If you didn’t grow up in the Midwest, the idea of calling this a “salad” probably sounds a little unhinged. There are no vegetables here. There is, however, chopped candy bars, tart apples, and a whole lot of creamy vanilla pudding and it’s been showing up at potlucks and church dinners across the Midwest for generations under about a dozen different names. Depending on who made it and where you grew up, you might know this as Candy Salad, Caramel Apple Salad, Snicker Apple Salad, or just plain Snickers Salad. No matter what you call it, it disappears fast, and it takes about five minutes to throw together. If you know, you know.

What Ingredients Do You Need for Iowa Snickers Salad?

There are variations, of course, but the basic staples are:

• Whole milk. Chilled, so your pudding sets up quickly and smoothly.
• Instant vanilla pudding mix.
• Frozen whipped topping.
• Granny Smith apples. Their tartness balances all that sweetness!
• Snickers candy bars — chopped into bite-sized pieces, because that’s really the whole point.

Do You Have to Use Cool Whip for Iowa Snickers Salad?

Nope, feel free to swap it out! Cool Whip (or any frozen whipped topping) is the traditional choice because it holds its texture well and doesn’t weep or deflate the way fresh whipped cream can, especially once it’s mixed with the apples and sits in the fridge for a bit. If you’d rather use real whipped cream, that’s completely fine, just whip it to stiff peaks first and know that it won’t hold up quite as long (this version is best served within a few hours, rather than made a day ahead). Either way, you’ll still get that light, fluffy texture everyone loves.

How Do You Make Iowa Snickers Salad?

This one couldn’t be simpler: whisk together your chilled milk and instant vanilla pudding mix until it’s smooth, then fold in the thawed whipped topping (or whipped cream if you’re taking the more homemade route) until you’ve got a light, fluffy base. Fold in your chopped apples and Snickers pieces, then chill until you’re ready to serve (though a spoonful straight from the bowl while it’s still fresh is also encouraged). Enjoy!