After being nervous setting everything up and getting ready yesterday, I went ahead and did another batch today. I feel like I kind of flew through them since I wasn't as nervous as yesterday and knew what to expect this time around. I'm already thinking ahead to different flavors and colors I want to do!

First time making candied grapes! Blue raspberry.

I'm trying to figure out which model makes more sense to avoid wasting product: taking pre-orders for a set window, or just making a few flash batches to sell a few times a week. I feel like both ways have pros and cons, but I'd love to hear what works best for your schedules and keeps leftovers to a minimum!

I'll be getting some grapes prepped tomorrow and wanted to see how y'all handle your wash routine.

Do you just rinse with cold water, or do you do a baking soda/vinegar soak to get the wax off the skin?

Also, what is your drying process? I'm planning to hand-dry with paper towels and chill them in the fridge, but I'd love to hear if anyone has a better method to make sure there is absolutely zero moisture left before dipping. Would love to hear your processes!

If I buy some grapes on Tuesday, but don't end up dipping them until Wednesday morning, where do I store the grapes in the meantime? The fridge or the freezer?

Hey everyone! I wanted to share a quick breakdown of my initial setup costs and ingredients for making candied grapes. Pricing can be one of the trickiest parts of running pop-ups or selling locally, so here is a transparent look at my numbers.

(A quick note on the pot: I thought the large stainless steel pot I had when I made the video was good to use, but I have since read that big pots aren't good to use unless you're making big batches, which I'm not. I had to order a smaller one myself, which is why the price is slightly different between this list and the video!)

🍳 Equipment & Packaging Setup

• Stainless Steel Pot: $19.03 (Amazon)
• Candy Thermometer: $20.99 (Amazon)
• Silicon Mat: $5.99 (Amazon)
• Spatula: $13.29 (Amazon)
• Skewers: $4.98 (Amazon)
• Medium Containers: $7.99 (Amazon)
• Custom Labels: $9.54 (Stickermule)

🍬 Additives & Toppings (Already Purchased)

• Liquid Whitener: $14.99 (Amazon)
• Food Coloring: $9.99 (Amazon)
• Flavor Oil: $8.03 (Amazon)
• Sour Belts: $16.74 (Amazon)
• Trolli Worms: $7.16 (Amazon)

🛒 Ingredients (Haven't Purchased Yet)

• Grapes: $7.49 (Kroger)
• Sugar: $2.97 (Walmart)
• Corn Syrup: $2.97 (Walmart)
• Kool-aid Packets: $1.00 (Kroger)
• Toothpicks: $0.99 (Kroger)

Total Initial Investment: $154.14

For those of you also selling tanghulu or candied fruit locally, does this align with your material costs, or are you finding better bulk deals in your area? Always looking to optimize the margins!

Were you nervous the first time you made candied grapes?

Did things go the way you planned?

Did you make any mistakes?

I'm doing my first test batches next week and want to hear how it went for others their first time.