Juicy, firm grapes and a deliciously sweet creamy sauce come together in this amazing Creamy Grape Salad. A sprinkle of sweetened chopped nuts and Heath bits makes the perfect finishing touch.
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A Cool Fruit Salad, with a Sweet and Crunchy Twist!
Are you a fan of fruit salad? Ambrosia salad? Carrot and raisin salad? Then you will adore this easy recipe for creamy grape salad. It’s got all the cool, crisp crunch you expect from a “company” salad or potluck recipe – and the perfect creamy sauce, made with real cream cheese and a touch of sugar.
This is the kind of thing that you will find at holiday meals, covered dish dinners, and barbecues all across the South, and there’s good reason! It’s easy to make, refrigerates well, and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Honestly, the only question is, why don’t we make this kind of recipe more often? I say we start making it to go with any dinner or lunch, not just for special occasions!
What Is Creamy Grape Salad Made Of?
Let’s talk about the ingredients you will need to make this creamy grape salad. The ingredients for this recipe are ridiculously simple, but give the best results! Here’s the full list, in detail:
- Cream Cheese: One block of cream cheese, or one 8-ounce tub. I think full-fat cream cheese gives the best flavor and texture.
- Sour Cream: Because, yum! Sour cream thins out the sauce a bit, and adds a ton of flavor.
- Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract is my go-to, but a scraped vanilla bean would be lovely, too.
- Brown Sugar: A little bit to sweeten the sauce, and a little bit for the crunchy nut topping.
- Grapes: I like to use half green grapes and half red, but you can choose whatever grapes you like! Make sure they are seedless, for easy eating.
- Chopped Nuts: I use pecans and walnuts, but again, you can use whatever you prefer! All pecans would be great, or you could do chopped pistachios, sliced almonds, or chopped macadamia nuts… so many good options.
- Heath Pieces: Crunchy toffee Heath pieces just put this dish over the top! If you can’t find Heath pieces, just chop up a Heath candy bar to get the same effect.
How Do You Choose the Best Grapes?
This salad is best when you have firm, ripe grapes that are sweet and crunchy. Choosing grapes is partly a guessing game, but there are still some general guidelines that will give you the best chance of choosing sweet, crisp grapes. First, make sure to choose grapes where the majority of them are firm, with no wrinkles or soft areas on most of the grapes. If the grapes are softened wrinkly, they will not be crisp inside.
Second, look at the color. Avoid grapes that are overly green. The sweetest red grapes will have little to no pale or greenish tint. Even green grapes will be tinged yellow at their sweetest, rather than perfectly green!
Instructions
There are just four quick steps to make creamy grape salad! The key to making it correctly is to fold in the grapes, rather than stirring or mixing. This will keep the sauce thick and creamy.
- Make the Sauce. Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla, and about three tablespoons of the brown sugar.
- Fold in the Grapes. Add the grapes, and fold them in gently using a large spoon.
- Make the Topping. Next, combine the remaining brown sugar, the chopped nuts, and the Heath pieces in a small bowl. Sprinkle this mixture over the grape salad.
- Enjoy! Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered, until time to serve.
Helpful Hints
And there you have it: a fruity, fluffy, crunchy salad with oodles of flavor. It’s a sweet treat you can feel good about, and serve for just about any occasion! Best of all, it’s as easy as pie – especially with a few helpful hints.
- Soften the Cream Cheese: Before making the sauce, be sure to set the cream cheese out at room temperature for a while, to soften. This will help keep the salad from being lumpy.
- Marshmallow Madness: One fun substitution you could try is using marshmallow creme instead of the sour cream and brown sugar in the filling. Marshmallow creme is sweet and light, and makes a perfect sauce for the fruit that’s candy-like and smooth.
- Candy Crush: Not a fan of Heath bars? Substitute another candy bar of your choice, like a Snickers, Zero, or Symphony bar, or omit the candy altogether.
What to Serve with Grape Salad
While creamy grape salad is wonderful as a quick snack, I also like to serve it as a side dish with a big, old-fashioned meal. Here are some of my family’s favorite holiday and potluck-style recipes, for your next special occasion!
- Crispy Chicken: Classic fried chicken would be perfect with this salad, or you could make these Crispy Brown Sugar Air Fryer Chicken Legs! They’re easy, flavorful, and perfect with crisp, cool grapes.
- Deviled Eggs: Another summery classic, deviled eggs are an irresistible snack, especially the way my mom makes them! Try this easy recipe for Mama’s Deviled Eggs with a Parmesan Crisp – they’re utterly scrumptious.
- Perfect “Baked” Ham: Especially at Easter and Christmas, a baked ham is a welcome addition to the table – but did you know you can make beautifully juicy, flavorful ham in the Crockpot? This easy Crockpot Ham tutorial will tell you how. Sweet and salty, ham is just right with creamy grape salad.
Storing the Leftovers
Leftover grape salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 7 days. Stir it gently before serving to re-blend the sauce and ingredients.
Can I Freeze This Dish?
Unfortunately, I can’t recommend freezing this grape salad, because once it thaws, the grapes will be soft and watery. The creamy sauce may separate, as well.
More Perfect Salad Recipes
Looking for some more refreshing salad recipes? Here are a few more recipes I think you will enjoy:
- Loaded Pea Salad
- Greek Pasta Salad
- Ambrosia Salad
- Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint
- Caprese Salad Stuffed Avocado
- Creamy Waldorf Salad
- Best Broccoli Salad with Bacon
- Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
- Creamy Tuna Macaroni Salad
Creamy Grape Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 tablespoons brown sugar, divided
- 3 cups seedless green grapes
- 3 cups seedless red grapes
- ¼ cup pecans, chopped
- ¼ cup walnuts, chopped
- 2 tablespoons Heath toffee pieces or chopped candy bar
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Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla, and 3 tablespoons of brown sugar. Beat until well-combined, and smooth.
- Add the grapes, and fold them in with a large spoon.
- In a small bowl, combine the two remaining tablespoons of brown sugar, the pecans, the walnuts, and the Heath pieces. Sprinkle this over the grape salad.
- Enjoy as a snack, or serve as a side dish with your favorite meal.
Notes
Nutrition
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