Creamy Grape Salad with Cream Cheese

This fantastic creamy grape salad blends the sweetness of juicy grapes with velvety cream cheese and offers the perfect refreshing and satisfying harmony. This simple yet sophisticated salad is the ideal addition to your table, whether a casual gathering or holiday event, and will leave you craving more.

Creamy Grape Salad has a cheesecake-like coating, crunchy topping, sweet grapes, and a crispy crunch that makes for the perfect dessert for any occasion. A delicious salad perfect for a potluck, family gathering, or summertime cookout.

With summertime just around the corner, there will be lots of cookouts, family gatherings, and picnics. I know when I need a dessert to carry to a cookout, this Grape Salad is always a hit!

Who wants to heat up their kitchen when it’s hot outside? Not me! This salad will keep your kitchen nice and cool and your taste buds dancing. This grape salad will have you wanting more, more, and more!

Creamy Grape Salad with text overlay.
Creamy Grape Salad

What Is Grape Salad

Grape salad is a delicious recipe featuring sweet grapes with a creamy dressing, usually made with cream cheese and sour cream.  The grapes are sometimes halved or left whole depending on their size, and the other ingredients may include nuts or other sweeteners such as honey or sugar. This salad can be served as a side dish, dessert salad, or a light snack and is the perfect dish to enjoy on a hot summer day. This easy fruit salad is a welcome addition when served at a family reunion, at casual gatherings, or at a buffet table.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This creamy grape salad combines flavors, textures, and versatility, making it an enjoyable dish for all occasions.

Simple Prep: Everything is mixed in one large bowl and comes together with minimal effort.

Crowd Pleaser: This easy grape salad recipe is made with familiar ingredients. All can enjoy the flavors and textures.

Creamy Dressing: The sweet cream cheese mixture is made with cream cheese and sour cream, creating a rich and tangy dressing.

Balanced Flavors: Combining seedless red grapes and tart green grapes brings the correct balance to the dish.

Versatile: This recipe can be easily adapted for casual gatherings and formal dinners.

Make Ahead: You can make this dish up to a day ahead, allowing you more time for your busy schedule. Refrigerate until you are ready to serve.

Ingredients

This easy recipe is straightforward and uses a handful of simple ingredients easily found in most grocery stores. This fresh grape salad uses 3 pounds of grapes (whole grapes or cut in half) and comes together quickly. For a complete list of ingredients, see the printable recipe card below. 

  • Green Seedless Grapes/ Purple Seedless Grapes – Use fresh grapes that are firm and plump. Wash thoroughly and dry before mixing in the salad or cutting them in half. 
  • Sour Cream – Sour cream adds a tangy element to the dressing.
  • Cream Cheese – Cream cheese adds a velvety and rich texture. Use softened cream cheese before mixing. I prefer the full-fat cream cheese.
  • White Sugar & Brown Sugar – This amazing creamy grape salad calls for white granulated sugar and brown sugar and compliments the creamy dressing.
  • Pecans – Chopped pecans provide a crunch and nutty texture. Feel free to toast the pecans beforehand to bring this dessert to the next level.
Creamy Grape Salad in a bowl with grapes in the background with text overlay.
Creamy Grape Salad

How To Make This Grape Salad with Cream Cheese

This salad comes together very fast. Your guest will be asking for the recipe and asking for more!

  1. Begin with a large mixing bowl and make the sweet cream cheese dressing. Mix sour cream, cream cheese, and sugar. Use an electric mixer/hand mixer to blend until smooth.
  2. Add grapes to the creamy mixture and gently mix everything until all is coated.
  3. In a small bowl, toss together pecans and brown sugar. Then, add to the top of the grape mixture.
  4. Chill.

If serving a few hours or the next day after mixing this grape salad, hold off on adding the pecans and brown sugar until you are ready to serve. This will keep the brown sugar from dissolving.

You will want to eat this whole bowl by yourself. I had to stop myself from eating this!! It has a cheesecake-like coating that goes perfectly with the sweet, juicy grapes. It is creamy, crunchy, cool, and sweet all in one bite!

The topping is pure bliss. Brown sugar and toasted pecans garnish the top of this delicious dessert. It is pretty heavenly!

Can You Slice Grapes in Half

Yes. Slice the grapes in half if so desired. Some grapes are larger than others. If children will be eating this dish, slice the grapes in half or even smaller so as not to be a choking hazard.  Sliced grapes can easily fit in their mouths.

How To Store Leftover Southern Grape Salad

Store all leftover grape salad in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap in the refrigerator.

How Long Does Grape Salad Last in the Refrigerator

Grape Salad will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. I might even say longer, but it has never lasted more than 4 days in my house. Once I make this stuff, we always seem to inhale it as quickly as we possibly can.

Grape salad in a serving dish with grapes pictured with text overlay.

Tips and Variations for the Best Grape Salad

Recipe Tips:

  • Make sure your grapes are fresh and not mushy.
  • Cream Cheese should be at room temperature and soft before mixing.
  • Chill for at least an hour before serving.  You can also make this salad the day before serving, which will be fine in the refrigerator.
  • You can certainly use one color of grapes or several colors. The choice is yours. I like to mix my grapes. It makes for a prettier presentation.
  • Don’t skimp on your sour cream or cream cheese. Use the good stuff. I don’t go low-calorie or low-fat. But, if you are looking for a lighter version, you can use Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream, or you can certainly use the low-fat stuff if desired. 

Recipe Variations:

  • Add sliced strawberries.
  • Add toasted walnuts instead of pecans.
  • Add a can of drained pineapple tidbits.
  • Add crushed Graham Crackers to the top of the Grape Salad instead of brown sugar.
  • Add a little bit of maple syrup to the top.
  • Add a splash of vanilla extract to the creamy dressing mixture.

I made this dessert for a special occasion we had at church. Every bite was gone..eaten..no leftovers! Everyone raved at how delicious this Grape Salad tasted.

How To Serve Creamy Grape Salad

Serving an easy creamy grape salad recipe is a simple process. You can serve it in one large bowl or make individual servings. Get creative and adapt these ideas based on your preferences and the occasion. Here are a few ideas for serving this easy salad recipe.

  • Set up a dessert bar for your family or guests with different toppings: extra Cool Whip, more crunchy pecans, crumbled candy bars (Heath bars, Snickers, or Butterfinger)
  • Grape Salad Yogurt Bowls: Alternate this salad in individual containers with grape salad, vanilla yogurt, or plain Greek yogurt.
  • Grape Salad Parfaits: Serve this grape salad in glasses alternating with grape salad and layers of crushed graham crackers or granola.
  • Grape Salad Trifle: Layer the grape salad in a trifle dish alternating with layers of pound cake.

This only takes minutes to throw together. The ingredients are super simple, and when everything is mixed, it is yummy!

This makes the perfect dessert for any occasion–even movie night at home! I hope you enjoy this Creamy Grape Salad as much as I do!

Creamy Grape Salad in a serving dish with grapes in the background with text overlay.
Creamy Grape Salad

More Salad Recipes

Mixed Bean Salad

Mixed Bean Salad is perfect for a side dish or to serve as a snack. It has just the right amount of tanginess and color—a great dish for your next party.

Mixed Bean Salad–kidney beans, black beans, onion, tomatoes, vinegar, and oil. It is a simple, delightful, and very satisfying salad bursting with flavor. 

Bacon and Broccoli Salad

It’s perfectly served as a side dish for dinner, a cookout, or a holiday celebration. Bacon and Broccoli Salad is a quick summer salad that will surely please your family and guests and make your taste buds dance.

Southern Cornbread Salad

Southern Cornbread Salad is a crowd-pleasing layered salad with bacon, cheese, and cornbread that comes together quickly for all your gatherings. Perfect for any time of the year.

Carrot Apple Salad

Carrot Apple Salad– Carrots, pineapple, apple, and raisins make a delicious salad for almost any occasion. This is an easy dish to throw together with only a few ingredients and little prep work. Plus, it is super yummy!

Not only is this dessert easy to make, it’s also delicious! Try it for your next get together. It’s addicting!

Grape Salad in a serving bowl with text overlay.
Grape Salad

Recipe FAQs

Can You Make Grape Salad Without Sour Cream?

You could substitute Greek Yogurt instead of sour cream, if so desired.

What is the best way to serve grape salad?

Grape salad is nice and refreshing. It is best served chilled as a side dish, an entree, on a bed of lettuce, or as a dessert. Makes a great snack or even a quick lunch.

Can I add other ingredients to grape salad?

There are several options for other ingredients to add to this delicious grape salad. Choose your favorite candy bars, such as Snickers or Peanut Butter Cups. Chop them up and mix them in. Yum! Add a handful of toasted pecan or walnuts for added crunch.

Creamy Grape Salad

Gina Abernathy
This Grape Salad has a cheesecake like coating, crunchy topping, sweet grapes and a crispy crunch that makes for a perfect dessert for any occasion.
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Dessert, Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 lbs. green seedless grapes washed and dried
  • 1 1/2 lbs. purple seedless grapes washed and dried
  • 16 oz. sour cream
  • 8 oz. cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 cup pecans chopped

Instructions
 

  • Mix together sour cream, cream cheese, and sugar. Use a mixer to blend until smooth.
  • Add grapes to the creamy mixture and gently mix everything together until all is coated.
  • Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. You can serve immediately, but it is better if you can make ahead and chill before serving.
  • If serving immediately: Toss together pecans and brown sugar. Then add to the top of the grape mixture. If not serving immediately: Wait to add the topping just before serving.

Notes

Wait until you are ready to serve to add the brown sugar and pecans to the top.
Keyword Creamy Grape Salad

27 Comments

  1. Yum, you had me at cream cheese. This reminds me of my favorite salad (lettuce, feta cheese, grapes, pecans, apples), but in a dessert form. Can’t wait to try!

  2. I’ve never made a grape salad, but this sounds delicious! And I agree with Melissa… anything with cream cheese is good in my book! I could eat a bowl of just the pecans alone!

  3. This recipe looks absolutely amazing! Perfect for summer picnics and easy to do with dinner on a warm night when you don’t want to be cooking! 🙂

  4. Cream cheese and grapes, sealed the deal! That looks and sounds divine! I can’t wait to try this recipe.

  5. I’d never heard of grape salad before but the combination of ingredients certainly has me intrigued. It does sound like a nice refreshing treat for a warm summer day. I will have to give this a try.

  6. My grandmother used to make grape salad. I haven’t had it in years. I might have to make this soon.

  7. How have I never had this before! This sounds so simple and like it should be a staple at all summertime cookouts. I can’t wait to give this a try!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating