Description
A creamy, sweet, and crunchy grape salad featuring red and green grapes coated in a luscious blend of cream cheese and Greek yogurt, topped with walnuts and a sprinkle of brown sugar for added texture and flavor. Perfect for a refreshing dessert or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit
- 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
- Wash and Dry Grapes: Place the red and green grapes into a strainer and wash thoroughly under running water. Pat the grapes completely dry using a kitchen towel or paper towels to ensure no excess moisture remains.
- Prepare Dressing: In a large serving bowl, stir together the softened cream cheese, plain Greek yogurt, brown sugar, and lemon juice until smooth and fully combined, creating the creamy dressing base for the salad.
- Combine Grapes and Dressing: Carefully add the washed grapes into the bowl with the cream cheese mixture. Gently toss to coat all the grapes evenly with the creamy dressing.
- Add Walnuts: Fold in 1 cup of the chopped walnuts until they are evenly distributed throughout the salad, adding a nice crunch and nutty flavor.
- Chill the Salad: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight, to allow the flavors to meld and for a chilled serving temperature.
- Garnish and Serve: Just before serving, sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup light brown sugar and the reserved walnuts on top for an attractive presentation and added texture. Serve cold.
Notes
- Storage: Place leftover grape salad in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to one week. Make sure it is covered to prevent the cream cheese mixture from drying out.
- Do not freeze this salad as it will not thaw well and the texture will be compromised.
- For a sweeter twist, add marshmallow cream or chopped candy bars like Snickers, Milky Way, Twix, Rolos, or 3 Musketeers into the salad before chilling.
- Incorporate additional fresh fruits such as apples, strawberries, or bananas to diversify the flavors and textures.
- For extra crunch and garnish, sprinkle graham cracker crumbs, chopped pecans, or crushed pretzels on top before serving.
