Candied Grapes

Candied Grapes….are those a real snack food?  For my kids, they certainly are! If you love Sour Patch Kids candy, then you can think of these as Sour Patch Grapes. They are super easy recipe to make, in fact, your kids can make them all by themselves. If you love any type of candied fruit, then learning how to make candied grapes is worth a try. And, you’ll never guess what I used to make the candy coating on the outside….

Why I Love This Recipe

These Candied Grapes were such salvation for me when I needed something quick and easy to do with my kiddos. You see, our “summer schedule” includes a family activity every afternoon and this particular afternoon was a crazy one. No time to head to the pool for a couple of hours or even the park. I needed something that could be done and over in 15 minutes. Yes, I could have skipped the family activity that day, but boy oh boy, would I have paid for it the rest of the day….

Learning how to make candied grapes is simple. They use nothing but grapes and some Jello powder. And because I know how much my little minions love the sweet and sour combo, when I first saw this recipe over on Household Almanac, I knew we had to give them a try. The stronger the pucker, the better! I know some of you despise sour flavors, so you can make the same recipe but with Jello flavors that aren’t sour.

We had a debate over which flavor was the winner: the Green Apple or the Watermelon Candied Grapes. Personally, I preferred the green apple because of how sour it was but the watermelon flavor was a winner with everyone else. When you try out this recipe, look around the Jello section at your store and try out the flavors that look fun to you!

What are Candied Grapes?

While they come in many different forms and flavors, a candied grape is simply a fresh grape that has been either rolled in a flavored sugar mixture or dipped in melted hard candy. Sometimes, they are even frozen to add a whole other layer to this unique eating experience. 

Candy grapes can also be prepared and served on individual serving sticks. While fun, preparing them with sticks takes quite a bit longer. There are multiple versions of candied grapes circling around the internet, so listed below are the different varieties and what sets each one apart from the other.

Candied Grapes Ingredients

Simple is the name of the game with this unique candied grape recipe! Literally, two ingredients and about 5 minutes of your time is all it takes to get this recipe done:

• Red or green grapes – be sure they are firm
• Jello powder – any flavor but do not use a sugar-free version

Candy Grapes Recipe Variations

A simple Google search will result in quite a variety of recipes for candied grapes. Which one should you do? Honestly, the only difference between the numerous recipes is the choice of candy coating material for the grapes:

• Jello Powder – any flavor of regular Jello powder works well as a coating for the damp grapes to roll around in, especially those sour versions. Just don’t use a sugar-free version of Jello powder.
• Jolly Rancher Candy – melt Jolly Rancher candies in the microwave, then dip the grapes directly into the melted candy or drizzle the melted sugar over the grapes. This coating method isn’t a safe recipe for kids to make due to the hot, molten sugar. It is just too dangerous for little fingers. Also, for safety reasons, you’ll want long sucker sticks on each grape when dipping.
• Kool Aid & Sugar –  similar to the Jello method, mix together granulated sugar and flavored Kool-Aid powder for the wet, clean grapes to roll around in. You can also use a sweetened version of Kool-Aid by itself.
• Fun Dip Candy – specifically, this method only uses the powder portion of the Fun Dip candy package to coat the grapes, which leaves you with the stick to eat while the kids are busy making the candied grapes. 

Candied Grapes Recipe – FAQs & Troubleshooting

How to store candied grapes

If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, first line an airtight container with paper towels then add the finished candy grapes to the container. Place another paper towel on top before closing with the lid and storing it in the fridge. The paper towels will absorb any moisture that is leftover from making the grapes, as well as any that might develop in the fridge. That moisture will mess up the candy coating. Humidity is the enemy so keep that container dry. 

Help! The candy coating won’t stick to the grapes

First, be sure the grapes have enough water on them. That moisture acts as the glue for the Jello powder so if they aren’t wet enough, they won’t coat properly. If they are too dry, the coating won’t stick or you’ll end up with patches of missing coating around the grape.

If problems persist even when the grapes are wet, you’ll need to add the coating in a few layers. Roll the wet grapes in the powder as stated in the recipe for the first coat. Remove them to a baking sheet, lightly mist them with some more water, and take them for a second roll in the powder. That should fill any empty spots but if not, repeat the process for a third round.

Can I use sugar-free Jello to candy grapes?

Unfortunately, sugar-free Jello powder will not work in this recipe. It would not be a pleasant eating experience! A box of normal Jello powder has a fairly equal ratio of sugar to flavoring, while the sugar-free powder has a much higher ratio of flavoring to sugar substitute. The end result would be much too overpowering on the flavor side.

Does the flavor of Jello matter for candied grapes?

The flavor is completely a personal choice! Just grab a box or two of Jello flavors that sound interesting to try out. Because the grapes are naturally sweet, we have found the sour Jello flavors work especially well as the candy coating. They provide a great balance with the sweetness of both the grapes and the sugar in the powder. My kids love Sour Patch Kids candy, so we make them with sour Jello powder flavors for a similar, but healthier, taste experience. 

Can candy grapes be frozen?

Yes! Frozen candied grapes are a fun summertime treat for the kids. To do this, simply freeze the grapes until they are solid. Once frozen, remove them from the freezer and let them sit for a couple minutes, just until condensation forms on the outside, which will act as your glue. Roll them as the recipe directs until completely coated. Store them in the freezer inside a paper towel-lined, airtight container. The paper towel will remove any moisture so they won’t freeze together in a big clump.

Which variety of grape works best as candied grapes?

Just pick any of the favorite grape varieties you normally eat and you’ll be good to go. Any seedless grape will be perfect in this recipe. Just make sure the grapes are firm when you squeeze them. Mushy grapes will give you a much different end result. And not in a good way. 

Are candy grapes healthy?

This question is a loaded one that can only get me in trouble 🙂 Every parent views “healthy” in very different ways. Are candy grapes as healthy as eating plain grapes? No, they are not. However, they are a much healthier treat option for kids compared to regular candy or many other sweet treats. Consider them a “sometimes snack” in the rotation for a healthy balance.

How to Make Candied Grapes: a Step-by-Step Video

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