Sweet, creamy, and full of texture—this chilled apple salad is a flavor-packed side or light lunch that only gets better overnight.

1 red apple, cut into matchstick pieces

1 green apple, cut into matchstick pieces

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 cups matchstick carrots

¼ cup yellow onion, finely diced

⅓ cup sweetened dried cranberries

½ cup vanilla yogurt

¼ cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 cup canned mandarin segments, drained

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Prep the Apples: Toss red and green apple matchsticks with lemon juice in a bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes to prevent browning.

Mix Base Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine matchstick carrots, diced onion, and cranberries.

Combine Apples: Add the lemon-coated apples to the bowl.

Make Dressing: Stir in vanilla yogurt, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, and black pepper until everything is evenly coated.

Add Oranges: Gently fold in mandarin segments to avoid breaking them.

Chill: Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving to let the flavors meld.

Use Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples for the best sweet-tart balance.

Make it dairy-free with coconut yogurt and vegan mayo.

Add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans for a crunchy variation.

Chill overnight for even better flavor.