Champagne or Prosecco Grapes Recipe

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Nothing says Happy New Year like a glass of champagne or Prosecco, so I made champagne grapes to keep the sparkles flowing in more ways than one. Sugared grapes (remember my sugared cranberries?) are a delicious candy-like treat to serve at your New Year’s party, but they’re also a delicious addition to any cheese board, beverage or cocktail whenever the mood strikes–holiday or otherwise! Make them boozy, extra boozy, or booze free–the world is your… grape! And when I say this sweet treat is the easiest one you’ll make all holiday season, I mean it! The hardest part is the waiting–that’s why I keep an extra bottle of Prosecco on hand. Cheers!

For more festive ideas, try my:

• Champagne Cocktails
• New Years Snack Board
• New Years Dessert Board
• Build Your Own Hot Chocolate Board (and this Spiked version!)
• Brie Brûlée
• Cheesecake Toppings Board

For more winter recipes, check out these boards!

How to Make Champagne or Prosecco Grapes Ingredients

• 3-4 cups green grapes, stems removed and washed

• 2 cups Prosecco, Sparkling Wine, or Champagne

• ¼ cup vodka (optional)

• ¼ cup granulated sugar

Sugar Grapes in Champagne Recipe

• Place a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. 

• Place the grapes in a large bowl and pour over the Champagne / Prosecco and vodka, if using. Cover with plastic wrap and let soak in the fridge for at least 12 hours. Drain.

• Place the sugar in a medium bowl. Add the soaked grapes a small handful at a time and toss to coat. Set coated grapes on the prepared wire rack. 

• Chill in the fridge until ready to serve, or freeze them for at least two hours before serving.

What’s the Difference Between Champagne and Prosecco?

The short answer is, while they are both sparkling wines, Champagne must be made in the Champagne region of France following some very specific French laws (yes, laws!), where as Prosecco is a sparkling wine mostly made in the Veneto region of Italy with many fewer regulations. Beyond this, a real wine aficionado will tell you that the flavors are so so different–Champagne is typically much dryer (brut) with much finer bubbles. Prosecco tends to be much fruitier (and much more affordable).

There are a lot more sparkling wines than just these two, like Spanish Cava, but a lot of folks incorrectly categorize these wines as Champagne–they’re their own thing! Even sparkling wines made in the Champagne style that don’t follow those laws have to be called Champenoise.

Recipe for Prosecco Grapes: Video Tutorial

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Other Ways to Make Sugared Grapes

• Make it non-alcoholic, like my sugared cranberries, and skip the booze all together. Just swap in your favorite clear soda for the Prosecco and follow the rest of the recipe. You can use Sprite or 7up, but I would go with ginger ale since it’s got that dry, Prosecco-like quality. Sparkling juice or apple cider are also great options .You can switch out the fruit. Strawberries or blueberries are delish. 

• Alternatively, you could soak them in simple syrup for an extra sweet treat. 

• Remove the skins so the sugar will stick to the grapes without any soaking at all. 

Whatever you do, they’re sure to be delicious! 

How to Serve Sugared Grapes

I love going the freezing route so you have a ton of different options! You could simply serve them in a bowl on their own for snacking, but I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t tell you they’re also a great addition to a holiday cheese board. Add them to a number bowl on this NYE Snack Board, swap them in for the cranberries with these Pinecone Cheese Balls, or add them to a bowl and put them on this Christmas Brie Board. The possibilities are endless (and delicious)!

Plus, you can use them as sweet, frozen champagne or cocktail garnishes! Check out these champagne cocktails for inspiration.

How to store your Champagne Grapes

I find they are best served within 24 hours of making, but you can store them in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. You can also freeze them and enjoy them frozen–they’ll keep in a freezer-safe container for a couple weeks! 

Show Me Your Sugar Grapes

I hope this post inspires you to make this recipe. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the snacks and sweets you create from my tips. If you make something inspired by this post, please tag me at @ainttooproudtomeg so I can see and share! 

And, If you liked this recipe, please rate and review.