40Jolly Ranchers hard candies, any flavor, unwrapped(divided)
Instructions
Insert a toothpick into the round end (opposite the stem side) of each of your clean, dry grapes
24 Green grapes
Crush 15 of the Jolly Ranchers into small-to-medium sized pieces (you want a lot of powder so it sticks well). You can do this in a food processor, blender, mortar and pestle, or by putting them in a Ziploc and hitting them with a meat mallet, rolling pin, or something else sturdy. Place them in a small bowl when finished
40 Jolly Ranchers hard candies, any flavor, unwrapped
Place the remaining 25 unwrapped Jolly Ranchers candies (I recommend two colors maximum) into a microwave safe dish
Microwave on high for 60 seconds (candies should begin to melt and look gummy), then stir
Return to microwave and microwave on high for an additional 30 seconds until the mixture is fully melted and bubbly
Working quickly, hold a grape by the toothpick and dip into the hot melted Jolly Ranchers, turning it to coat thoroughly. Use caution, as the sugar is very hot; an adult should always do this part
While still warm, immediately roll the coated grape in the bowl of crushed Jolly Rancher candies
Place the grape onto a piece of wax paper or a silicone baking mat, toothpick facing up (as best you can, some will still tip over)
Repeat until all the grapes are coated (you can re-warm the coating in the microwave for 15-20 seconds if it starts to harden on you)
The candied grapes will cool and harden in 3-5 minutes, and are ready to enjoy!
Notes
While this recipe is designed around candied grapes, you can technically use other small fruits as well. I also enjoy blueberries!
I recommend not mixing too many different colors of Jolly Rancher candies, or you’ll get an unattractive brown coating! While other hard candies may work as well, I’ve not tested them
Jolly Ranchers do have flavors of their own. However, if you want to use a candy flavoring such as cotton candy extract, add a ½ tsp in when you stir the candy mixture midway during melting
The candied grapes are rolled in crushed Jolly Ranchers for color, flavor, and texture here. However, you can substitute other crushed hard candies, or small candies like Nerds, Pop Rocks, or rock candy instead for a fun variation!
Try your best to get a relatively candy thin coating by letting excess drip off the grapes. Anywhere the candy pools (like near the bottom) will be very hard and you won’t be able to bite it (or you’ll hurt your teeth)
Getting a good amount of crushed candy powder on while the coating is warm helps keep the candy from spreading and pooling. I’ve tried them without the additional candy coating and, while they taste good, they’re much harder to eat
If you scale down the recipe to make a smaller quantity, adjust the first cooking time down to 30 seconds to start. You can always add more time, but don’t want to overcook and burn your candy
Candied grapes should be stored in the refrigerator for best results, and last for about a week
You may also freeze them for up to 3 months. However, I recommended defrosting before eating, especially for kids
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any swaps or additions, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only