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This Carrot Raisin Salad is so quick to make for a cool, crunchy side dish. It is loaded with creamy, fresh, and slightly sweet flavors, making it a wonderful salad for potlucks or BBQs. It is similar to an old-fashioned carrot raisin salad but jazzed up a bit by adding in sliced apples, golden raisins, and chopped pecans. This version is also dairy-free and gluten-free.

Carrot Raisin Salad has so much texture and is naturally sweetened, creamy, and nutty. The shredded carrots make this salad incredibly tasty, colorful, and affordable. Plus it is dairy-free!
This carrot salad recipe is similar to a slaw but slightly sweeter and crunchier. Besides the carrots the rest of the ingredients like pecans, raisins, mayo, and maple syrup you can grab from your pantry and assemble the salad in about 10 minutes. Which is great if you need a quick dish to bring for a last-minute party invite.
We also love to serve this salad as a side dish for Easter. Plus it’s a great way to get the kids to eat some veggies.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Healthy – full of fresh veggies and fruit that are loaded with nutrition and fiber.
- Quick and easy – you can make this carrot raisin salad in under 10 minutes.
- Simple – only requires 6 ingredients
- Easy side dish – the perfect cool and crunchy, no-cook side dish that goes with so many things.

Ingredients you will need
- Carrots – you can use whole carrots and shred them yourself in minutes or use pre-shredded carrots. You will need about 4 cups of shredded carrots.
- Apple – to compliment the flavor of the carrots and add some nice sweet, crunchy, colorful elements to this carrot raisin salad.
- Raisins – these perfect sweet raisins just pop in this recipe. I used a combination of golden and black raisins for variety and color, which is really tasty and beautiful.
- Pecans – used to add an excellent nutty taste and crunchy texture that is everything. You could also use walnuts.
- Mayonnaise – Avocado mayo is the base of the creamy dressing but any mayo will work. My favorite brands are Sir Kensingtons and Primal Kitchen.
- Maple syrup – to add a hint of sweetness and bring out the flavor of the carrots and apples. You could also use honey if you prefer it.
- Salt and pepper – used to enhance all of the wonderful flavors.
- Lemon – adds a nice bright, citrusy flavor to finish the salad.
Pro Tip! Shredding your own carrots makes this salad much tastier and easier to eat since the texture is much better than using pre-shredded, store-bought carrots.
Optional add-ins for carrot salad
Here are some variations to this carrot salad recipe that would also work great!
- Chopped pineapple – canned pineapple chunks or fresh chopped pineapple add a nice hint of sweetness and color.
- Walnuts, pistachios, or sliced almonds
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Orange
- Shredded zucchini – shredded raw zucchini is actually really delicious in this salad and adds even more nutrition.
- Dried cranberries or currants – in place of the raisins
- Garnish with some mint
How to make a Carrot Raisin Salad
You can make this carrot salad in under 10 minutes.
- Mix up the dressing – In a small bowl whisk together the mayo, maple syrup, lemon, salt, and pepper until combined into a creamy, smooth dressing.
- Assemble and dress – add all the salad ingredients to a large bowl, pour the dressing over the salad, and toss to combine everything.
- Serve – enjoy this salad cold or at room temperature.




Recipe Tips
- You can use store-bought carrots if you are short on time but shredding your own will take 5 minutes and will give the carrot salad a lot more flavor.
- Make this recipe vegan – use vegan mayo in place of avocado mayo to make this recipe vegan.
- Make it Whole30 – omit the maple syrup or use date syrup or pineapple juice as the sweetener in the dressing to make it Whole30 compliant.
FAQs about carrot raisin salad
Do I need to soak the carrots before adding them to the salad?
There is no need to soak the carrots. Just peel and shred them right before you assemble the salad.
How long does carrot and raisin salad keep?
If stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator, this salad will keep for up to 3 days.
Can I make this salad ahead of time?
Yes, you can. If you are making this salad ahead of time I would store the dressing separately then dress and serve it when you are ready to enjoy it.

More Healthy Salad Recipes to Try
- Creamy BBQ Chicken Salad
- Easy Kale Salad with Lemon
- Quick and Easy Salmon Salad
- Simple Orange Citrus Salad
- Easy Beet and Goat cheese Salad
- Healthy Egg Salad
- Easy Cucumber Radish Salad
Better yet, you can check out all of my quick and easy healthy salads here.
Other Carrot recipes
- Easy Ranch Roasted Carrots
- Air Fryer Carrot Fries
- Oven Roasted Potatoes and Carrots
- Easy Air Fryer Carrots
- Frozen Peas and Carrots

Did you try this carrot raisin salad recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear how yours turned out!
Print
Easy Creamy Carrot Raisin Salad
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This easy Carrot Raisin Salad is so quick to make for a cool, crunchy side dish. Loaded with creamy, fresh, slightly sweet flavors, making it a wonderful salad for potlucks and BBQs. It is similar to the old-fashioned carrot raisin salad but jazzed up a bit by adding in sliced apples, golden raisins, and chopped pecans. This version is also dairy-free and gluten-free.
Ingredients
For the salad
- 4 cups shredded carrots
- 1 medium apple – julienned
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- ¼ cup golden raisins
- ¼ cup black raisins
For the dressing
- ¼ cup avocado mayo
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Pinch of black pepper
Instructions
- Add all salad ingredients to a large bowl.
- Mix up the dressing ingredients and whisk until fully combined then pour the dressing over the salad and toss.
- Serve cold or at room temperature.
Notes
- I recommend shredding your own carrots for the best results. Store-bought shredded carrots will work but will give this salad a different taste and texture.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Quick and Easy Salads
- Method: Tossed
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: carrot raisin salad, carrot salad, old fashioned carrot salad, carrots, salad
I really love the recipe. I’ve never thought of this kind of salad before. Thank you, you have now added to my list of food table!
★★★★★
Hi Jewel, I am so glad you liked it!
I love this salad!! So easy and delicious!!!
★★★★★
Thank you, Josie! I am so glad you liked it!