This Grape Salad with crunchy coconut topping is an all time favorite! Red and green grapes in a cool sweet creamy sauce topped with sugary, crunchy grape nuts and coconut.
Grape Salad
This Grape Salad with crunchy coconut topping is probably my favorite fruit salad! It is so sweet and yummy, it’s almost more of a dessert than a salad. We will frequently take this grape salad on family picnics and it is ALWAYS a huge hit! Even the kids are crazy for it! It is so quick and easy to whip up, too.
Just remember, if you are taking it to a picnic or want to prepare ahead of time, add the coconut topping RIGHT before serving so it stays nice and crunchy!
What Makes A Salad A Salad?
In the world of food, there are a few hot debates. One of them is over the definition and composition of a salad. For some, tossing together grapes with a creamy sauce and some coconut falls short of the traditional image of a tossed green salad. Hence the distinctive phrase “fruit salad.” According to Merriam Webster, a salad is “any of the various “usually cold dishes” including raw greens, vegetables and toppings. It is served with dressing or small pieces of food, or usually mixed with a dressing or set in gelatin.” A fruit salad on the other hand generally contains small pieces of fruit served in their own juice or a syrup of some kind.
No matter what you call it, this Grape Salad hits the spot — and is totally on the mark to be considered a delicious side dish to your barbecue or picnic.
Speaking of Salads…
There are a whole lot of things you can add to the main dish of any meal to round out the experience. Check out some of these great salad options of all styles:
- Nuts About Berries Salad is a colorful, fresh, summery delight.
- Snickers Apple Salad That’s right. Snickers candy in a salad! Talk about a hot debate. But the pairing of the sweet snickers with tart apples is enough to satisfy anyone’s taste buds.
- Creamy Green Pea Salad with Bacon is a great side dish at any backyard barbecue. Plus, you can keep it simple, or add even more ingredients!
- Asian Cucumber Salad is full of flavor and low on calories. Check out this yummy homemade dressing!
How to make Grape Salad
Ingredients
- 1 bag grapes red, green or both (enough to fill a 9x13 pan)
CREAMY MIXTURE:
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 1/3 c. sugar
- 8 oz. sour cream
- 1 tsp. vanilla
TOPPING:
- 1 c Grape Nuts (heaping cup)
- 2/3 c. brown sugar
- 1/2 c. coconut flakes
Instructions
- Beat together cream cheese, sugar and vanilla, then fold in sour cream. Stir grapes in with the creamy mixture then spread out in a 9x13 glass pan and refrigerate.
RIGHT BEFORE SERVING:
- Combine topping ingredients well and add over top of the grapes.
Equipment
- 9x13 inch pan
- Hand Mixer
Recipe Video
Nutrition
Berklee says
I have a similar recipe that I love that calls for chopped pecans instead of a topping. I’m definitely going to give this version with the coconut topping a try and see which I like better.
Carol says
Im not crazy about coconut myself
Jena says
Your website is my “go-to” site for yummy recipes. I have seriously made soooo many of your recipes and some have become family favorites at our house too, but this one needed a comment. I made the recipe as is but as I made the topping I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be very good and it wasn’t. Sorry. The raw sugar made the salad sickly sweet and the grapenuts were not very appetizing. I wish I had used chopped nuts and baked it and the coconut in a crumbly topping of some sort that could be sprinkled over the top. I know it is just one person’s opinion but I would be careful if you decide to make this and perhaps just sprinkle a little granola over the top instead of the grapenuts/brown sugar/coconut topping. Our family didn’t really care for it much.
Cheryl says
We had the same experience.
Laura Reese says
This salad is perfect for summer! I love it.
lauren kelly says
This crunchy topping is EVERYTHING! I need to make this again for my next cookout!
Beth Pierce says
This was such a great recipe! Flavorful, quick and delicious! Yum!
Jen says
We love this salad and everyone always asks for the recipe when we bring it to all of our get togethers. A total crowd pleaser.
Billy says
Simple and delicious, love it!