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 Candy Grapes?

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, candied grapes 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. 
• Crushed Nerds Candy – this is a new additional and it was great! It does take some work as crushing nerds is not easy. I found the best way was using a mortar and pestle (that stone bowl and mallet thing that pharmacists used hundreds of years ago) or a spice grinder (just make sure it is clean and dry!). If you liked these some other hard candies you can crush and use on the candied grapes are Smarties, SweeTarts, and for a super sour option try Warheads.

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. 

Why 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.

Using Peeled Grapes for Candied Grapes

If you are looking to make this recipe more of an activity but also ensure that the candy powder coats and sticks to your grapes you can try using peeled grapes. Peeled grapes will mean less crunch from the skin, but you get a really great candy exterior since the jello powder sticks directly to the juicy grape flesh. I also like doing them with peeled grapes because it really increases the amount of time, making it a great rainy day activity with kids.

How to peel grapes

Peeling grapes is simple but not always easy. Follow these three steps to make peeling grapes quicker and easier. You will use the same technique that is frequently used for peeling tomatoes and plums. Make sure an adult does the first two steps but little kids are great at peeling grapes.

• Boil the grapes. Bring a pot of water to a boil and blanch the grapes for 10 seconds. You want to keep the water boiling while you gently fully submerge the grapes for ten seconds. You can do this by lowering them in by their stem, placing them in a strainer or colander and placing that in the pot or by adding loose grapes and removing them with a slotted spoon. You do not want to cook the grapes simply heat the skin so the skin softens and loosens from the flesh of the grape.
• Cool the grapes in ice water. Remove the grapes from the boiling water and place them in an ice bath for at least 10 seconds to cool them completely. The ice water will quickly cool the grapes and prevent them from cooking while helping to make the skin soft so it is easier to peel.
• Peel off the grape skin. Take a grape from the ice bath and starting at the top gently peel away the skin from top to bottom. The skin will peel off in small or large strips.

How to make Candied Grapes with Peeled Grapes

Now that you have peeled all your grapes and kept your kids occupied for the past 20 minutes it is time to candy them. To do this simply pour the jello powder on a plate and roll the peeled grape in the powder. Then place the coated grape in the fridge for one hour to cool and allow the jello powder to set. If you find the powder is not sticking as well as you would like you can rinse the peeled grapes in cold water and allow to drip dry before coating in the jello powder.

A Step-by-Step Video of How to Make Candied Grapes

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Candied Grapes

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An easy and fun snack for your kids that they will love!

• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 12 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• Green or red seedless grapes
• 1 box green apple or watermelon gelatin

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Instructions

1. Place the grapes in a mesh strainer and wash well. Leave them in the strainer to drip dry a bit
2. Pour the jello powder onto a plate then roll the damp grapes in the powder until coated. Place in the fridge for one hour to allow the jello to set and serve cold

• Author: Carole Jones
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Category: Snack
• Method: Fresh
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1/12 th
• Calories: 56
• Sugar: 7 g
• Sodium: 31 mg
• Fat: 2 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 10 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg

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