Sugared frozen grapes are a delightful and unique treat created by soaking small, seedless grapes in champagne, infusing them with a sparkling wine’s effervescence and subtle fruity notes. We love to put them out for fancier New Year’s Eve events, wedding showers, or any other special occasion where we need to fancy things up a bit. And they also make perfect poolside treats in the summer! You will love how versatile they are!
This delightful combination of sweet grape flavor and a hint of champagne makes such an impression with very little effort!
Why We Love Sugared Frozen Grapes
We love sugared frozen grapes for their bite-sized charm and naturally sweet flavor. And, of course, anytime you add an addition of champagne, you instantly up the luxury of something! But feel free to use a less fancy sparkling wine or white wine for any time of the year. The versatility in various culinary creations, from charcuterie boards to desserts, and their association with celebratory occasions further enhance our appreciation for these grapes.
Ingredients
- 3 cups green grapes – Green grapes pack a sour punch. But if you prefer to go without the sour factor, you can easily substitute seedless red grapes.
- 1 cup sparkling wine or champagne (which is great at New Year’s)
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
Storage, Advance Prep, and Reheating Instructions
- Sugared grapes soaked in champagne or white wine are best served frozen. Wait to remove this treat from the freezer until the guests are ready to enjoy them.
- However, if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Consume them within 4 days to retain their flavor and texture, as extended storage may cause the grapes to become mushy. However, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours.
Recipe Tips for Sugared Frozen Grapes
- When making frozen grapes soaked in champagne, ensure that you choose high-quality fresh grapes.
- Opt for a brut or extra brut champagne, which is drier and balances well with the grape’s natural sweetness when you are going fancy. But go with a white whine or sparkling wine anytime of year – such as for pool parties in the summer!
- If you want this treat to taste less alcoholic-y, you can adjust the soaking time. A brief soak – much less than the time we have recommended in the recipe card below and just enough to infuse the flavors without overwhelming the fruit – is ideal for a delightful treat that doesn’t have much of the lingering alcohol flavoring.
- Serve the soaked fruit chilled in small, elegant glasses as a sophisticated and refreshing dessert or an appetizer for special occasions. We like to put a bowl of them on ice and have them available near the drink station or dessert station.
- If you simply want frozen grapes to add to drinks, you might consider leaving off the sugar. Just soak the grapes in wine and freeze overnight for an easy frozen grapes addition!
Substitutions and Variations for Champagne Grapes
- If you don’t have champagne on hand, consider using other sparkling wines like Prosecco, Cava, or sparkling rosé to create a different flavor profile. And given that many other sparkling wines are less expensive than champagne, you might choose to go this route anyway. (We usually use a Prosecco for a summer treat or winter treat. We save the champagne for when we are specifically making New Year’s Eve grapes.)
- Add a twist of citrus zest, such as lemon or orange, to the champagne soak for a refreshing and aromatic touch.
- Try adding mint or basil to infuse a subtle herbal note.
- Include small pieces of other fruits, like berries or slices of kiwi, to create a fruit salad with champagne-soaked grapes for a diverse flavor profile.
- Transform the soaked grapes into champagne sorbet by blending them with a bit of champagne and freezing the mixture for a refreshing dessert.
- Pair the wine soaked grapes with other more complex desserts for a sophisticated dessert ensemble.
Sugared Frozen Grapes
Ingredients
- 3 cups Green grapes seedless grapes with stems removed; can also use seedless red grapes
- 1 cup White wine or champagne
- 3 tbsp Granulated sugar
Instructions
- Place grapes in a large mixing bowl and cover the grapes with the champagne or sparkling wine. Soak the grapes for at least 12 hours.
- Drain grapes. Place sugar in a bowl or bag and toss grapes with the sugar to fully cover the grapes.
- Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for two hours.
Notes
- These sugared grapes are best served frozen.
- In an airtight container, you can store the grapes at room temperature for 24 hours, in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to a month.
- For using the frozen grapes in drinks, omit the sugar.
Nutrition
Enjoy More of Our Recipes
If you like our recipe, you will surely enjoy exploring more of our party recipes! We have a wide variety of recipes to appeal to all occasions and celebrations.
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Cranberry Cream Cheese Pinwheels
Best Tropical Foods for a Luau
Sausage Balls Without Bisquick
Jalapeno Artichoke Dip Appetizer on Rye Bread
Spinach Toast Appetizer with Spinach Dip
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