Grape Salad

Grape Salad is a must-make side dish or dessert salad. Made with fresh grapes, we used red and green grapes, that are smothered in a creamy dressing. The dressing is sour cream and a cream cheese mixture. Then top with brown sugar and crunchy walnuts for a easy recipe to serve up.

This recipe is a crowd-pleaser. Serve it up on a hot summer day or take it to your next potluck or holiday gathering. All year round this easy Grape Salad recipe is a hit.

This creamy Grape Salad is one recipe that you can serve at casual gatherings as it is a popular dish that has been around for so many years. The tangy cream cheese with the sweet brown sugar crunch on top, just melts in your mouth.

Make sure to try out our slow cooker hot fruit salad or our popular fruit salad with Cool Whip. Both are easy to make but so different in flavors!

What Is Grape Salad

Grape Salad is a dessert that is made with a multi-color of whole grapes, and a creamy base. This is an easy fruit salad that is versatile in ingredients that are used.

This cream cheese dressing is versatile so you will see that there is a lot of topping ideas to transform this salad.

Reasons Why This Is The Best Grape Salad

• Creamy texture with a slight crunch from the juicy grapes in each bite.
• You have the natural sweetness from the grapes, tangy and sweet dressing that works perfectly together.
• Great for parties or serving a crowd. This is a popular potluck recipe for family reunions, family gatherings, etc.
• Budget-friendly ingredients and minimal ingredients are needed.
• This an easy salad recipe you can throw together in no time. This is a great last minute recipe you can whip up.
• A vintage recipe that has been around for so long, and is still a favorite recipe.

Grapes – Tart green grapes and red grapes work great to create the balance of sweet and tangy.

Sour Cream – Sour cream is used for a nice tangy cheesecake-like flavor.

Cream Cheese – Make sure it is room temperature so it whips up nice and creamy.

Sugar – A bit of sugar is going to sweeten up the mixture of cream cheese.

Vanilla Extract – A splash of vanilla will bring all the flavors together.

Brown Sugar – Top the red and green Grape Salad with the brown sugar for a sweet crunch.

Nuts – Walnuts are what we used but you could use crunchy pecans.

How to Make

1. In a large bowl add your cream cheese, sour cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla.
2. Mix on medium speed with a hand mixer to create a creamy texture.
3. Then you will stir in the grapes, folding them in the dressing.
4. In a small bowl add the chopped nuts and brown sugar. Mix to combine.
5. Dish up the Grape Salad and then add the brown sugar to the top of the salad in each individual serving.

Expert Tip: If you are worried about a choking hazard, slice the crisp grapes in half before mixing them into the salad.

Variations to Recipe

• You can do just sweet red grapes or strictly green grapes. Or add in some diced apples, pineapple chunks, fresh strawberries, raspberries, etc.
• Toss in a little bit of coconut flakes or dried fruit. Dried cranberries, blueberries, or even raisins will take it to the next level of flavor.
• Consider mixing in some chia seeds or even flax seeds for a healthy addition to the salad. It affects the texture just a bit but the flavor will be similar.
• Chocolate chips, crushed Heath bars, crushed Butterfinger candy bars, or other chocolate-based is the addition to make it more decadent.
• You could also add some feta cheese, bacon crumbles, or even caramelized onions for a savory twist to the salad. This makes it more of a side dish option.
• Reach for low-fat yogurt, Greek yogurt, or vanilla yogurt instead of sour cream. It will give a similar flavor but with a bit of a twist. The Greek yogurt adds protein to the creamy fruit salad.

Storing

Refrigerate in an airtight container until you are ready to serve up this dessert. We like to keep the brown sugar and nuts stored separately and just sprinkle some on right before you eat.

If you prefer you can mix it in the salad. But the nuts will soften over time. You can store this salad for 3-4 days in the fridge. Just toss before serving it up.

Practical notes

Is Grape Salad a dessert or a side dish?

Technically this southern Grape Salad can be served as either. So feel free to make it a dessert or a side dish.

​Is Grape Salad healthy?

You will find that it isn’t the most healthy recipe but you do get benefits from the grapes. You could use low-fat cream cheese instead of full-fat cream cheese. Then opt for Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, and use honey instead of sugar to make it a “healthier” version.

​Is Grape Salad gluten-free?

This is a gluten free recipe. Just make sure depending on toppings that they are gluten free as well.

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Ingredients

Makes 12 servings

• 2 pounds red seedless grapes
• 2 pounds green seedless grapes
• 8 ounces sour cream
• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temp
• ½ cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped

Equipment

• Hand Mixer
• Mixing bowl
• Rubber Spatula
• Measuring Cups

Method

1. In a small bowl add the brown sugar and walnuts. Mix well and set aside.
2. In a large bowl you will add the sour cream, cream cheese, granulated sugar and vanilla extract.
3. Use a hand mixer and blend on medium speed until nice and creamy.
4. Wash grapes and remove from stems and then drain off excess water. Then fold in the grapes with a rubber spatula to the cream cheese mixture.
5. Refrigerate until you are ready to serve. Or serve right away.
6. Dish up the salad, and then top with a little of the brown sugar mixture to each bowl. Serve and enjoy.

Kitchen notes

Storing- Store for 3-4 days in the fridge in a sealed container. Then right before serving add brown sugar and nuts. Fruit – You can add in other fruit if you want. Diced apples, pineapple chunks, strawberries, etc. Dried Fruit or Nuts – Mix in coconut flakes, dried cranberries, or different nuts to change up the flavor. Chia Seeds and Flax Seeds – Both can be added for added nutrients. Do 1-2 tablespoons each. Greek Yogurt – Reach for plain Greek yogurt to replace the sour cream in the recipe if you want.