To continue this week’s food trend theme, today we are taking a look at cotton candy grapes!  When I heard about cotton candy flavored grapes, I was a little skeptical.  Available since 2011, I hadn’t seen any in my little part of the world…until now.  For Friday field trip this week, I made a trip to Stew Leonard’s in Norwalk, Connecticut to pick up some of these grapes and perform a little taste test.

Without any genetic engineering or artificial flavors (as reported by NPR), apparently the flavor of these grapes is obtained by cross-breeding different varieties of grapes.  They look just like any other green seedless grape…

Can a grape taste like cotton candy?  You know what?  They do!  I think the flavor is something of a vanilla note.  The combination of that and a sugar content that is 12% higher than a regular table grape gives the fruit a sugar spun flavor reminiscent of cotton  candy.  It really is amazing.  I keep wondering if I would think they tasted like cotton candy if I didn’t know they were called cotton candy grapes…I think I would!

Here I combined cotton candy grapes with pieces of angel food cake dipped in white chocolate and pink sugar.

A pound of the grapes at Stew Leonard’s here in Connecticut sell for $4.99.  From what I have read in Time and NPR, these grapes are grown in California, although no indication of this is present on the Stew Leonard’s packaging.

A cotton candy grape rolled in sugar and chilled makes a great garnish for a cotton candy martini!

The grapes taste wonderful all on their own, but of course I did a little experimenting and want to show you some of my favorite ways to use the cotton candy grape!  You can use them in any way you would normally use a grape.  I am sure they would add a nice sweetness as a component in chicken salad or a nice accompaniment with wine and cheese.  But for me, I most enjoyed them as a part of something sweet (especially white chocolate)!  Take a look!

An elegant but easy dessert with cotton candy grapes. The grapes are added to white chocolate instant pudding poured into an angel food dessert shell and drizzled with white chocolate.

Cotton candy grapes taste wonderful on their own, but here I combined them with mini marshmallows on skewers for a fun dessert.

A great ‘salad’ for a sweet tooth. Combine cotton candy grapes with this sweet dressing and serve ice cold. For 1 lb. of grapes, combine 2 cups sour cream and 1 cup brown sugar and mix with grapes.

I hope you can find some cotton candy grapes near you and give them a try!  If you already have, I would love to hear your comments!  Have you tried any other food trends this summer?

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at The Tablescaper.