This classic creamy Grape Salad features both red and green grapes combined with a cheesecake-like dressing, then finished with a chopped pecan-brown sugar topping. It’s a crazy delicious easy fruit salad, perfect for spring and summer that is loved by everyone!

Buy extra green grapes and make these Caramel Apple Grapes – such fun finger food that tastes like a caramel apple in every tiny bite!

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Creamy Grape Salad

This classic creamy Grape Salad combines both red and green grapes with a mixture of cream cheese, sour cream, and sugar that’s then topped with brown sugar and pecans. Though it’s often served up as a side dish, it sure tastes a lot like dessert! It’s sweet with just the perfect amount of tang from the sour cream and tartness from the grapes.

Quick, easy, requires absolutely no cooking or baking, and absolutely delicious, it’s always a hit at get togethers and potlucks.

Close-up view of a bowl of creamy grape salad

Ingredients Needed

Here are the few ingredients you’ll need to make this easy recipe.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

Cream cheese – A brick of cream cheese, softened to room temperature.
Sour cream – Thins out the cream cheese just the right amount and adds a little tangy flavor.
Granulated sugar – Adds just the right amount of sweetness.
Vanilla – For flavor.
Grapes – Both red and green grapes, washed and dried.
Toasted pecans – You can also use walnuts.
Light brown sugar – Mixed with the pecans for a fantastic sweet, crunchy topping.

What Kind of Grapes Should I Use?

While you could use all red or all green grapes, I recommend using equal amounts of both. Sweet red grapes offer a nice balance to tart green grapes, plus it looks prettier too.

One thing to note is that you should use seedless grapes, so your guests aren’t constantly spitting out the seeds. Also, be sure to choose fresh grapes that are firm and not mushy or soft.

A fork with a bite of grape salad over a bowl

Recipe Variations

Here are a few popular ways to switch up this classic summer side dish.

Grape salad with Snickers. Yes really! Some people swear by adding some chopped up Snickers bars to this easy fruit salad.
Grape salad with Heath Bars. Similarly, crushed-up toffee from a Heath or Butterfinger bar is a popular addition too. I think it tastes amazing and prefer it to adding Snickers.
Replace the sour cream with yogurt. If you’re not a fan of sour cream or want a healthier alternative, you can replace it with plain Greek yogurt or vanilla yogurt, if preferred.
Add a graham cracker topping. Crushed graham crackers also make a great topping on grape salad, with or without the brown sugar.

How to Make Grape Salad

Here’s how to make this easy fruit salad in just a few steps.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

Make the creamy dressing. Beat together the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla until well blended, creamy, and smooth.
Add the grapes. Fold in the grapes and half of the pecans until coated.
Chill. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour. Overnight works too.
Serve. Combine the pecans and brown sugar. Sprinkle over the salad and enjoy.

Angled overhead view of a bowl of grape salad

Video: Grape Salad

Serving Suggestions

This salad is typically served in a large bowl, but we think putting it in a shallow casserole dish is ideal, so the brown sugar/nut mixture gets equal coverage over the salad and everyone gets some of that
highly coveted topping. Another option is to put the topping in its own separate bowl to the side of the salad and let people sprinkle it on themselves.

We like to offer this up at summer BBQs – it makes a great sweet side dish to burgers, hot dogs, and anything else fresh off the grill. Plus it’s always a hit with both kids and adults!

Proper Storage

Grape salad is best when eaten within 2 days. For that reason, I do not recommend making it more than the night before you’ll be enjoying it. Be sure to keep it tightly covered or in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should be enjoyed cold, but you can let it soften just a bit at room temperature, if necessary, and give it a stir before serving again.

More Creamy Summer Salad Recipes:

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Grape Salad

5 from 2 Ratings

This classic Creamy Grape Salad features both red and green grapes combined with a cheesecake-like dressing, then finished with a chopped pecan-brown sugar topping. It's a crazy delicious easy fruit salad, perfect for spring and summer that is loved by everyone!

Print Recipe Rate Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

8 ounce brick cream cheese , softened to room temperature
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 & 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups small seedless firm red grapes , washed and dried
2 cups small seedless firm green grapes , washed and dried
1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans (or walnuts), divided
1/4 cup light brown sugar

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl with a handheld electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla until well blended, creamy and smooth.
Gently fold in the red grapes, green grapes, and 1/4 cup of the pecans until everything is coated.
Cover and chill for at least 1 hour (or overnight.)
Before serving, combine the remaining 1/4 cup pecans and the brown sugar; sprinkle over the top of the salad. Enjoy cold.

Video

Notes

Add snickers or heath bar. Yes really! Some people swear by adding some chopped up Snickers bars to this easy fruit salad. Similarly, crushed-up toffee from a Heath or Butterfinger bar is a popular addition too.

Replace the sour cream with yogurt. If you’re not a fan of sour cream or want a healthier alternative, you can replace it with plain Greek yogurt or vanilla yogurt, if preferred.

Add a graham cracker topping. Crushed graham crackers also make a great topping on grape salad, with or without the brown sugar.

Serving suggestion. This salad is typically served in a large bowl, but we think putting it in a shallow casserole dish is ideal, so the brown sugar/nut mixture gets equal coverage over the salad and everyone gets some of that highly coveted topping. Another option is to put the topping in its own separate bowl to the side of the salad and let people sprinkle it on themselves.

Nutrition

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.

Other Notes

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: creamy grape salad, easy fruit salad, summer side dish

Grape Salad

Creamy Grape Salad