1. Prep the Salad Ingredients

Start by washing and drying your greens thoroughly. If you’re using baby spinach, kale, or arugula, you want to make sure they’re dry so the dressing sticks to them better. I usually just give mine a quick spin in a salad spinner, which works like a charm.

Next, slice your Honeycrisp apples. I love how crisp and juicy these apples are—they’re what really make this salad pop. Cut them in half, remove the core, and slice them thinly. You want the slices to be thin enough that they’re easy to bite into but not so thin they fall apart.

Now, roughly chop your pecans and crumble your goat cheese. If you want to go the extra mile, you can toast the pecans in a dry skillet for about 3-4 minutes to bring out their natural oils and enhance their flavor. But don’t worry if you don’t have time for that—it’s still delicious without it!

Lastly, prepare your croutons and dried cranberries. If you’re using store-bought croutons, simply measure out half a cup. If you want to make your own, cut up some bread, drizzle it with olive oil, and toast it in the oven for a few minutes.

2. Make the Dressing

In a small bowl or jar, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Whisk or shake everything together until it’s fully combined and smooth. Taste it, and if you want a little more sweetness, feel free to add a touch more honey. I like my dressing on the tangier side, so I stick with the original measurements, but it’s all about what you prefer!

3. Assemble the Salad

In a large bowl, toss together the mixed greens, sliced Honeycrisp apples, chopped pecans, crumbled goat cheese, dried cranberries, and croutons. I usually start with the greens, then layer everything else on top. Once it’s all in the bowl, give it a gentle toss to combine.

4. Add the Dressing

Now it’s time to drizzle your homemade dressing over the salad. I recommend adding it gradually and tossing as you go so you don’t overdress the salad. You can always add more if needed, but it’s hard to take away once it’s on there!