TikTok Cotton Candy Grapes with Jolly Ranchers Recipe
Experience the delightful crunch of Chinese street food with these TikTok viral Cotton Candy Grapes coated in a hard candy shell made from white sugar, corn syrup, and flavored with cotton candy and pink food coloring. This recipe features green grapes dipped in a boiling sugar mixture, then coated in crushed Jolly Ranchers for a colorful, tangy candy coating that hardens to a satisfying crisp.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 20-25 candied grapes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients
Candy Coating
- 2 cups white granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- Pink food coloring gel (a few drops)
- 1 dram cotton candy flavoring
Fruits and Coating
- Green grapes (dry and individual)
- Crushed hard candies like Jolly Ranchers
Instructions
- Prepare the Grapes: Thoroughly dry individual green grapes using a paper towel to remove all moisture. Puncture each grape carefully with a bamboo skewer to prepare for dipping.
- Make the Sugar Mixture: In a large saucepan, combine 2 cups of white granulated sugar, ½ cup water, ½ cup light corn syrup, a few drops of pink food coloring gel, and 1 dram of cotton candy flavoring. Stir the mixture well to combine all ingredients.
- Dissolve the Sugar: Heat the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until the sugar is fully dissolved to ensure a smooth syrup.
- Boil to Hard Crack Stage: Once dissolved, insert a candy thermometer into the pan and increase heat to medium-high. Cook without stirring until the syrup reaches 300°F (hard crack stage), which takes about 15 to 20 minutes. This ensures the candy coating will harden properly.
- Coat the Grapes: Remove the pan from heat. Quickly dip each skewered grape into the hot sugar syrup to coat completely. Then immediately roll the coated grape in the crushed Jolly Rancher candies to add a colorful, crunchy layer.
- Set and Harden: Place the coated grapes on a silicone baking mat to harden. Work quickly to prevent the sugar from hardening before dipping all grapes.
- Serve and Enjoy: Allow the grapes to cool and harden fully before serving for the perfect crunchy, sweet treat.
Notes
- Remove all moisture from the grapes to prevent the candy coating from sliding off—pat dry thoroughly with a paper towel.
- Use a silicone baking mat for placing coated grapes as parchment or wax paper can stick to the hard candy.
- Because natural fruit moisture causes candied fruit to soften, consume these grapes fresh and do not store for long periods.
