Description
This refreshing and creamy grape salad combines seedless red and green grapes with a smooth mixture of cream cheese and Greek yogurt, sweetened with brown sugar and a touch of lemon juice. Topped with crunchy walnuts and light brown sugar, it is the perfect make-ahead dessert or side dish that is best served cold.
Ingredients
Scale
Grapes
- 3½ cups seedless red grapes
- 3½ cups seedless green grapes
Salad Dressing
- 4 ounce (½ 8-oz package) cream cheese, softened
- 1¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cup brown sugar, lightly packed
- 1 tsp lemon juice (about ½ of one small lemon)
Toppings
- 1¼ cups walnuts, chopped and divided
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
Instructions
- Prepare Grapes: Place the red and green grapes into a strainer and wash thoroughly over the sink. Pat the grapes completely dry to prevent excess moisture in the salad.
- Make Dressing: In a large serving bowl, stir together the softened cream cheese, plain Greek yogurt, brown sugar, and lemon juice until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Combine Grapes and Dressing: Carefully add the dried grapes to the cream cheese mixture and gently mix until all grapes are well coated.
- Add Walnuts: Fold in 1 cup of the chopped walnuts evenly into the salad for added texture and flavor.
- Chill Salad: Refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour or up to overnight to allow flavors to meld and for the salad to firm up.
- Garnish and Serve: Before serving, top the salad with the remaining ¼ cup chopped walnuts and sprinkle with the light brown sugar for a sweet, crunchy finish. Best served cold.
Notes
- Store leftover grape salad covered in the refrigerator for up to one week to maintain freshness and prevent the cream mixture from drying out.
- Do not freeze this grape salad as it will not thaw well and the texture will be compromised.
- For a sweeter variation, add marshmallow cream or chopped candy bars like Snickers, Milky Way, Twix, Rolos, or 3 Musketeers.
- Incorporate additional fresh fruits such as apples, strawberries, or bananas to enhance the salad’s flavor and variety.
- Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs, chopped pecans, or crushed pretzels on top for extra crunch and garnish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
