Grapes are the unsung heroes of summer. Why? Because they are portable, crisp, sweet, and have just enough juice to quench a little thirst. They are the perfect snack for parks and pools, and they make great sides at barbecues and block parties. If you find a good bunch of grapes, they are great plain straight from the fridge or freezer! If you want to take your grape game up a level, take a peek at these grape recipe ideas. These recipes will surely make you grapeful for summer.
Grape Recipe Ideas
Recipe 01: Cheesy Grape Appetizers
These are great for parties because of their portion size and portability. Creamy meets sweet in these delicious appetizers. These are one of my favorite grapeful recipes!
Ingredients:
- 1 c. or 4 oz. sliced almonds
- 1 pkg softened cream cheese
- 2 oz. crumbled blue cheese (room temp)
- 2 Tbsp. minced fresh parsley
- 1 1/4 lbs. seedless red or green grapes (rinse and dried)
- 2 Tbsp. heavy whipping cream (room temp)
- Appetizer skewers (like these!)
Process:
Begin by heating your oven to 275F. While it’s getting up to temp, pulse the almonds in a food processor until they are finely chopped but not powdered. When the almonds are the desired texture, spread them on a baking pan and bake for 6-9 minutes. The almonds should be golden brown before removing from the oven. When they are done, remove and transfer to a bowl to cool.
While the almonds are baking, mix the cream cheese, blue cheese, parsley, and cream until well blended in a small bowl. Next, insert a skewer into each grape.
Lastly, roll the grapes first in the cheese mixture followed by the almonds before placing onto parchment paper. When all of the grapes have been dipped and rolled, place them in the fridge to set or until you’re ready to serve!
Recipe 02: Cashew-Chicken Rotini Salad
This pasta salad is great for potlucks and picnics alike! Cold, creamy, with crunch and a pop of sweetness, it’s perfect for hot summer evenings.
Ingredients:
- 1 pkg. spiral or rotini pasta
- 1 can (20 oz) drained pineapple tidbits
- 4 c. cubed or shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1 1/2 c. sliced celery
- 1 c. halved seedless red grapes
- 3/4 c. sliced green onions
- 1 c. halved seedless green grapes
- 1 pkg. (5 oz) dried cranberries
- 1 c. ranch dressing
- 3/4 c. mayo
- 2 c. salted cashews
Process:
Begin by cooking the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the package. While it’s cooking, mix the chicken, pineapple, celery, onions, grapes, and cranberries together in a large bowl until combined.
When the pasta has reached the desired texture, drain and rinse in cold water to stop the cooking process. Then mix pasta into chicken mixture. Next, mix the mayo and ranch dressing together until completely combined before pouring over the pasta salad. Then toss to coat completely. Before serving, cover and refrigerate for at least an hour so that flavors have time to mix. Just before serving, mix in the cashews into the salad, and serve.
Recipe 03: Creamy Grape Salad
Don’t be afraid to take this tiny fruit and make it a big deal! This salad is creamy, sweet, and refreshing. This will make you so grapeful for grapes!
Ingredients:
- 1 pkg softened cream cheese
- 1 c. sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 1/3 c. sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 2 lbs. seedless red grapes (pulled from stems)
- 3 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 2 lbs. seedless green grapes (pulled from stems)
- 3 Tbsp. chopped pecans
- 1 Tbsp. melted butter
Process:
Begin by blending the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla together until completely combined. Next, add in red and green grapes and toss to coat thoroughly. Then refrigerate salad until ready to serve. While the salad is in the fridge, mix the chopped pecans with the butter and cover with brown sugar. Then spread the mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes or until the sugar has started to crystalize, stirring every 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before crumbling the mixture one more time and sprinkling over the grape salad. Alternatively, you could skip the brown sugar pecans and substitute with 2-3 frozen Snickers bars that have been tossed into the food processor to chop.
Recipe 04: Frozen Grapes
These are a classic, but they are also perfect for hot summer days. Out of all of the grape recipe ideas, this one is my favorite!
Ingredients:
- 4 c. seedless grapes (your choice)
- 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar (optional)
Process:
Begin by pulling the grapes off the stems and giving them a good rinse. Unless you don’t want to sweeten them, don’t pat them completely dry. Instead, give them a good shake before putting them into a gallon zip lock bag. If you want your grapes to be a little sweeter, go ahead and toss some granulated sugar into the bag and give it a good shake. Last, pop the whole thing in the freezer for at least two hours.
This works great on top of Greek yogurt, at the pool, or just at a party! I hope these will make you grapeful for these delicious summer recipes!
Make sure you check out this article on 8 recipes for a summer picnic before you go!
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