Description
A refreshing and tangy side dish combining crisp red seedless grapes with a rich, creamy dressing made from cream cheese, mayonnaise, and maraschino cherries. This easy-to-make salad is perfect for potlucks, BBQs, and summer gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds red seedless grapes
- 8 ounces full-fat brick-style cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar
- ½ cup maraschino cherries (drained and chopped)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup pecans or walnuts (optional, toasted)
Instructions
- Rinse the red seedless grapes under cold water and pat them completely dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Place them in a large mixing bowl.
- Drain the maraschino cherries well and pat them dry with paper towels. Chop them into halves or quarters and add them to the bowl with the grapes.
- In a separate medium bowl, place the softened cream cheese. Using a hand mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese until smooth and creamy, about 1-2 minutes. Scrape down the sides to ensure no lumps remain.
- Add the mayonnaise, sugar, and vanilla extract to the cream cheese. Continue mixing until the mixture is fully combined and has a uniform, silky texture, about 2 more minutes.
- Gently fold the creamy dressing into the bowl with the grapes and cherries using a large rubber spatula. Fold until every grape is coated, being careful not to crush the fruit.
- Taste the salad and adjust sweetness or tang if desired.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving to allow flavors to meld and the dressing to firm up.
- Serve chilled. Optional: Garnish with toasted nuts or fresh mint leaves.
Notes
[‘Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature to avoid lumps.’, ‘Dry grapes and cherries thoroughly to prevent the salad from becoming runny.’, ‘Chill the mixing bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes before starting for better texture.’, ‘Best eaten within 2 days for optimal crunch; lasts up to 4 days in the fridge.’, ‘Do not freeze, as the texture will separate upon thawing.’]
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 24
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
Keywords: grape salad, creamy grape salad, side dish, potluck recipe, summer salad, easy dessert salad, cream cheese salad