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Golden Nugget Salad
Golden Nugget Dressing is a creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet dressing featuring cream cheese, citrus juices, and crunchy walnuts. Likely originating in mid-20th-century American kitchens, this retro-style dressing is uniquely suited to fruit and gelatin salads, a popular duo in vintage cooking. Its blend of cream cheese and citrus offers both richness and freshness. When tossed with greens and Roquefort, it transforms into a versatile topping that bridges savory and sweet
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Chilling Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course dressings
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 118 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 9 oz cream cheese (softened)
  • 1/3 cup walnuts (finely chopped )
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/3 cup orange juice
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp sugar

Optional:

  • ¼ cup Roquefort cheese (for green salad variation)

Instructions
 

Step 1: Soften & Mix Base

  • Let cream cheese sit at room temperature until softened.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, orange juice, lemon juice, and sugar.

Step 2: Blend Ingredients

  • Beat the mixture with a rotary or electric beater until smooth and well blended.

Step 3: Add Crunch

  • Fold in finely chopped walnuts.

Step 4: Chill and Serve

  • Store covered in the refrigerator until ready to use.
  • Serve over fruit or gelatin salad.
  • For a green salad version, add 1/4 cup crumbled Roquefort cheese before serving.

Tips

  • Add the optional ¼ cup Roquefort cheese for a tangy green-salad version.
  • Use fresh-squeezed orange juice for a brighter citrus flavor.
  • Swap walnuts for pecans or omit nuts if serving someone with allergies.
  • Add a pinch of salt to balance sweetness.
  • Thin with a splash of milk or cream if you prefer a pourable consistency.
  • For a fruit salad, mix in chopped pineapple or mandarin oranges.
  • For a Jell-O salad, fold in whipped cream for a fluffier texture.
  • Add grated orange zest for extra citrus aroma.
  • Substitute Greek yogurt for part of the mayonnaise for a lighter option.

Nutrition

Calories: 118kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 2gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2.9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3.8gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 105mgPotassium: 53mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 4.5gVitamin A: 205IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 0.2mg
Keyword classic american dessert, Cream Cheese, creamy dressing, fruit salad, fruit sald dressing, handwritten recipe, potlcuck, retro dressing, roquefort, sweet dressing, vintage recipe