A classic Southern grape salad with a sweet, creamy dressing and crunchy brown sugar pecans. Perfect for church suppers, cookouts, and family gatherings!
Grape salad is a sweet, creamy, and refreshing side dish that’s been a staple at Southern potlucks and holidays for generations. Juicy grapes are coated in a rich cream cheese dressing, then topped with brown sugar and pecans for the perfect blend of flavors and textures. It’s simple, nostalgic, and always a crowd favorite!
Not Just a Summertime Salad Recipe
This is one of those great fruit salads that you can serve year-round, since grapes are available in just about every grocery store no matter the season. You’ll see it at church potlucks, family reunions, and summer picnics; however, plenty of folks also serve grape salad as part of their Thanksgiving or Christmas spreads. It’s a convenient make-ahead, sweet-but-not-too-sweet salad or dessert, and adds a nice refreshing side to heavier holiday dishes. Think of it like other decadent salads, such as ambrosia, apple Snickers salad, and strawberry jello salad.
Ingredient Notes and Tips for Success
- We use a combination of green grapes and red grapes for nice color and flavor variety; however, you can stick with just one type of grape if you prefer. Make sure that you’re using seedless grapes.
- This yields a very large bowl of grape salad. It serves at least 12 people! If you’d like a smaller portion, just cut all of the ingredients in half. The rest of the instructions remain the same.
- The brown sugar-pecan topping is a classic garnish on the traditional grape salad recipe. If you prefer, you can swap walnuts or peanuts for the pecans. If someone has a nut allergy, just omit this topping altogether.
How to Make Grape Salad
- Combine the red and green grapes in a large bowl.
- Mix together the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla dressing.
- Fold the dressing into the grapes.
- Stir together the brown sugar and toasted pecans. Sprinkle half of this mixture over the salad (set aside the rest for a garnish later).
- Cover and chill the salad for at least 1 hour.
- Stir gently, and then sprinkle the remaining brown sugar topping on the salad just before serving.
Did you make this recipe?
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Watch How to Make It
Grape Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. red seedless grapes
- 2 lbs. green seedless grapes
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 (8 ounce) carton sour cream
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup chopped pecans, toasted
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
Instructions
- Place the grapes in a large mixing bowl; set aside.
- In a separate bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sour cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until creamy and well combined.
- Gently fold the cream cheese mixture into the grapes, stirring carefully to coat the fruit.
- In a small bowl, combine the toasted pecans and brown sugar. Sprinkle about half of the pecan mixture evenly over the top of the salad. Reserve the remaining mixture for garnish.
- Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
- Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir. Sprinkle the reserved pecan mixture over the top for garnish.
Notes
Nutrition
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Make Ahead: Grape salad is a great make-ahead dish! Prepare the salad up to 24 hours in advance and keep it covered in the refrigerator.
- How to Store Leftovers: Store any leftover grape salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir gently before serving again to redistribute the creamy dressing.
- Can You Freeze Grape Salad? Freezing is not recommended, as the creamy dressing and fresh grapes don’t hold up well when thawed. The texture becomes watery and less appealing.
Recipe Variations
- Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for extra protein and a tangier flavor.
- Lighten it up with reduced-fat cream cheese and sour cream.
- Use a sugar substitute (like Swerve or monk fruit sweetener) for a lower-sugar version.
- Add diced apples, sliced strawberries, or blueberries for extra color and texture.
- Sprinkle granola on top for crunch right before serving.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the brown sugar mixture for warmth.
More Fruit Salad Recipes to Try
Mandarin Orange Jello Salad
1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Easy Fruit Salad with Vanilla Pudding
15 minutes mins
Cranberry Jello Salad
5 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Thank you, Blair, for the 30 minute meal download! The recipes look delicious! I sure enjoy your weekly menus in my email.
Wishing your boys a very good school year as they navigate middle and high school, along with their (and yours!) busy sport season.
You’re so welcome, Dee. Thanks for your kind words. Hoping for a smooth year ahead! 🙂