Candied Frozen Grapes

This 5-minute snack will satisfy your sweet tooth while also keeping you cool this summer! Candied Frozen Grapes make for a perfect and satisfying summer treat! These little gems require minimal effort yet produce maximum results! These grapes are crispy and crunchy, coated in a refreshing lime-infused sugar and produce a chilling bite! Brrrrr!

I was first introduced to Candied Frozen Grapes while on a trip to the Cayman Islands. The lovely staff at the Kimpton Seafire Resort would provide beachgoers with frozen grapes coated in sugar. With temperatures hitting 30C + midday, this was one way to beat the summer heat! Hot temperatures + frozen fruit = a winning combination! I decided to recreate this recipe at home, but with a spin! The addition of lime juice, lime zest and salt give the frozen grapes a sweet and zesty, almost Margarita-like flavour.

My Candied Frozen Grapes recipe starts off with copious amounts of red grapes! Make sure you look for the seedless variety because, let’s be honest, who wants to deal with all those seeds?! The grapes are tossed in lime juice before being rolled in lime-sugar. Lime-sugar is quite simple to make! Simply add granulated sugar, lime zest and salt to a small bowl. You can just whisk the sugar, zest and salt together, but you would be missing out on some BIG flavour opportunities. Get your hands into the sugar mixture and rub the lime zest into the sugar. Why, might you ask? The sugar is abrasive and breaks down the lime zest, causing the fruit to release its oil. The result – lime infused sugar! The candied grapes are then placed onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, covered with plastic wrap and transferred to the freezer for at least 4 hours to fully set. You are looking for fully frozen grapes here!

Now, it’s time to indulge! Add the frozen grapes to a medium bowl and serve and enjoy! If you’re lucky to have leftovers, simply store them in the freezer in an airtight container for a quick and easy frozen treat on-the-go! Enjoy them for dessert or as a snack! You really can’t go wrong! So, let me show you how it’s done. Grab a spoon and come and cook with me!

Presentation is everything! But presentation with purpose – that’s really something! Add my Candied Frozen Grapes to a glass and top them with your favourite beverage – such as wine, juice, soda water, a mocktail or cocktail. The grapes work triple duty here! They add a pop of colour, some presentation flair and chill your drink without diluting it! How magical!

For more fun and exciting summer snack ideas, try my Cookies & Cream No Churn Ice Cream, Easy Fruit Salad, Warm Marinated Olives and Stovetop Popcorn recipes!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Serves: 4 - 6

Ingredients:

• 3 ½ cups red grapes, seedless (approx. 547g) (See Notes below)

• Juice and zest of 1 lime

• 3 ½ Tbsp granulated sugar

• Pinch of sea salt

Instructions:

1. Rinse the grapes in a colander and pat them dry with a tea or paper towel.

2. To a small bowl, add the sugar, lime zest and salt. Using your hands, rub the lime zest into the sugar until fully incorporated.

3. To a large bowl, add the grapes. Top with lime juice and toss until the grapes are fully coated in juice.

4. Working in batches, transfer a few grapes into the bowl of lime-sugar and roll them around until well coated. Transfer the candied grapes to a 11” x 17” parchment-lined baking sheet.  Repeat the process for the remaining grapes.

5. Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and transfer the candied grapes into the freezer. Freeze for at least 4 hours (but preferably overnight) or until the grapes have frozen solid.

6. Transfer the Candied Frozen Grapes into a medium bowl and indulge. Serve and enjoy!

7. For leftovers, store them in the freezer in an airtight container or Ziploc bag.

Notes:

1. Red or Green?!: Red or green grapes, that is! I love using red, seedless grapes for this recipe. But, if you don’t have any on hand or can’t find them at your local grocer, simply substitute them with green, seedless grapes on a 1:1 basis.