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This Easy Grape Salad recipe is loaded with fresh grapes, sweetened cream cheese, and a crunchy, nutty topping. Itโs ready in just 5 minutes plus chilling time.
Grape Salad another one of those classic Midwestern desserts that we pass off as a salad (similar to Snickers Salad or Strawberry Pretzel Salad). Itโs a sweet and nutty side dish with a creamy sauce and a crunchy topping.
Itโs easy to make: mix up cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla, then add chilled grapes and top with brown sugar and walnuts. Thatโs it!
Itโs kid-friendly, and I love it too because I can eat it as a dessert and still feel light and full of energy afterwards. What a great summer side dish!
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Cream cheese: If the cream cheese is not softened to room temperature, the cream cheese and sour cream wonโt combine well (the mixture will be lumpy). If this happens, stir it quickly with a whisk.
- Grapes: Chilled red grapes (the sweetest you can find), and preferably seedless. If you know small children will be eating the salad, consider quartering the grapes.
- Walnuts: Chopped and toastedย walnuts are great in this salad, or try toasted pecans instead.
Step-by-step instructions
- In a large bowl, add cream cheese, sour cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla and stir to combine.
- Carefully fold in the grapes and gently toss until evenly coated. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix brown sugar and walnuts.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture on top of the grapes. Cover and chill at least 1 hour or overnight. Serve cold.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This recipe makes at least 12 cups Grape Salad, enough for 12 servings, 1 cup each.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days (the salad may get watery over time but is still safe to eat).
- Make ahead: This salad is best enjoyed the day you make it. However, you can get a head start by pulling the cream cheese out of the refrigerator a few hours before you make it.
- Grape Salad with Snickers: Yes, chopped up Snickers Bars are supposedly a must-have on this salad (reminiscent of Snickers Salad).
- Grape Salad with strawberries. Natural, good-for-you fresh berries tossed in with the grapes, how can that taste anything but excellent?
- Grape Salad with graham crackers. Crushed graham crackers as a topping on grape salad add a little sweetness, with or without the brown sugar topping.
Recipe FAQs
Unwrap your block of cream cheese completely (discarding the cardboard box and inner foil wrapper). Place on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high for about 15 seconds per 8 ounces of cream cheese.
1 pound of seedless grapes contains about 2 ยฝ cups of grapes. If the grapes have seeds, 1 pounds of seeded grapes contains about 2 cups of grapes.
This salad is at its best when placed on the table when its icy cold. Sprinkle the toppings on and serve with a spoon so everyone can help themselves. For a better topping-to-grape-ratio, assemble grape salad in a shallow casserole so people donโt fight for the crunchy nuts and brown sugar.
More summer sides
Salad Recipes
Easy Cold Pasta Salad
Salad Recipes
Easy Potato Salad
Salad Recipes
Broccoli Salad Recipe
Salad Recipes
The Best Macaroni Salad
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Easy Grape Salad
Ingredientsย
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened (see note 1)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 pounds red seedless grapes chilled (about 10 cups, see note 2)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 cup walnuts or pecans, toasted and chopped (see note 3)
Instructionsย
- In a large bowl, add cream cheese, sour cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla and stir to combine.
- Carefully fold in the grapes and gently toss until evenly coated. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix brown sugar and walnuts.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture on top of the grapes. Cover and chill at least 1 hour or overnight. Serve cold.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Cream cheese: If the cream cheese is not softened to room temperature, the cream cheese and sour cream wonโt combine well (the mixture will be lumpy). If this happens, stir it quickly with a whisk.
- Grapes: Chilled red grapes (the sweetest you can find), and preferably seedless. If you know small children will be eating the salad, consider quartering the grapes.
- Walnuts: Chopped and toastedย walnuts are great in this salad, or try toasted pecans instead.
- Yield: This recipe makes at least 12 c. Grape Salad, enough for 12 servings, 1 c. each.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days (the salad may get watery over time but is still safe to eat).
- Make ahead: This salad is best enjoyed the day you make it. However, you can get a head start by pulling the cream cheese out of the refrigerator a few hours before you make it.
Easy and Amazing ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ My husband loves it โฆ Great cool summer salad ๐ Thanks for sharing
Youโre welcome, GiGi! Iโm so glad you both loved it! โ Meggan
Would it be possible to make the base less dense and a bit more liquefied? If so, whatโs the best way to do this if the salad has already been prepared?
Hi Natalie, I havenโt tried making the base less dense, especially if youโve already assembled the salad with the topping. Allowing it to come to room temperature may loosen it some, but this salad tastes best chilled. Iโm sorry about that. I hope you loved it otherwise! โ Meggan
Add milk, a couple of tablespoons at a time. That will lighten up the consistency. Maybe add a touch more vanilla so the flavor isnโt also diluted by adding the milk.
This is an amazing salad!!! Will definitely be making this all summer long. The dressing is great on all kinds of fruit also. Thanks Meggan.
Iโm so happy you loved it, Theresa! Take care! โ Meggan
Added fresh pineapple and add less sugar by tasting first the pineapple had enough sweetness only need a few teaspoon of brown sugar
Thanks for writing, Gene! Iโm glad you enjoyed it! โ Meggan
Could a different kind of nut?
Yes, I like toasted pecans in this salad but feel free to use whatever nut you wish. Take care, Becky! โ Meggan
Do you think you could make the cream cheese mixture the night before? Then just add the grapes in the morning? Trying to make the day easier!
Hi Amy, you could, but I think its best to pull the cream cheese out a couple hours before and mix before serving. Hope you love it! โ Meggan
Do you have to have sour cream
Hi Charlene, another reader made this with Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Hope you love it! โ Meggan
Fabulous!