Grape Salad is a classic easy potluck dessert that tastes like part fruit salad and part cheesecake with a crunchy brown sugar pecan topping.
This recipe is a classic throwback American comfort food dessert recipe like Watergate Salad, Ambrosia Salad and Frog’s Eye Salad. A little less healthy (but not too unhealthy!) than your classic Fruit Salad, this is a still a fun family favorite you can serve this summer without heating up your oven!
It feels great when fun, easy recipes come together without a lot of work. This creamy Grape Salad Recipe happens to be a classic one that you don’t need to re-invent the wheel on. It is part fruit salad, part no bake cheesecake, and part brown sugar pecan topping.
This “salad” is the perfect side dish to your easy spring and summer picnics. It keeps well if added to lunchboxes, and it’s the perfect substitute for the dreaded canned fruit cocktail.
This recipe is huge hit with the kids during Easter, sometimes served with chopped candy bars (Snickers or Mars bars), it is one of the easier desserts to serve during the holiday and you get to avoid buying Peeps (although we do love making Homemade Marshmallows).
How to Make Grape Salad
- Wash and dry your red grapes and green grapes well, then cut them in half.
- Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla until smooth.
- Toss cream cheese mixture with grapes in a large bowl.
- Top with brown sugar and chopped pecans.
The best part about this easy dessert is how quick it is. There is no baking involved so you don’t have to heat up your kitchen, and it’s just a few ingredients mixed together and tossed with some grapes. While you’ve got to try this beloved New York Cheesecake recipe, you get such fun easy cheesecake flavors from this recipe with almost none of the effort.
And if you want a second no bake easy grape dessert you HAVE to check out these Sour Patch Grapes which are a kid favorite and have been one of the most popular desserts on the site since they were posted.
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More Easy Side Dishes
We have all your CLASSIC summer favorites. Skip the deli counter.
- Potato Salad – This is your classic potato salad you grew up on.
- Macaroni Salad – Nothing fancy, 15 minutes for the perfect macaroni salad.
- Cole Slaw – Make this a few hours ahead, but it only takes 5 minutes to make!
- Baked Beans – These are AWARD WINNING baked beans – multiple awards.
- Baked Mac and Cheese – The best, cheesiest, most amazing mac and cheese ever.
- Pasta Salad – Quick, easy, perfect pasta salad with either bottled or homemade dressing options!
Frequently Asked Questions
Whole grapes are a choking hazard and also are a bit larger than a comfortable bite.
Make sure your cream cheese is softened (room temperature is best) or your mixture will have lumps. I sometimes microwave it with a moist paper towel over it on half power to make sure it is not cold.
Lighten the recipe by using greek yogurt or light cream cheese in place of the sour cream and whole fat cream cheese. For a lighter texture you could also whip together cream cheese and cool whip (homemade recipe) and skip the sugar.
For a deeper flavor swap honey for the white sugar.
Do not make this salad the day before serving, the grapes will soften too much.
How to Store Grape Salad
- Serve: Refrigerate the grape salad until serving time but add the brown sugar and pecans right before serving. Grape Salad can be served at room temperature for up to two hours.
- Store: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one day, but it is best served right after making.
- Freeze: Do not freeze this salad, it will not thaw well.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 pounds green seedless grapes
- 2 pounds red seedless grapes
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup pecans , chopped
Instructions
- Using an electric mixer, mix the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla extract until completely smooth.
- Add in the grapes and toss well.
- Garnish with brown sugar and chopped pecans.
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Could you use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream? Always looking for ways to up my protein! :p
I’m thinking yes; however, I haven’t tested this recipe using yogurt. It may need a wee bit of sweetener maybe? Individual tastes vary so much. Let us know how it turned out!
This looks delicious. I am counting calories and am wondering what the serving amount is so I may know how much I can eat, not half the bowl! Am loving your recipes.
Re: Serving Size:
The issue is that people will have ingredients of different sizes. Packaged products are weighed and measured at the time of creation which makes their measurements accurate. The only way to accurately know the measurements of meals is to weigh and divide.
So glad your loving the recipes!
love it
Love the flavor combos in this salad, so easy to make and so tasty!
So glad you loved it, Billy!
I like to make it a day ahead in an 8×8 square pan and spread the pecans and brown sugar on top, refrigerate over night or several hours so the topping will meld into the salad. It is very popular in potlucks. It’s one of our Christmas salads.
So glad everyone loves it!
What a delicious, fun summer salad! I am making this for another party this weekend!
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the 5 stars.
Totally love this salad. So good.
Thanks, Becky!
This looks perfect for the summer! Can’t wait to try it!
I hope you enjoy it, Julie.
Nom nom!! Why do grapes taste so delicious in salads?! The brown sugar & nuts on top are a delicious bonus!
It’s such a great combo! So glad you loved it, Kristyn.