Easy Grape Salad with Pecans
Grape Salad is a sweet and creamy side dish or dessert salad that’s perfect for picnics, potlucks, pitch-ins, or just getting together with friends and family. Crisp grapes, a creamy dressing, and topped with chopped pecans, this salad has the perfect balance!
Easy Grape Salad
Got fresh grapes? I love finding new ways to enjoy my favorite foods and grapes are one of my favorite fruits. That’s because they are sweet, tart, and juicy.
For a long time, I thought the only way to eat grapes was just plain. It wasn’t until I moved to Georgia that I tried this amazing dessert salad.
The first time I saw it I thought “this can’t be a real salad” but I was totally wrong.
Filled with plump and tart grapes, mixed in a sweet and creamy dressing and sprinkled with brown sugar and crunchy pecans, this grape salad is an easy recipe and perfect for any occasion!
Ingredients Needed
Grapes – I like to use a combination of red and green grapes but feel free to use your favorite ones. Just be sure they are seedless. Also, I like to cut mine in half but feel free to leave them whole if you like. Just beware of choking!
Sour Cream – Feel free to use full fat, reduced fat, or fat free. Or try plain Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream.
Cream Cheese – Make sure you allow the cream cheese to soften or it won’t mix evenly and form clumps. You can use fat free or reduced fat cream cheese.
Brown Sugar – Feel free to use raw, Turbinado, or even coconut sugar. You can use white sugar of you like but the brown sugar adds more caramel-like flavors.
Pecans – For this grape salad, you can switch up to your favorite nut. Just be sure to toast them to bring out even more nutty flavor. Toasted pecans are my favorite!
Vanilla Extract – Adds a little extra flavor but totally optional.
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How to Make Grape Salad
First: Prep your grapes. Once they are washed and dried, pluck them from the stems and cut in half if so desired.
Second: In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer or hand mixer. Mix until light and fluffy.
Third: Gently fold the grapes into the cream cheese mixture, making sure to coat them all evenly. Place in a serving bowl and sprinkle with nuts and brown sugar. Chill until ready to serve.
If you are not serving immediately, cover and refrigerate until ready to enjoy. When ready to serve, unwrap, sprinkle with brown sugar and toasted pecans!
For the full recipe and detailed baking instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
How long does it last?
Keep this salad and any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. It will keep well, just give it a stir before serving.
If the grapes are extra large and you need to cut them, the salad may get watery after 24 hours because the grapes will release water.
Can I freeze it?
This recipe does not do well frozen. The grapes will burst when thawed and the salad will get very watery.
Can I substitute the pecans?
I like toasted pecans but feel free to switch things up and use walnuts, almonds, or even sunflower seeds. Any of these will taste great and look pretty on top of the salad.
More Easy Salad Recipes
Salads are a great way to get in extra fruits and veggies and you can add in so many toppings.
Some of my favorites are this broccoli grape salad, this 24 hour layered salad, this classic Waldorf salad, and this easy chicken salad.
Tips for No Leftovers
- a lot of recipes use whole grapes. I prefer to cut mine in half to avoid a choking hazard
- try topping with toffee bits or crushed heath bars
- be sure to use seedless grapes. picking seeds out of your teeth is never fun. Feel free to use your favorite type of grape
- want to make it even lighter? use cool whip frozen whipped topping instead of sour cream.
- you can use grapes of just one color or you can use green and red grapes.
- keep the brown sugar and pecan topping separate until ready to serve to keep them from getting soggy.
- this is best enjoyed chilled but you can serve it at room temperature.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!
This creamy grape salad recipe is one of my favorite recipes is not your average fruit salad. It’s perfect for so many occasions! Serve it as a side dish or a dessert.
Grape Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups green grapes rinsed, dried, sliced in half
- 3 cups red grapes rinsed, dried, sliced in half
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 5 tablespoons brown sugar divided
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup toasted pecans roughly chopped
Instructions
- Rinse, dry, and slice your grapes in half. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla, and 3 tablespoons brown sugar.
- Mix to completely combine.
- Add in the grapes and stir to evenly coat them.
- If ready to serve, sprinkle with remaining brown sugar and toasted pecans.
- If making ahead, cover and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. When serving, sprinkle with brown sugar and toasted pecans. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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