Crack Grapes (Jolly Rancher Candied Grapes)

These Crack Grapes (Jolly Rancher Candied Grapes) are a fun snack or dessert recipe to make with your kids for any occasion! My colorful grapes dipped in candied syrup, then coated in classic candy flavors, are the hit of any classroom party! I also like making these tasty, rainbow-colored grapes around St. Patrick's Day and Easter!

Jump to:

• ❔ What Are Crack Grapes?
• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🔪 How To Make Crack Grapes
• 💭 Tips & Notes
• 🥡 Storing
• 📖 Recipe Card
• 💬 Reviews

What's not to love about these grapes rolled in crushed green apple, purple grape, blue raspberry, and pink watermelon-flavored Jolly Rancher hard candies?!

Try making my candied grapes or Jello grapes, too! You can see all of my candied fruit here!

❔ What Are Crack Grapes?

Crack grapes have been coated in a candy syrup and then rolled in 'cracked' or crushed hard candy like Jolly Ranchers, sour Cry Baby Tears, sour WarHeads, Nerds, or rock candy.

The syrup dries clear on the grapes (it can also be colored using gel food coloring if desired), and the colors of the candies make the candied grapes colorful and fun.

The candy grapes (and other candied fruits) are sold in Atlanta by thecraxkhouse. The store appears to be the original inspiration for the sweet and sour grapes.

🥘 Ingredients

When I make my candied or crack grapes recipe, I prefer to use green grapes. I'm happy with red grapes, too, but I like the tartness of a green grape in contrast to the candy coating and crushed Jolly Rancher shards.

Also, if you have rock candy on hand, it works beautifully for these crack grapes. You may prefer the rock candy over the flavored Jolly Rancher candies. I'm still on the fence! 😋

• Grapes
• Granulated Sugar
• Water
• Light Corn Syrup
• Extract (optional)
• Toothpicks or Skewers
• Candy - Jolly Ranchers, Rock Candy, Warheads, Nerds, etc.

You can use gel food coloring to change the candy coating color if desired, but do not use liquid drops.

🔪 How To Make Crack Grapes

Some of the equipment needed is shown above with the ingredients. Have a candy thermometer, skewers or toothpicks, measuring utensils, saucepan, spatula, and parchment paper to line baking sheets or a working surface.

This recipe can coat a lot of grapes! One big bunch of green grapes is up to 100 grapes. Each serving is 5 grapes.

Prep the Ingredients & Supplies

Step 1: Prepare your grapes. Rinse and dry the grapes, then insert toothpicks or skewers into the stem end of each grape. Set on a paper towel and allow the grapes to finish air-drying before dipping in the syrup.

Step 2: Prepare your candy. Place candy flavors into heavy-duty freezer storage bags and crush them using a meat mallet/tenderizer (or rolling pin, or heavy unbreakable object). *Place a kitchen towel over the plastic bags to prevent a crushed candy mess on your counters.

Step 3: Set aside. Transfer to a bowl for coating the grapes.

Step 4: Prepare a clean spot to set the grapes. Have parchment paper ready to place coated crack grapes onto to allow them to dry (set).

Heat The Syrup

Step 5: Mix and heat. Combine the sugar, water, and corn syrup in a heavy-bottom saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat without stirring.

Step 6: Keep a steady rolling boil. You should aim for the best rolling boil you can maintain, reducing the temperature as needed, without letting the syrup boil over.

Step 7: Bring to the hard crack stage. Boil for about 5 minutes to reach the right temperature.

You will need a candy thermometer to confirm when the syrup has reached 300-305ºF (148-152ºC). (*See notes) This hard crack stage will allow the syrup to set on the grape.

Step 8: Add optional extract. Remove syrup from heat. Then, stir the vanilla extract into the syrup.

Coat The Crack Grapes

Step 9: Syrup-coat the grapes. Carefully dip each grape into the syrup (the syrup will be hot!!), moving quickly to get the syrup covering the entirety of the grape.

Step 10: Roll in crushed candy. Move next to rolling or sprinkling the syrup-coated grapes with the crushed Jolly Rancher flavors or candy (or roll in a bowl tipped sideways for easy coating).

Dry & Serve

Step 11: Allow to dry. Set your coated grapes on the parchment paper and allow them to dry for about 30 minutes.

Step 12: Serve and enjoy. Carefully remove the toothpicks and serve within a few hours.

💭 Tips & Notes

• Make candy on cool, dry days for best results. The sugar pulls moisture (rain and humidity) from the air.
• Use a fruit wash. You'll want clean grapes, so soak in a fruit wash or a water bath with a capful of vinegar to remove any residue or pesticides.
• You need a thermometer. If you do not have a candy thermometer, you can use a digital meat thermometer as long as it will read up to 300°F (148°C).
• Do not heat over 330°F (165°C). This will turn the candy coating brown and caramelized in color.
• Test the temperature without a thermometer. To know that your syrup has reached the hard crack stage, use a spoon or spatula to drop the molten hot syrup into a bowl or cup of cold water. It should form hard threads that break and do not bend.
• Coat quickly. To move through the candy coating process quickly, while the syrup is soft and workable, you can place two or more grapes on each skewer to coat simultaneously.
• To clean your saucepan easily, add hot water and bring to a simmer. The residual candy will soften and peel away from your pan.

🥡 Storing

Keep candy grapes in an airtight container at room temperature away from hot or cold sources. This is how I usually store my grapes for short-term use. It also depends on the candy type that was used.

To refrigerate the grapes, transfer them to an airtight container and store for up to 2-3 days.

Freezing

Do use a paper towel with your freezer grapes to soak up moisture. Enjoy within 1 week of freezing.

Testing For Best Storage

I tested my candy grapes at room temperature, in the refrigerator, and in the freezer (all in airtight containers):

• Room temperature - The rock candy grapes did great! The Jolly Rancher candy-coated crack grapes were gummy.
• Refrigerated - Both types turned out good, but the rock candy coated grapes were better and less sticky.
• Freezer - Not bad, but they needed to be eaten as soon as thawed. The candy coating on both wasn't looking too good after only about two hours of being thawed.

📖 Recipe Card