Who knew something as simple as JELLO grapes could go viral on social media? The sweet little nuggets of fruity goodness were all the rage on TikTok.
Once I made them, I discovered why. So easy to make and so pretty, who wouldn’t want a plate of these at a party – or all to themselves? And we love a good Kool Aid Pie, so why not?
Grapes of Many Names
These candy grapes have several names. Some folks call them JELLO grapes and sour patch grapes. But they are different from traditional candy grapes (frosted grapes) because instead of granulated sugar, they use JELLO.
Candy grape recipes vary in their coating. In this one, I use gelatin to make colorful candied grapes. However, you can choose to just roll them in granulated sugar (frosted grapes). Or get crazy and make popular crack grapes, covered with syrup and then coated with cracked candies like Jolly Ranchers or rock candy.
What Type of Grapes to Use
I like to use green seedless grapes. However, you can use any variety that you like. To sweeten these sugary bites, you can even use cotton candy grapes which are also green but have about twice the amount of sugar as a green seedless grape.
Some people claim that the red candy grapes that Costco sells in their produce section are even better than the green cotton candy grapes. Experiment with whatever you like best.
Keep in mind that the base color of the grape will also make a difference in the end color depending on the color of JELLO you use. Remember your color wheel!
JELLO Grapes Ingredients
Only 3 ingredients, that is all it takes!
- Seedless grapes (green or red)– all varieties of grapes are packed with nutrients. Green grapes contain vitamins B6, K, and C, making them a good choice for snacking for both adults and kiddos.
- Sugar and Corn Syrup- This combined with water makes a simple syrup. I like using this as a base for sticking so that it is uniformly covered. If not, it tends to stick lopsided and isn’t as pretty.
- Flavored gelatin mix– choose any flavor you like, or mix it up and use several different flavors for a colorful presentation.
How To Make JELLO Grapes
Many recipes just rinse them with water and then toss them in JELLO, but this tends to make a mess and the coverage can be spotty. To get them to stick with even coverage and keep the powdered texture, use the simple syrup technique.
- In a heavy bottom saucepan over low heat, combine water, sugar and corn syrup. Stir until sugar has melted and mixture has reduced. Don’t heat to hot or else the sugar will boil over and burn. Use a wooden spoon to reduce sticking.
- Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool for 10-15 minutes, but not too long or the mixture will start to harden. If it does, no worries, just heat subtly for a few minutes again. If it is too hard, you might have reach the rock candy stage of melting sugar and you’ll need to add a little water to back it down. We are aiming for a sticky goo.
- Toss the grapes in the simple syrup and then arrange in a single layer on a wire rack so any excess syrup can drip down. Line whatever is below with parchment or aluminum foil for easy clean up.
- Place gelatin in bowls or plastic bags, separate bags/bowls for different colors. Spoon gelatin over JELLO grapes or shake in the bag until fully covered. Tap off excess gelatin. I used a fork, if you don’t, expect to have brightly colored fingertips.
- Place on a parchment lined baking sheet so they don’t stick. Allow to set for at least 15 minutes, place in the refrigerator or freeze. Store grapes depending on how you enjoyed them- room temperature, the fridge or the freezer.
Why You’ll Love TikTok Grapes
- Sweet and tart- these little treats are sweet from the grapes themselves as well as the gelatin, but also have a touch of tang from the lime.
- Easy and fun to make- you can make JELLO grapes quickly all on your own, or get the little ones involved, too.
- Ready to eat immediately or enjoy frozen – as soon as you’ve finished rolling these candy grapes, they’re ready to be munched on.
- Snacky- I hesitate to say these are at all healthy- they use a grape and cover it in sugar, but I guess they are healthier than other types of dessert. Depends on what your definition of healthier dessert is.
- Decor– Yes, you can snack on them, but you can also use them to decorate cupcakes, cakes and other desserts. I advise against adding them until ready to serve because the colors of gelatin will bleed on white colored frosting.
JELLO Grapes Variations
Put your own spin on these tasty little treats.
- Use different flavors of gelatin for varied colors of candy grapes.
- Freeze your candy grapes for a harder, chillier version of the treat.
- Try adding in a few dashes of decorator’s sugar for a pop of shimmer and added sweetness.
- Experiment with using different types of grapes instead of plain green grapes.
Other Fruit Desserts
Fruit and desserts go hand-in-hand.
Cherry Bar Recipe
Sunshine Cake
Apple Nacho Recipe
JELLO Grapes (TikTok Grapes)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 2 cups grapes stems removed and rinsed
- colored gelatin
Instructions
- In a heavy bottom saucepan over low heat, combine water, sugar and corn syrup. Stir until sugar has melted and mixture has reduced, approximately 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool for 10-15 minutes, but not too long or the mixture will start to harden.
- Toss grapes in the simple syrup and then arrange in a single layer on a wire rack. Allow to cool for another 10-15 minutes.
- Place gelatin in bowls or plastic bags, separate bags/bowls for different colors. Spoon gelatin over grapes or shake in the bag until fully covered. Tap off excess gelatin.
- Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Allow to set for at least 15 minutes, place in the refrigerator or freeze. Store grapes depending on how you enjoyed them- room temperature, the fridge or the freezer.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings!
Nutrition
I have been meaning to make this for so long now! Thank you so much for sharing, I am so excited to make this tonight 🙂
I love that you can use different flavors for these fun jello grapes. I’m looking forward to making these with the grandkids.
These are so cute!! Love this idea! Thanks so much for the recipe!
These are so fun and also very tasty! Loved them!
My kids love these! Its an especially fun surprise to bring out when we have friends over to play! Thank you