This refreshing grape salad is packed with colorful, juicy grapes and a sweet cream cheese dressing to create a delicious fruit salad dessert. A sprinkling of brown sugar and crunchy pecans on top is the perfect finishing touch to this tasty dish.
A fruit-based dessert salad is such a fresh finish to a meal. Try out our Watergate Salad and Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips for more delicious recipes.
Grape Salad Ingredients
You’ll need:
- 2 pounds seedless green grapes, about 2.5 cups of grapes
- 2 pounds seedless red grapes, about 2.5 cups of grapes
- 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon + ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Brown Sugar and Pecan Topping
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons + ½ tablespoons chopped pecans
PRO TIP:
Make sure you buy seedless grapes for this recipe. If the green or red ones at the grocery store don’t look nice, you can just use one color in the salad as long as the amount of grapes adds up to 4 pounds of grapes.
Substitutions and Additions
GREEK YOGURT: You can use greek yogurt in place of the sour cream. It provides a similar tanginess to the creamy dressing.
FRUIT: Strawberries, apples, or any other fresh fruit you like could be added to the salad with the grapes or replace the grapes entirely.
CANDY BARS: Mix in pieces of candy bars for a fun addition to this fresh salad. A little bit of toffee bits sprinkled on top along with the brown sugar and pecans would be yummy as well.
How To Make This Grape Salad Recipe
STEP ONE: Wash the fresh grapes and allow them to dry. Set them aside.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
The dressing will stick much better to dry grapes.
If you are making this salad for younger kids, you can cut the whole grapes into smaller, bite-sized pieces.
STEP TWO: Using a stand mixer, or a medium-sized mixing bowl and a hand mixer on medium-high speed, cream together the cream cheese and sour cream for 2 minutes.
PRO TIP:
Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature to ensure you don’t end up with lumps in your dressing.
STEP THREE: Keeping the mixer on medium-high, add the vanilla extract and white sugar. Blend for an additional 30 seconds until the mixture is smooth.
STEP FOUR: In a large bowl, toss together the green and red seedless grapes to evenly mix them together.
STEP FIVE: Using a large wooden spoon or a silicone spatula, pour the cream cheese mixture over the top of the grapes. Stir the grapes and cream cheese mixture to coat the grapes thoroughly.
STEP SIX: Tightly cover the grape salad with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
STEP SEVEN: Just before serving, remove the grape salad from the refrigerator and evenly sprinkle the salad with brown sugar and chopped pecans.
PRO TIP:
You could toast your pecans before sprinkling them on the top of the salad for even more flavor.
How To Serve
The easy side dish tastes best when chilled so keep it in the fridge until you are ready to serve it. Dessert salads and fluffs are the perfect addition to a grilled meal that includes mains like grilled chicken, potatoes, and sauteed vegetables.
It would also be a crowd pleaser at bridal or baby showers or for a special occasion meal with all the fixings, including glazed ham, roasted vegetables and sweet potatoes.
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Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: Any leftovers from this grape salad dessert should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
IN THE FREEZER: This salad is not recommended for freezing.
Take a different type of salad to summer potlucks this year, and you will have everyone raving about it. The combination of flavors with the delicious dressing and crisp grapes will make kids and adults alike go crazy for this creamy grape salad recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
This simple grape salad recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
The best grapes for this easy grape salad recipe are red and green seedless grapes. You don’t want to be using a variety of grapes that have seeds in them for this salad.
This simple recipe would be a perfect side dish for a potluck or to take to summer parties. It would be delicious as a dessert for a summer grilled meal such as grilled chicken and corn on the cob.
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Grape Salad
Ingredients
- 2 pounds green seedless grapes about 2.5 cups
- 2 pounds red seedless grapes about 2.5 cups
- 3 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2½ tablespoons pecans chopped
Instructions
- Wash and thoroughly dry the seedless grapes, then set them aside to finish air-drying.
- Using a stand mixer, or a medium bowl with a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat together the cream cheese and sour cream for 2 minutes until smooth.
- With the mixer still on medium-high speed, add the vanilla extract and granulated sugar, then continue mixing for about 30 seconds until fully combined and creamy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the green and red seedless grapes and gently toss them together so they are evenly distributed.
- Using a large wooden spoon or silicone spatula, spoon the cream cheese mixture over the grapes and stir until all of the grapes are evenly coated.
- Cover the grape salad tightly and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Just before serving, remove the salad from the refrigerator and evenly sprinkle the top with brown sugar and chopped pecans.
Notes
- Be sure to use seedless grapes for this recipe.
- If the green or red grapes at the store are not looking their best, you can use just one color, as long as you have a total of 4 pounds of grapes.
- Grapes are typically in season from August through October. When they are out of season, they tend to be less flavorful and not as firm, which can affect both the taste and texture of the salad.
- Softer grapes are more likely to break apart when stirred, making it harder for the dressing to cling to them.
- The dressing will adhere much better if the grapes are completely dry before mixing.
- If you are serving younger kids, you can slice the grapes into smaller, bite-sized pieces before adding them to the salad.
- Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature so it blends smoothly without leaving lumps in the dressing.
- For extra flavor, you can toast the pecans before sprinkling them over the top of the salad.
Nutrition
Comments
Gloria says
This is one of my kid’s favorites! Easy, quick, fresh, and yummy!
Del says
I made this grape salad over the Festive Season….. It was a wow moment every time.!!! Big Thanks from chilly Cape Town.
Dawn Sisson says
Easy quick assembly. Family approved. I will probably fix and take to our next church meal!