Are you looking for a healthy snack for your kids? This recipe for Candy Grape Poppers is more than just delicious, they are also completely fun to eat! Think of them as little grape gems on a stick. Candy grapes are all over social media and these ones are cute enough to serve at your next party or just as a summer treat.

Why I Love Candy Grape Poppers
When warm weather hits, I am always looking for fun summer snacks and fun activities to do with my kids. These Candy Grape Poppers are both! Kids can easily make these and they are as fun to make as they are to eat.
When my kids were little, we used to go through popsicles like crazy in the summer. I tried to have cool summer treats that encouraged them to eat more fruit and veggies. I wish I had found this idea years ago, but no worries. It is clearly not too late to make use of this idea, seeing as how I made this recipe today. I ate a few handfuls…okay, the number of toothpicks left over after my taste testing was shocking! This is the kind of snack where you don’t realize how many you have eaten. And when you do finally realize you’ve eaten way too many, they taste so good so you just don’t care. Next time I make these, I will be making a larger batch!
Want to really cool off this summer? Throw them in the freezer! Frozen candy grape poppers are a perfect cold bite. Plus, with this vanilla candy coating and then dipped in nonpareils, it tastes like frozen candy. I also like them rolled in toasted pecans instead of nonpareils. It’s a bit more sophisticated. The recipe is also great with red grapes as well. In fact, a mixture of red and green grapes would be perfect for a Christmas party.
What Are Candy Grape Poppers
Candy grape poppers are fresh red or green grapes that are covered in white candy coating and then rolled in sprinkles. They are usually served on toothpicks or small skewers, making them perfect for a fun entertaining recipe. They are often frozen before serving and used as a summer treat for kids.
Candy Grapes Ingredients and Supplies
These little healthy treats on a stick couldn’t be more simple as far as ingredients. The list is short because they are as easy as you think they should be!
- Fresh, firm grapes
- Vanilla candy coating
- Nonpareil sprinkles
- Small wooden skewers or toothpicks
- Parchment paper
How to Make Candy Grape Poppers
If you can put some grapes on a stick and dip them into some melted white chocolate coating, you can make these simple candy grapes.
Time needed: 10 minutes.
How to Make Candy Grape Poppers
- Prepare the fresh grapes
Select grapes that are very firm. Wash them and completely dry them. If they are wet, the candy coating will not stick to the outside of the grapes.
- Melt the white candy coating
Follow the manufacturer’s directions on the package of the candy coating. Once it is warm, use a heating pad to keep it melted while you work.
- Dip the grapes in candy coating
Stick each grape on the end of a small wooden skewer. Dip it into the candy coating, leaving part of the grape still showing.
- Roll the grape in nonpareil sprinkles
Do this right after dipping before the coating begins to dry or the sprinkles won’t stick.
- Let the candy grapes dry
Place the finished grapes on parchment or waxed paper until the coating dries completely.
Candy Grape Poppers Recipe Variations
Being a home cook provides endless opportunities to experiment with recipes, personalizing them to your tastes and creativity. Any of the following variations would be great spin-offs of these candy grape poppers.
- Use different colored candy coating instead of the white version. The flavor is the same for all the candy coatings. Just different food coloring is used.
- Substitute toasted nuts for the sprinkles. Almonds, pecans, or walnuts would all be delicious. Just be sure to toast them so they are more flavorful and crunchy.
- Use crushed candy in place of the sprinkles. You can use Nerds candy, which is already small. Or, crush up hard candies like Jolly Ranchers.
- Freeze the grapes once they are finished being candied. They will take about 45 minutes to fully freeze as long as they aren’t crowded close together.
Candy Grapes Recipe FAQs
I can’t get the candy coating to stick to the grapes
You need to fully dry the grapes after washing them. If there is any moisture left on the surface, the white candy coating will not stick to the grapes. Let them air dry for 15 minutes. This will insure there are no traces of water left on the skin.
Can I use white chocolate chips instead of the candy coating?
Unfortunately, white chocolate chips are different than the white candy coating used in these candy grape poppers. White chocolate chips will be the wrong thickness and won’t coat the grapes as the white candy coating will do.
How do I keep the melted candy coating warm while dipping the grapes?
It is important to keep the candy coating warm while dipping the batch of grapes. Yes, you can keep sticking the bowl in the microwave and melting it over and over again. Instead, melt it as directed just once, then place the bowl on a heating pad set on high. That will be just enough heat to keep the melted candy coating liquid and dippable.
How to store candy grape poppers
It is best to keep the candy grapes in the fridge after they have fully dry. Grapes get soft pretty quickly at room temperature so it is best to put them in the fridge in an airtight container. The other option is to store the grape poppers in the freezer, and then eat them frozen. This option is especially great during the hot summer months.
How long do grape poppers last in the fridge?
Be sure you start with fresh, very firm grapes. Doing so will let the candied version will last for a week in the fridge when they are stored properly in an airtight container. If the grapes are on the softer side when you buy them, the time will be shorter than that. If you want the candy grape poppers to last longer, store them for up to three months in the freezer. You will just need to serve them frozen if you use this option.
How are these different than your candied grapes?
Candy grape poppers are a different recipe than my candied grapes recipe. In that recipe, the grapes roll in Jello powder when wet. Both are great recipes for your kids to make on their own and both are a healthier option compared to regular candy.
Looking for More Great Kid Recipes?
If this frozen candy grapes recipe is just what you were looking for, be sure to check out these other delicious recipes. Go grab them now before you forget!
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PrintCandy Grape Poppers
An easy treat for your kids and only takes a few minutes to make
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 48 grapes 1x
Ingredients
- About 48 grapes, washed and thoroughly dried – the candy coating will not stick to wet grapes
- 4 ounces Vanilla Candy Coating – not white chocolate chips! Make sure it is candy coating or it will be too thin.
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts (pecans are my favorite) or nonpareils
Instructions
- Melt candy coating in a small microwaveable bowl 1 minute at a time, stirring in between until melted.
- Place bowl on a heating pad covered in wax paper. This keeps the candy coating melted to a nice consistency while you are working, so take your time. No need to hurry.
- Place nuts or nonpareils in a small bowl.
- Turn grape upside down and insert toothpick. This way only the smooth green skin will be showing.
- Dip grape into the candy coating and then into the nuts or nonpareils. Place on a sheet of wax paper and let harden.
- May be stored in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Fresh
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/48th
- Calories: 18
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: candy grape poppers
Sarah @ Miss CandiQuik says
Aren’t these amazing!? And crazy addicting. Glad you enjoyed them. 🙂
Dana says
These are too cute to believe! Great idea!
Carole says
Thanks Dana! -Carole
Karen P. says
Could you use yogurt (then dip them in the nuts) instead of the vanilla candy coating – if you’re going to freeze them?
You could try Karen but I worry about the yougurt sliding off the grape before it freezes. Let me know how it works for you!
Rosemarie Miller says
Carol…..this looks fabulous but I’m unfamiliar with “candy coating”….what is it and where do I purchase it. Is it any candy melted down? Thank you
Rosemarie- it is often sold in the baking aisle of your grocery store. It is also called white almond bark and comes in a big block. You might also find white candy discs in a craft store by the cake decorating supplies. Or, you can just melt some white chocolate! -Carole