This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure policy.
A twist on a classic potluck dish: BUTTERFINGER Apple Salad. It’s a kid-approved salad with apples coated in a peanut butter pudding and topped with butterfingers for an extra crunch.
What is a dessert apple salad?
This easy apple salad recipe is a unique twist on the classic potluck recipe. It is drenched in a creamy peanut butter pudding and topped with crunchy butterfinger candy bars.
This is a no-bake dessert recipe and comes together in less than 10 minutes. Really – it’s a no brainer and it’s so, so good. All the flavors go so well together, it’s amazing someone hasn’t already done it.
I’m a huge fan of any desserts with butterfingers, but this one creamy apple salad is extra special. It’s never been done before making it a totally new recipe and it’s incredibly easy to put together. Can it be called a salad when it has pudding and candy? I’m leaning yes on that one!
Ingredients Needed
- Instant pudding mix: I’m using vanilla flavor to keep the flavors simple
- Milk: I’m using nonfat milk but you can use any fat content, as long as it’s cows milk. Nondairy milk doesn’t always work with pudding mix.
- Peanut butter: any creamy peanut butter you have works great as long as it isn’t natural (use a no-stir peanut butter).
- Cool Whip: I used fat free but regular works just as well
- Butterfingers: chopped or processed in a food processor
- Apples: I’m using granny smith apples. I left the skin on mine but you can remove it if you prefer.
How to make apple salad
- Whisk pudding mix and milk in a large bowl. Let it set up for about 5 minutes before whisking in the peanut butter.
- Fold the Cool Whip into the pudding mixture. Stir in the chopped Butterfingers and apples.
- Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Top with remaining Butterfinger crumbs before serving.
Expert Tips
- Try to get as many lumps out as possible when whisking in the ingredients
- To add an extra crunch to your apple salad, throw in some pecans or chopped peanuts
- You can use sugar free pudding mix and sugar free whipped topping if you want to lower the added sugar in the recipe.
FAQs
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days, but it’s best eaten one day 1.
Yes. Grapes bring out the flavor from the apples making it an incredible combo.
Yes, you can!
Butterfinger Apple Salad
Ingredients
- 1 3.4 ounce box Instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 ½ cups (355ml) nonfat milk
- ¼ cup (67g) peanut butter
- 1 8 ounce container Cool Whip (any kind)
- 12 Fun Sized Butterfinger candy bars chopped or processed in a food processor (about 2 cups)
- 5-7 Granny Smith apples cored and diced (5 large or up to 7 small; I left the skins on mine)
Instructions
- Whisk pudding mix and milk in a large bowl. Let set up for about 5 minutes. Whisk in peanut butter (or you can use hand mixer). Try to get as many lumps out as possible.
- Fold the Cool Whip into the pudding mixture. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the chopped Butterfingers. Stir in the apples. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days, but it’s best eaten one day 1. Top with remaining Butterfinger crumbs before serving.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Try to get as many lumps out as possible when whisking in the ingredients
- To add an extra crunch to your apple salad, throw in some pecans or chopped peanuts
- You can use sugar free pudding mix and sugar free whipped topping if you want to lower the added sugar in the recipe.
- I love the tart and sweet mix of granny smith and the sweet pudding, but you can use any kind of apples.
A) I knew there was a reason I love Safeway so much! (I always make sure we “have” to run to the grocery strore when we’re visiting in CA 🙂
B) This totally needed to happen. Well done.
LOL, thanks! I’ll be sure we hit Safeway when you visit next time. 😉
Ha ha . . . I can totally relate to most of this! The first time I ate that pretzel, strawberry and Cool whip “salad”, I was blown away with how GOOD it is, but I have no idea why people call it a salad and serve it with the main dish? Oh well, I guess it is an excuse to really eat dessert twice – once with dinner and once after dinner. Love this Butterfinger version. Pinned!!
I have never tried one of these sweet apple “salads” before but now seems like a good time to join in! Love butterfinger and I bet the crunch from the apple is sooo good with all the creamy dreamy goodness!
This is genius!! I love how delicious this SALAD Looks! YUM!
Gosh, I leave for one week (ONE WEEK) and you pull out all the stops and not only make a peanut butter and apple “salad” but graham cracker crusts and a killer pie! Dorothy, this salad is so up my alley. All IS right with the world! I’m glad everyone is on this kind of salad kick … any time peanut butter pudding and apples are involved, you can bet I’m filling my plate as well!
Featured In
Rate This Recipe