
NOTE: I prefer using either Gala or Fuji apples because they’re sweet apples and don’t get bruised as easily as Delicious apples.
 
NOTE: Preparation time does not include the time needed to cool the taffy sauce before mixing with the other salad ingredients.
 
NOTE: You must allow the taffy apple sauce to cool at least 5 minutes before adding the beaten egg, or you will cook the eggs and have scrambled eggs in the sauce!
 
NOTE: Salted peanuts work better than unsalted peanuts in this recipe.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 354kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 7gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 113mgPotassium: 279mgFiber: 3gSugar: 43gVitamin A: 110IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 1mg
Keyword fruit salad, holiday side dish, marshmallows, pineapple, salad, taffy apple salad, taffy apples
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Taffy Apple Salad[/b]
Recipe Type: Salads and Salad Dressings
Cuisine: American
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from two [url href=”http://www.amazon.com/Womens-Circle-For-Cooks-Go/dp/1559932031/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402519231&sr=8-1&keywords=women%27s+circle+cookbooks” target=”_blank” title=”women’s circle cookbook”]Women’s Circle[/url] Cookbooks
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 10
Lovely fruity and fluffy salad that’s great for holiday entertaining. This one includes apples, crushed pineapple, peanuts and marshmallows in a tasty sauce that tastes like eating taffy apples. This recipe is gluten free.
Ingredients
  • 4 cups chopped Gala or Fuji apples, unpeeled (usually about 4 large apples or two of each)
  • 1 large can crushed pineapple drained, reserving juice
  • 1 cup salted peanuts
  • 2 cups[url href=”http://www.kraftrecipes.com/” target=”_blank”]Kraft[/url] miniature marshmallows
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 3 tbsp. cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp. cider vinegar
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 16-oz. container [url href=”http://coolwhip.kraftbrands.com/coolwhip.aspx#/home” target=”_blank”]Cool Whip[/url] non-dairy whipped topping
Instructions
  1. Place apples, drained pineapple, marshmallows and nuts in bowl; mix.
  2. Combine cornstarch, sugar, vinegar and reserved pineapple juice.
  3. Cook over low heat until mixture starts to thicken.
  4. Remove from heat and cool at least 5 minutes.
  5. Add beaten egg.
  6. Cool.
  7. (I usually put it in my freezer—saucepan and all—for about 20-30 minutes while I’m preparing the apples.)
  8. Stir into apple mixture with whipped topping.
  9. Refrigerate overnight, or at least 6 hours.
Notes
This reminds you of eating taffy apples.[br][br]I prefer using either Gala or Fuji apples because they’re sweet apples and don’t get bruised as easily as Delicious apples.[br][br]Preparation time does not include the time needed to cool the taffy sauce before mixing with the other salad ingredients.[br][br]You must allow the taffy apple sauce to cool at least 5 minutes before adding the beaten egg, or you will cook the eggs and have scrambled eggs in the sauce![br][br]Salted peanuts works better than unsalted peanuts in this recipe.
Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

This close up shows the fluffy texture of this salad.

Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

Your family and guests will love tasting this wonderful Taffy Apple Salad. It tastes more like eating dessert than salad.

Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This delectable #salad tastes just like eating #candyapples! It's great for #holiday menus. #apples #peanuts #pineapple

If you enjoy eating taffy apples, you’ll love this salad – and so will your family and guests.

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Ambrosia Salad

Ambrosia Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this heavenly #fruit #salad is perfect for summer #holidays like the #FourthofJuly or #LaborDay. The flavors are divine and it's quick & easy. #cherries #pineapple #glutenfree #ambrosia

Ambrosia Waldorf Salad

Ambrosia Waldorf Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this marvelous fluffy & fruity #salad has always been a family favorite for the #holidays. #Cranberries provide zest and it also includes #grapes #pineapple and #apples.

Pistachio Fruit Fluff Salad

Pistachio Fruit Fluff Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | Such a quick, easy and refreshing #fruitsalad for summer barbecues and #holidays. #fruit #salad
Taffy Apple Salad | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Taffy Apple Salad

Teresa Ambra
Taffy Apple Salad will rock your world. Seriously! This lovely, fruity and fluffy salad is great for holiday entertaining or company dinners. It includes apples, crushed pineapple, peanuts and marshmallows in a tasty sauce that tastes like eating taffy apples. This is an absolutely wonderful salad to serve family and friends for special occasions. This recipe is gluten free.
4.50 from 2 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Salads and Salad Dressings, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 354 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 medium sauce pan
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 sharp knife to dice apples

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups Gala or Fuji apples, unpeeled chopped, usually about 4 large apples or two of each
  • 16 oz. can crushed pineapple drained, reserving juice
  • 1 cup salted peanuts
  • 2 cups miniature marshmallows
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tbsp. cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 16 oz. container Cool Whip non-dairy whipped topping or other non-dairy whipped topping

Instructions
 

  • Place apples, drained pineapple, marshmallows and nuts in bowl; mix.
  • Combine cornstarch, granulated sugar, vinegar and reserved pineapple juice in a medium sized sauce pan.
  • Cook over low heat until mixture starts to thicken.
  • Remove from heat and cool at least 5 minutes.
  • Add beaten egg after mixture has cooled. (So the eggs don't scramble!)
  • Cool.
  • (I usually put it in my freezer—saucepan and all—for about 20-30 minutes while I’m preparing the apples.)
  • Stir cooked sugar-cornstarch mixture into apple mixture adding whipped topping.
  • Stir well to combine.
  • Refrigerate overnight, or at least 6 hours.

Notes

NOTE: This reminds you of eating taffy apples.
 
NOTE: I prefer using either Gala or Fuji apples because they’re sweet apples and don’t get bruised as easily as Delicious apples.
 
NOTE: Preparation time does not include the time needed to cool the taffy sauce before mixing with the other salad ingredients.
 
NOTE: You must allow the taffy apple sauce to cool at least 5 minutes before adding the beaten egg, or you will cook the eggs and have scrambled eggs in the sauce!
 
NOTE: Salted peanuts work better than unsalted peanuts in this recipe.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 354kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 7gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 113mgPotassium: 279mgFiber: 3gSugar: 43gVitamin A: 110IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 1mg
Keyword fruit salad, holiday side dish, marshmallows, pineapple, salad, taffy apple salad, taffy apples
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

16 Comments

  • Frozen Tropical Cranberry Salad – Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

    June 16, 2016 at 12:31 pm

    […] several of our favorites such as Cherry Fruit Salad, Pistachio Fruit Fluff Salad, Ambrosia Salad, Taffy Apple Salad, Ambrosia Waldorf Salad, Creamy Ambrosia Salad and Creamy Grape […]

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    December 16, 2015 at 6:54 pm

    […] Taffy Apple Salad […]

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    June 16, 2015 at 11:36 am

    […] Taffy Apple Salad […]

  • Ambrosia Salad – Can't Stay Out Of The Kitchen

    February 5, 2015 at 12:17 pm

    […] and it’s quite tasty as well. Cherry Fruit Salad is lovely and always a crowd-pleaser. My Taffy Apple Salad and Pistachio Fruit Fluff Salad also get rave reviews every time I make them.  All of these […]

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    January 24, 2015 at 12:17 pm

    […] Taffy Apple Salad […]

  • Tracy

    November 16, 2014 at 8:31 pm

    I love this recipe! I’ve made this for years and it never last very long! My recipe also adds 1 10oz jar of maraschino cherries, drained!

    1. Teresa

      November 17, 2014 at 8:07 am

      I love that addition, Tracy. I’ll have to try it that way sometime. Thanks for sharing.

  • Blueberry Fluff – Can't Stay Out Of The Kitchen

    October 13, 2014 at 7:27 am

    […] Cherry Fruit Salad, Ambrosia Waldorf Salad, Six  Cup Salad, Pistachio Fruit Fluff Salad and Taffy Apple Salad. Each is wonderful in its own special way and I make them all […]

  • afracooking

    December 25, 2012 at 12:45 pm

    What a fabulous recipe to share – I have never seen anything like it!

    1. Teresa

      December 25, 2012 at 4:17 pm

      It really is delicious. I found this in a cookbook in the 90s and was intrigued and tried it. It was fabulous. Tastes just like eating taffy apples.

  • LizForADay

    December 19, 2012 at 5:42 am

    Would you compare this to ambrosia? It looks similar. 🙂 You really can’t go wrong with whipped cream.

    1. Teresa

      December 19, 2012 at 11:01 am

      A little bit like ambrosia – but because of the peanuts and the apple cider/pineapple sauce mix you spread on it the salad tastes like eating taffy apples – really. It’s fantastic.

  • petit4chocolatier

    December 18, 2012 at 7:59 pm

    Wow, your step by step pictures and instructions are incredible. Your taffy apple salad is absolutely over the top delicious!!

    1. Teresa

      December 18, 2012 at 9:51 pm

      It’s really easy and such a fabulous side for the holidays. You ought to give it a whirl!

  • colmel

    December 17, 2012 at 1:38 pm

    Once again, I’m thinking Christmas! Granny Smith would add a touch of tart AND green to the salad!

    1. Teresa

      December 17, 2012 at 7:12 pm

      Yes, I’ve used that before. It’s fabulous.

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