This easy French-style carrot apple salad recipe is sweet and crunchy, tossed in a tangy dressing made with homemade vegan mayonnaise-no cooking required! All you need are four ingredients and a little chill time.
If you’re looking for salads and sides perfect for warm weather and BBQs, check out my Classic Vegan Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, and Ultimate Cole Slaw.
If you've never met a salad that made you feel nostalgic and refreshed at the same time, allow me to introduce this crunchy-sweet dreamboat of a dish.
This Carrot Apple Raisin Salad is what happens when your childhood lunchbox grows up and then shows up at your adult dinner table-veganized, simplified, and tastier than ever.
Bonus: You can make it in minutes with four simple ingredients and zero cooking. My kind of salad…or any recipe 😁
In This Post
A classic made simple (and better)
When I say "mom-style salad," you probably picture something involving Miracle Whip and a mystery Jell-O mold. Don't worry - this isn't that kind of throwback.
This easy carrot salad is full of crunchy carrots, sweet raisins, juicy apples, and a creamy dressing with a tangy twist. It's the kind of simple dish that shows up at potlucks, disappears fast, and leaves you wishing you made a double batch. (Next time, you will.)
The best part? You can use a box grater, food processor, or the grater attachment on your fancy stand mixer.
I say use whatever gets you to the full recipe fastest. Because once you taste that first bite, you'll want the whole bowl to yourself.
Ingredients you’ll need
- Fresh carrots: Look for bright, firm, sweet carrots. These bring the crunch and natural sweetness.
- Raisins: Plump and chewy - golden, regular, or a mix for visual flair. These add that perfect pop of sweetness.
- Apple: I love a tart Granny Smith, but sweet apples like Fuji or Honeycrisp work great too. Choose your vibe.
- Vegan mayo: Adds creamy richness without dairy or eggs. You can also use unsweetened vegan yogurt for a lighter feel.
- Optional add-ins: See below because yes, we're going there.
How to make Carrot Apple Raisin Salad
- Grate and toss: Grab your large mixing bowl and toss in the shredded carrots, chopped apple, and a cup of raisins. Bonus points if you hum a little tune while you work - it helps.
- Whip up the dressing: In a small bowl, mix the vegan mayo (or sub), a splash of orange juice or pineapple juice, and if you’re feeling fancy, a tablespoon lemon juice or a dash of apple cider vinegar for zing. Stir in a little maple syrup if you want extra sweetness. I only do that mayo as-is!
- Mix and chill: Pour that creamy, tangy dressing over your crunchy combo, toss well, and let it chill in an airtight container in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (or overnight-even better!). It keeps well for 2-3 days, but good luck not eating it all on Day One.
Variations, add-ins, & substitutions
Let's make this salad your own. Here are some simple swaps and fun add-ins:
- Add crunch: Toss in sunflower seeds, chopped walnuts, or slivered almonds.
- Sweeten it up: Try a small amount of maple syrup or swap raisins for dried cranberries or chopped dates.
- Freshen the flavor: Stir in chopped parsley, green onions, or a hint of grated ginger.
- Make it lighter: Use unsweetened vegan Greek yogurt instead of mayo for a tangier, lighter take.
- Boost the nutrition: Add a spoonful of chia seeds or ground flaxseed for a dose of healthy fats.
- No raisins? No problem. Try chopped dried apricots, currants, or go rogue with pineapple chunks.
Tips & storage
- This carrot-apple salad is best chilled, so give it time to meld in the fridge before serving. It’s best to leave it overnight, and it's even better the next day.
- Store it in an airtight container. You can keep it in the fridge for up to three days.
- This recipe is perfect for large gatherings, easy dinner ideas, or a quick bite after a morning walk. It also works as one of those weirdly satisfying recipes that breakfast people, like me, keep talking about.
Why you'll love this Carrot Apple Raisin Salad
- No cooking. One bowl, one small bowl, one grater. That's it.
- Kid-approved. Sweet, crunchy, and just creamy enough - without being fussy.
- Naturally gluten-free, oil-free, and vegan. No weird swaps needed.
- It’s old-fashioned vibes with a fresh twist. It's making "mom's carrot salad" in the best way-healthy, quick, and delicious!
- A great addition to your weekly menu rotation or holiday table.
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Carrot Apple Raisin Salad with Vegan Mayo Dressing
This easy French-style carrot apple salad recipe is sweet and crunchy, tossed in a tangy dressing made with homemade vegan mayonnaise-no cooking required! All you need are four ingredients and a little chill time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Chill Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Raw
- Cuisine: French-inspired
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 4 to 6 medium-sized freshly grated carrots (yields about 3 to 4 cups)
- ½ cup of raisins, regular or golden (can sub currants, dried cranberries, or apricots)
- 1 large green apple, cored and chopped (can use Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Gala apples)
- ⅓ cup vegan mayonnaise
Instructions
- Grate the carrots and chop the apple. Toss them with the raisins in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the vegan mayo. To make a brighter dressing, mix the mayo with a splash of orange or pineapple juice, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar. If you like it a little sweeter, add maple syrup.
- Pour, mix, and chill. Stir the dressing into the salad, mix well, and chill in an airtight container for at least 30 minutes. It tastes even better the next day!
Notes
Variations & Add-Ins
- Switch up the fruit: Try pineapple chunks, chopped dates, or dried cranberries instead of raisins.
- Add some crunch: Toss in sunflower seeds, walnuts, or almonds.
- Lighten it up: Use unsweetened vegan yogurt instead of mayo for a tangier vibe.
- Fresh flavor boost: Add parsley, green onions, or a pinch of ginger.
- Make it sweeter: Stir in a little maple syrup if you're feelin' it.
Play around with what you've got - this salad's super flexible and always shows up tasty.
Make Ahead & Storage
- This salad is even better after it chills - great to make a day ahead.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Keeps fresh for 2-3 days, but good luck making it last that long.
- Give it a quick stir before serving - it likes a little refresh!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 212
- Sugar: 23.2 g
- Sodium: 92.8 mg
- Fat: 5.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 39.6 g
- Fiber: 5.8 g
- Protein: 4.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
I had all ingredients on hand, including the mayo. Easy and delicious.
Thank you!
Awesome!
Shane! I swear my devices were reading my mind. They sure weren’t listening because I never uttered my thoughts out loud. I literally had 3 cups of already grated carrots from making your delicious carrot cake over the weekend, wondering what to do with them. I also had, already made, some of your cashew mayo that needed to be used, along with an apple that needed a purpose. And along came this recipe in my inbox! I used a little more mayo than called for and threw in some chopped walnuts. It was exactly what I needed as a side for my dinner last night. I’m looking forward to eating the rest during the week. Oh, and I love your new writing style! It’s very engaging, entertaining, and just plain fun to read. It makes you want to dive right in to the recipe. Thanks for all you do!
This easy French-style carrot apple salad recipe is sweet and crunchy, tossed in a tangy dressing made with homemade vegan mayonnaise—no cooking required! All you need are four ingredients and a little chill time.