Homemade Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing recipe is only 6 ingredients, using fresh apple cider, apple cider vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, dijon mustard, and maple syrup to create a healthy homemade salad dressing that is bursting with fall flavors. Serve this dressing on fall salads like my Fall Harvest Salad, Cranberry Apple Salad, or Fall Harvest Farro Salad.
Love homemade salad dressings? Read my complete guide to making salad dressing at home; 15 Healthy & Homemade Salad Dressings.
Homemade Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing recipe
This Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing is so quintessentially fall and winter. If you are looking for the perfect salad dressing to use on fall salads, winter salads, or holiday salads (Thanksgiving or Christmas) this is it! It's a great use for Apple Cider Vinegar in a salad dressing too.
This recipe originated from a trip to a local apple orchard. I also brought home some fresh, beautiful homemade apple cider. It was right off the press and I could not resist. Before I got home I came up with big dreams for my cider... I wanted to turn it into a perfectly, quintessentially fall salad dressing. And before no time my Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing recipe was born.
What is Apple Cider Vinaigrette made of?
This healthy homemade Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing is bursting with flavor from a double punch of apple flavors including fresh apple cider and apple cider vinegar. This super easy 6-ingredient recipe is rounded out with maple syrup, olive oil, dijon mustard, and minced shallot. The sweet and savory flavor combination is sheer perfection. Now I normally keep my salad dressings pretty simple, but I could not resist adding a few extras in this one like shallots and grainy mustard. It balances out the sweetness of the cider and rounds out the flavor.
This recipe just happens also to be vegan, gluten-free, and low-carb. Plus it's super light coming at around only 40 calories a serving.
Why You'll Love this Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing recipe...
- This 6-ingredient Homemade Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing recipe is the perfect topping for a fresh kale salad or spinach piled high with apples and cranberries.
- It's excellent in the fall or at the holiday table. Can't you just imagine this being served with a salad at Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve dinner?
- It tastes great and is good for you!
- It's easy to make with simple-to-find ingredients.
- I also added some apple cider vinegar to add acidity to the recipe and health benefits! Vinegar has gone through fermentation which brings helpful enzymes and friendly bacteria that can help kill harmful bacteria can aid in weight loss, help with digestion, balance blood sugar, lower cholesterol, and can improve heart health.
- You can make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge.
Ingredients:
Here's an overview of what you'll need to make Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing, but keep scrolling for the full recipe amounts.
- Apple Cider: I like to make mine with farm-fresh apple cider, but you can use whatever type you can get your hands on. This gives the recipe bulk, sweetness, and flavor without a lot of calories.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: I also like to add some apple cider vinegar to balance out the sweetness, add some acidity to the dressing, and for the health benefits of apple cider vinegar.
- Olive Oil: Look for a nice salad-grade-worthy olive oil without an overpowering flavor. You don't want it to have an extra strong extra virgin olive oil taste or smell.
- Grainy Mustard: A grainy mustard or dijon mustard also gives the dressing some tang and bulks it up a bit. It also gives it a creamy texture.
- Maple Syrup: I use just a touch of maple syrup to balance out the flavors. You can also use honey.
- Shallot: Minced shallot adds a savory component to the dressing.
- Salt & Black Pepper to Taste
Instructions:
This is an overview of the recipe instructions, but keep scrolling for the full printable recipe.
- Get out all of your ingredients and measure them.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, shallot, dijon mustard, and maple syrup.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
Other Ways to Make the Dressing:
- You can also make this in a mason jar or glass jar, put on the lid, and shake up all of the ingredients.
- To make it extra smooth, you can additionally put it in a blender and blend until smooth.
Variations
I love this Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing as written, but here are some tasty variations.
- Make it Oil Free: Substitute lemon juice or orange juice for the oil.
- Make it Sugar-Free: Do a combination of Apple Cider Vinegar and Olive Oil with shallots and garlic.
- Make it Garlic: Add some minced garlic.
- Make it with Apples: You can also make this with FRESH apples by grating some fresh apples in it.
- Make it in a Mason Jar: Make this a fun mason jar salad dressing by using these mason jars.
FAQ
How do I store leftovers?
Store any leftovers of the Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Is vinaigrette dressing healthy?
Yes! It's the healthiest type of salad dressing and this Apple Cider Vinaigrette is especially healthy because it uses healthy Apple Cider Vinegar and less olive oil. The Apple Cider gives this dressing more bulk without having to use as much oil.
This Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing is Perfection!
This Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing is the perfect apple combination of sweet and savory for any salad! A great use for healthy apple cider and I know you'll love it. It is an absolutely perfect addition to your Thanksgiving menu or Christmas menu as well.
Serve it as a dressing in fall salads, or as a drizzle or fall roasted vegetables or veggies. It would also be great as a marinade for roasted vegetables or meat like chicken, pork or turkey. The possibilities are endless.
I hope you enjoy this delicious homemade salad dressing as much as I do.
Serving Suggestions:
- Fall Harvest Salad
- Fall Farro Salad
- Fall Buddha Bowl
- Apple Cranberry Salad
- Beet & Apple Salad
- Arugula and Pear Salad
- Sweet Potato, Lentil, and Feta Salad
- Drizzled over Roasted Delicata Squash or Roasted Butternut Squash
More Homemade Salad Dressings:
- Homemade Lemon Tahini Dressing
- 5 Ingredient Basil Vinaigrette Dressing
- Zesty Italian Salad Dressing
- Healthy Homemade Green Goddess Dressing
- Healthy Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing
- The Easiest Homemade Salad Dressing {Video}
- Creamy & Healthy Thai Peanut Salad Dressing
- Greek Yogurt Chipotle Lime Ranch Dressing
- Healthy & Creamy Avocado Lime Dressing
- Healthy Greek Salad Dressing
- Healthy Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing
- Homemade Everything Bagel Greek Yogurt Ranch
See my entire collection of homemade and healthy salad dressings: 15+ Healthy & Homemade Salad Dressings You'll Love
If you make this Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!
Healthy Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing
Ingredients
- ¾ cup apple cider
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons shallot, minced
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients and measure the amounts.
- Whisk all the ingredients - apple cider, apple cider vinegar, shallot, olive oil, dijon mustard, and maple syrup - together in a bowl.
- Serve or store in an airtight container in the fridge!
Notes
Nutrition
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Paula Campos says
So I made an apple cider vinaigrette from another site…oily and tasteless is the best I can describe it! Happened upon this recipe, and soooo glad I did! The balance between apple cider, evoo and spices is perfection! THANK YOU!!!
JulieWunder says
Yay! What a wonderful review! Thank you so much!
Dolores Giles says
I made for the first time the Apple Cider Vinegarette salad dressing today, turned out perfectly, I will be making it again. My next vinegarette dressing will be the Greek and Avocado vinegarette dressings. These will add favor to my salads and hopefully will eat more salads.
Bobi says
Made the Greek Ranch today and it was delicious!
I used 1/2 teaspoon of the garlic and onion powders and 1/2 teaspoon ea of dry parsley and chives and 1/4 tsp dry dill because I didn't have any fresh herbs.
! Tablespoon of lemon juice and only 1 Tablespoon of milk because I like it on the thick side.
This would make a great dip.
Thank you for posting!
Erode says
These things are refreshing everyone that i like to taste. One of the exciting way to make yourself refreshing is a tour. One can plan for this special tour on the same place to take benefits of both.
Clarinda says
Sounds good! I love trying new dressings. 🙂
Kristy from Southern In Law says
I love that this uses ingredients I always have on hand. I'll definitely have to try it soon!
Sarah @ Bucket List Tummy says
I love vinaigrettes, and love the balance of apple and cider and mustard. Will be trying this!
JulieWunder says
Thanks so much Sarah!
Paul says
This looks so yummy! I I'm sure it will taste good with any salad. Apples have so many healthy benefits, it's a great idea to make a vinaigrette with them. Thank you for sharing this!
Archie says
Sounds so yummy!! Will try this recipe this fall! 😀
JulieWunder says
Thanks Archie!
Lisa Ballantyne says
I love any blend of vinaigrette! Thank you for sharing this one!
JulieWunder says
Thanks Lisa!
Farrah says
This sounds amazing! I love apple cider, so having it in vinaigrette form for my salads sounds perfect! 😀
JulieWunder says
Thanks Farrah!
Maureen @ Maureen Gets Real says
This seems like a great dressing for a salad at Thanksgiving! I'm going to need to check if salad is on the menu for my dinner.
JulieWunder says
Totally! It would be perfect. Thanks Maureen.
Deborah Brooks says
Apple cider vinegar is in all of my dressings love the mustard too
JulieWunder says
Thanks Deborah!
Emily @ Pizza & Pull-Ups says
This sounds just perfect for fall salads, can’t wait to give it a try!
JulieWunder says
Thanks Emily!
Lacey Balliet says
I would never think to make a salad dressing with the ingredients bit it sure does sound tasty.
JulieWunder says
Thanks Lacey! It's a good one!