Southern Grape Salad

Southern Grape Salad may sound a little odd to some, but it is positively delicious. So creamy and sweet and perfect for any holiday occasion, potluck, church gathering, or family function. It is made with red and green grapes, cream cheese, sour cream, brown sugar, toasted pecans, and vanilla or almond extract.

If you’re tired of bringing the same humdrum macaroni salad or potato salad to every potluck, you go to, change it up with this delicious tasting Southern Grape Salad. People will quickly become fans. There is nothing you and guests won’t love about this easy salad that’s so sweet and satisfying.

The grapes, usually red or green or both, get coated in a creamy mixture of sour cream, cream cheese, granulated sugar, and almond or vanilla extract. I also like to add some green celery for added extra crunch at times. A combination of brown sugar and chopped pecans gets added on top. It’s as easy as that! You can also add coconut if you like or other things for variation. 

My family’s first encounter with Southern Grape Salad was at a family reunion of my best friend several years ago. My best friend’s grandmother was ending the family reunion potluck-style luncheon.

So, of course, everyone was going to bring their best dish. Fran brought this incredible concoction of grapes, cream cheese, sour cream, brown sugar, and chopped pecans. I have been a fan ever since.

The ingredients needed are simple to find at almost any market year-round. The recipe is easy to do variations on as well. Prefer walnuts over pecans? They can be subbed. Like almond flavor instead of vanilla? Switch it out. You can use any grapes you and your family enjoy as well.

Ingredients You Need To Make Southern Grape Salad

• Red and Green Grapes – do not halve the grapes.

• Cream cheese – leave out on the counter to reach room temperature

• Sour Cream – Get a good quality that isn’t watery.

• Fine white sugar– works best when combining ingredients.

• Vanilla or almond extract – Be sure to buy actual extract. 

• Brown Sugar– be sure to make sure it is not lumpy

• Pecans or walnuts- chopped to the desired size

Tips For Making Southern Grape Salad

• If you’re not big on sour cream, use a thick Greek Yogurt to substitute the sour cream. (Plain)

• Change out the chopped pecans for walnuts for a change.

• You can use any seedless green, red, or even black grapes to change it up and add a different flavor.

• You can add extras to this salad to make it more of your own. Try coconut, celery, diced apples, or other tasty bits. 

• Serve the salad for  Christmas, Easter, and. Thanksgiving, It’s also perfect for Mother’s and Father’s Day celebrations too. 

Southern Grape Salad is easy to make and comes together in minutes. It’s just that simple to make for any occasion you can think of.

How To Make This Recipe

• To make the Southern grape salad, wash, drain and lightly pat the grapes dry. 

• Blend the Philly cream cheese, quality sour cream, or Greek yogurt if substituting, vanilla or almond extract, and fine white sugar until smooth and creamy.

• Fold in the whole grapes and chill the salad for at least 45 to an hour.

• When you’re ready to serve your guests the dessert, sprinkle on the pecans and brown sugar. 

Southern Grape Salad

Heidy McCallum

Southern Grape Salad may sound a little odd to some, but it is positively delicious. So creamy and sweet and perfect for any holiday occasion, potluck, church gathering, or family function.

5 from 26 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 0 minutes mins

Cream cheese to room temp 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 8 Servings

Calories 304 kcal

Equipment

• Colander- to drain grapes
• Large cookie sheet- to finish drying grapes
• Paper towels- to dry grapes
• Hand mixer - to mix cream cheese
• Large bowel - to place salad ingredients
• Serving dish -to serve
• Serving spoon- to serve

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 8 ounces cream cheese bring to room temp
• ¾ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or almond
• 3 tablespoons fine white sugar
• 3 cups green grapes washed and dried
• 3 cups red grapes washed and dried
• ¼ cup brown sugar may add more
• ½ cup pecans or walnuts

Instructions

 

• Wash, drain, and lightly pat the grapes dry. Line a large cookie sheet with paper towels and let finish drying. Pat lightly with a paper towel if needed.
• Blend the Philly cream cheese, quality sour cream, or Greek yogurt if substituting, vanilla or almond extract, and fine white sugar until smooth and creamy.
• Fold in the whole grapes and chill the salad for at least 45 to an hour.
• When you’re ready to serve your guests the dessert, sprinkle on the pecans and brown sugar. 

Notes

Although themccallumsshamrockpatch.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and how ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Under no circumstances will themccallumsshamrockpatch.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting from your reliance on nutritional information.

Nutrition

Calories: 304kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 4gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 113mgPotassium: 321mgFiber: 2gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 593IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 73mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Dessert salad, Fruit Salad, salad

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Suggested recipes to try: 

•  Waldorf Chicken Pasta Salad is the perfect lunch or light dinner and can be used as a  hearty side dish. It is combining the best of three different worlds, Waldorf Salad, Grilled Chicken, and Tricolor Pasta for an amazingly flavorful recipe that’s perfect for any gathering.
• Memphis-Style Coleslaw hits the most important notes when it comes to taste and texture slightly tart, sweet, creamy, oh so crunchy—there’s so much to love when it comes to Memphis-Style Coleslaw. Made with pure Southern-Style love; combining crunchy cabbage, green pepper, crisp carrots, and red onion with a delightfully sweet creamy homemade sauce
• Ambrosia Salad is one of those iconic desserts that the Southern Population thrives on at Picnics, Potlucks, Holidays, and Family Functions. Ambrosia is lovingly Made from sweet, pillowy marshmallows, heavy cream, sour cream, coconut flakes, plump juicy grapes, maraschino cherries, delicious juicy tropical fruits, and toasted pecans.

Sharing is caring!