This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through those links (at no extra cost to you).
This Easy Grape Salad recipe is loaded with fresh grapes, sweetened cream cheese, and a crunchy, nutty topping. Itβs 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). Itβs a sweet and nutty side dish with a creamy sauce and a crunchy topping.
Itβs easy to make: mix up cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla, then add chilled grapes and top with brown sugar and walnuts. Thatβs it!
Itβs 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 wonβt 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 toastedΒ 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 Β½ 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 donβt 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
More From Culinary Hill
Join Us
Easy Grape Salad
IngredientsΒ
- 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)
InstructionsΒ
- 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 wonβt 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 toastedΒ 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.
Oh Iβm having a serious flash back. My grandma made something like this too, but itβs been forever since Iβve had it. Thanks, Meggan!
I have never seen or heard of anything like this before! I must have been living under a rock, lol! It sounds fantastic! Iβve just gotta give it a try π
Meggan, what an interesting salad/dessert (!!)
I think weβll call it salad and then we can eat as much of it as we like! π
Ok. Grape salad is honestly one of my favorite summer side dishes, and I have never made it! Totally adding this to the old pinterest queue. Thanks for sharing girlfriend!
It looks fantastic Meggan! Iβm always looking for new salad ideas π
Aww Meggan, thank you for sharing this brilliant grape salad and, what is more, for making it easy! π
Iβve been thinking of grape salad lately! A girl I used to work with made a great one, but I did not remember the recipe! So glad you posted it Meggan, pinned to try it!
Grandmaβs know how to do it right, my grandma used to break out the posh dishes too. I like to think it was just for us, but I think it was just an excuse to use the nice dishes. I love a fruit dessert, so I think this would be a great dessert for me.
What a great fruit salad for the spring and summer!! your grandmother knew whatβs up by serving this. . Iβd say nothing beats a dessert/salad combo! and I could throw in all sorts of berries and bananas too, right? I love this!
What a lovely salad from your grandmother! Salad or dessert, it looks fantastic. And I bet it makes for a wonderful breakfast too!