Serving Up {Salad}: Sweet Grape Salad

This fruit salad just screams summer.  It's cool, refreshing, delightfully sweet and just plain delicious.  In truth, it makes a perfect summer dessert!  The only problem with serving it as dessert is that then you may feel a bit of guilt when you go back for seconds - whereas if it's served as the "fruit salad" then seconds are welcomed.  Right?  Please tell me I can go back for seconds.

I know that the first time you read the list of ingredients you will have some doubt enter your mind, but you have to trust me on this one.  I have taken this salad to multiple pot luck gatherings and at each one I have heard the low rumble of "who brought the grape salad? who brought the grape salad?"  It's one of those dishes that if you choose to take it to share, you may as well print the recipe to bring along because there will be requests.

SWEET GRAPE SALAD     
(recipe adapted from Cassie Craves)
printable version

3-4 pounds red seedless grapes (the original recipe only calls for 2 pounds but I use nearly double)
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
8 oz. sour cream
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup brown sugar, plus some additional to garnish
1/4 cup chopped pecans, plus some additional to garnish

Wash the grapes and remove from their stems.  Allow to air dry.
In a large bowl combine the cream cheese, sour cream, white sugar and vanilla.  Blend until smooth.  Gently fold in the grapes, 1/4 cup of pecans and 1/4 cup of brown sugar.
Sprinkle with brown sugar and chopped pecans to garnish.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.