Disney Declaration Salad
An Elegant Salad For Any Occasion
Disney Declaration Salad is fresh, flavorful, and surprisingly easy to make at home with crisp apples, smoked white cheddar, candied pecans, and a sweet honey shallot vinaigrette. Whether you’re planning a Disney-themed dinner or simply looking for a delicious side salad, this recipe brings a little bit of Disney magic right to your own kitchen.
If you’ve been around here for any length of time, you probably know I have a slight Disney obsession. While I love bringing home souvenirs from my trips, my favorite things to recreate are always the recipes. This Disney Declaration Salad from Liberty Tree Tavern is one of those dishes I think about long after I’ve left the Magic Kingdom.
Perfect for Meal Prep
One of the things I loved most about making this salad was how easy it was to turn into meal prep for the week. I made the honey shallot vinaigrette ahead of time, chopped the apples and chives, shredded the smoked white cheddar, and portioned everything into individual containers. When I was ready for lunch or dinner, all I had to do was add a handful of fresh greens, drizzle on the dressing, and toss it together. It made eating a fresh, homemade salad feel just as convenient as grabbing something from the drive-thru.
Make it Your Own
One of the reasons I love this honey shallot vinaigrette is that it’s incredibly versatile. It pairs well with all kinds of fruits and nuts. While Disney uses apples and candied pecans, don’t be afraid to make it your own. Fresh pears, strawberries, blueberries, dried cranberries, dried cherries, or even mandarin oranges are all wonderful choices depending on the season. As for the nuts, toasted pecans, walnuts, sliced almonds, pistachios, or candied walnuts all add great flavor and crunch.
Customize Your Salad with Different Cheeses
Disney serves their Declaration Salad with smoked white cheddar. The cheddar adds a creamy, slightly smoky flavor that pairs beautifully with the sweet dressing. At home, though, I often reach for crumbled blue cheese because I love the bold, tangy contrast with the honey vinaigrette. If blue cheese isn’t your favorite, this dressing is also delicious with goat cheese, feta, gorgonzola, shaved Parmesan, creamy Havarti, or even a sharp white cheddar.
The Perfect Side for Crispy Chicken Tenders
I think this salad is the perfect partner for my Crispy Chicken Tenders. The greens, sweet apples, pecans, and honey shallot vinaigrette balance the richness of the crispy, golden chicken. It feels like a meal you’d order at a nice restaurant. You can also slice the chicken and serve it right on top for a hearty entrée salad, or even turn everything into a wrap for lunch the next day. It’s one of those combinations that feels a little elevated without requiring any extra work in the kitchen.
Disney Declaration Salad Recipe
This Disney-inspired Declaration Salad combines mixed greens, crisp apples, smoked white cheddar, candied pecans, and a homemade honey shallot vinaigrette for the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. It's an easy copycat recipe that's elegant enough for the holidays yet simple enough for a weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- FOR THE SALAD:
- 8 cups mixed spring greens or crisp romaine
- 1 Gala or Honeycrisp apple, diced
- 1/4 cup of dried cranberries
- 1 cup smoked white cheddar cheese, shredded or crumbled blue cheese
- 1/2 cup candied pecans, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
- FOR THE HONEY SHALLOT VINAIGRETTE:
- 2 shallots, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¾ cup canola oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the shallots until softened and lightly caramelized, about 5 minutes. Add a splash of the apple cider vinegar to deglaze the pan and allow the shallots to cool.
- Blend the shallots with the remaining vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and white pepper. With the blender running, slowly drizzle in the canola oil until the dressing is smooth and creamy.
- Place the greens in a large bowl and top with the apple, smoked white cheddar or blue cheese, candied pecans, dried cranberries and chives. Drizzle with the dressing just before serving and toss to coat.
- Serves 6 to 8.