⏲️ 5-Minute Recipe: Easy Grape Salad (2024)

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This Easy Grape Salad recipe is loaded with fresh grapes, sweetened cream cheese, and a crunchy, nutty topping. It’s ready in just 5 minutes plus chilling time.

⏲️ 5-Minute Recipe: Easy Grape Salad (1)

Grape Salad another one of those classic Midwestern desserts that we pass off as a salad (similar to Snickers Salad or Strawberry Pretzel Salad). It’s a sweet and nutty side dish with a creamy sauce and a crunchy topping.

It’s easy to make: mix up cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla, then add chilled grapes and top with brown sugar and walnuts. That’s it!

It’s 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

  1. Recipe ingredients
  2. Ingredient notes
  3. Step-by-step instructions
  4. Recipe tips and variations
  5. Recipe FAQs
  6. Easy Grape Salad Recipe

Recipe ingredients

⏲️ 5-Minute Recipe: Easy Grape Salad (2)

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 won’t 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 toastedwalnuts are great in this salad, or try toasted pecans instead.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. In a large bowl, add cream cheese, sour cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla and stir to combine.
⏲️ 5-Minute Recipe: Easy Grape Salad (3)
  1. Carefully fold in the grapes and gently toss until evenly coated. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix brown sugar and walnuts.
⏲️ 5-Minute Recipe: Easy Grape Salad (4)
  1. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture on top of the grapes. Cover and chill at least 1 hour or overnight. Serve cold.
⏲️ 5-Minute Recipe: Easy Grape Salad (5)

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.
⏲️ 5-Minute Recipe: Easy Grape Salad (6)

Recipe FAQs

How do you soften cream cheese fast?

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.

How many cups are in a pound of grapes?

1 pound of seedless grapes contains about 2 ½ cups of grapes. If the grapes have seeds, 1 pounds of seeded grapes contains about 2 cups of grapes.

How do you serve grape salad?

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 don’t 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 with Bacon and Cheese

Salad Recipes

The Best Macaroni Salad

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⏲️ 5-Minute Recipe: Easy Grape Salad (11)

Easy Grape Salad

By Meggan Hill

This easy Grape Salad recipe is loaded with fresh grapes, sweetened cream cheese, and a crunchy, nutty topping. It's ready in just 5 minutes plus chilling time.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings 12 servings (1 cup each)

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Calories 341

5 from 155 votes

ReviewPrint

Ingredients

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 Video

Notes

  1. Cream cheese: If the cream cheese is not softened to room temperature, the cream cheese and sour cream won’t combine well (the mixture will be lumpy). If this happens, stir it quickly with a whisk.
  2. 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.
  3. Walnuts: Chopped and toastedwalnuts are great in this salad, or try toasted pecans instead.
  4. Yield: This recipe makes at least 12 cups Grape Salad, enough for 12 servings, 1 cup each.
  5. 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).
  6. 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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 341kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 4gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 72mgPotassium: 400mgFiber: 2gSugar: 43gVitamin A: 475IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 74mgIron: 1mg

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Meggan Hill

Website | + posts

Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

⏲️ 5-Minute Recipe: Easy Grape Salad (2024)

FAQs

What is grape salad made of? ›

This simple Grape Salad Recipe is full of fresh red grapes that are tossed in a sweet cream cheese dressing and sprinkled with brown sugar and pecans. It can be served as a side dish or dessert, and it's perfect for spring, summer, holidays, and parties!

How do you make grapes taste better? ›

Turn Up the Flavor with Roasted Grapes

If you thought fresh grapes were a treat, wait until you try them roasted. Toss with oil, salt and pepper and roast in a 425° oven for about 30 minutes. The grapes will soften and intensify in sweetness.

How to make salads that are actually good? ›

How to Make a Salad You'll Actually Want to Eat
  1. 1: Think Beyond Lettuce and Greens.
  2. 2: Add Heft with Grains and Nuts.
  3. 3: Add Beans or Other Proteins.
  4. 4: Make Your Own Homemade Salad Dressing.
  5. 5: Make it a Flavor Party.
Jan 18, 2024

How do you sweeten bitter grapes? ›

Have you ever bought a bunch of grapes only for them to be too sour to enjoy? Try roasting them! Roasting concentrates the sugar content in grapes and makes the taste more palatable. You can pair roasted grapes with pork or chicken, or use a blender or food processor to make a compote for cheese and crackers.

What ingredient is grape must? ›

“Must” is a term used to describe the natural, freshly pressed grape juice that is eventually fermented and turned into wine. The must contains the seeds, stems, and skins of the grapes. These solid components are called “pomace,” which refers to separating the fruit skins from the juice.

How long do grapes last in the fridge? ›

Stored dry in a well-ventilated container in the crisper drawer of your fridge, grapes can last up to three weeks. They won't last nearly as long at room temperature, and they'll lose their crispness more quickly.

What color of grapes are the healthiest? ›

In general, dark red and purple grapes are higher in antioxidants than green or white grapes. The antioxidants found in grapes can help protect your cells from free radicals, which are a natural byproduct of your body's biological processes.

What pairs well with grapes? ›

Pairing fresh grapes with cheese is perhaps one of the most well-known combinations: Thanks to the fresh and sweet flavor of the grapes, they go especially well with savory cheese as a palate cleanser. In fact, though it's less common, combining grapes with fish is not to be underestimated.

Why do restaurant salads taste better than homemade? ›

Restaurants salt their salads.

This resulted in every bite tasting vibrant and flavorful. "Season your salad just like you would anything else," Simpson said. "Salt is a big difference between salads at home and salads in a restaurant." This doesn't mean you have to make your salads salty!

What can I add to my salad to make it better? ›

Add one or more of these protein-rich foods to your salad:
  1. lean meat: chicken or turkey breast, lean steak.
  2. lower-fat cheese: light cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, feta, goat cheese.
  3. legumes: kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, white or black beans.
  4. eggs: hard boiled.
  5. soy products: cubed tofu, edamame.

What can I put in a salad to make it filling? ›

Try four ounces of one of the following:
  1. Beans like black, chickpeas (hummus), cannellini or adzuki.
  2. Chicken.
  3. Edamame.
  4. Eggs (over easy, soft boiled, or chopped hard boiled)
  5. Lean beef.
  6. Lentils.
  7. Reduced fat cheese.
  8. Seafood (sardines, tuna, shrimp, salmon)

Is there a way to make grapes sweeter? ›

with olive oil and salt. Roasting makes them sweeter.

How do you keep grapes sweet? ›

This produce pick does best when stored between 30 to 32 degrees F and between about 90 to 95 percent relative humidity, adds the California Table Grape Commission. Simply pop the grapes in the back of one of your refrigerator's crisper drawers in the same bag or box you purchased them in.

Are frozen grapes good? ›

Snack on frozen grapes for a healthy snack, or thaw slightly and mix with your juice of choice to create a slushy dessert. You can also freeze grapes with cubed cantaloupe or honeydew and pineapple to make a tasty fruit compote. Frozen grapes make a nice addition to smoothies and are a great snack for kids' lunches.

What are grapes filled with? ›

A cup of grapes contains over 121 g of water. They are also high in antioxidants, such as lutein and zeaxanthin. The skins of red grapes contain the phytochemical resveratrol, which appears to protect against several chronic diseases and conditions. The flavonoids myricetin and quercetin are also found in grapes.

Are grape stems made of wood? ›

The grapevine is a woody perennial plant (See Figure 1.1), which is differentiated into the above ground shoot system (e.g., trunk, leaves, flowers, and fruit) and the underground root system.

What is grape sugar made of? ›

It is thus obtained a mixture made of only grape water, glucose and fructose. Once the sugary component has been extracted, the second step is the concentration: the evaporation of the watery component will give the product its peculiar consistency and density.

Why do people put grapes in salad? ›

Making grape salad is the perfect answer to a grape surplus. In addition to their delightfully sweet flavor and juiciness, grapes are rich in vitamins (like vitamin C), fiber, potassium, and antioxidants.

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