Prepare Broccoli. Finely chop the broccoli into small, bite-sized pieces. The texture of the whole salad depends on this step, so it’s worth a minute to cut everything evenly.

Cook the Bacon until crisp, then crumble it into small pieces. Add the chopped broccoli, bacon, cranberries, red onion, and crunchy sunflower seeds into a big bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Combine the mayonnaise, sugar, apple cider vinegar,  and salt and black pepper if using.   Stir well until smooth and creamy.

Pour the dressing over the salad. Gently toss everything together until all the ingredients are evenly coated. Take a moment to taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Let the salad marinate in the fridge for 1-2 hours before serving.