Description
This easy homemade candy apples recipe transforms crisp, fresh apples into a delightful treat coated with a shiny, hard candy shell. Perfect for Halloween parties or festive occasions, these classic candy apples combine tangy fruit with a sweet, crunchy exterior made from a simple sugar syrup cooked to the hard crack stage and colored vibrant red. With straightforward ingredients and step-by-step instructions, making candy apples at home has never been simpler or more fun.
Ingredients
Scale
Apples
- 12 small red or green apples (any variety)
- 12 lollipop or popsicle sticks
Candy Coating
- 3 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
Instructions
- Prepare Apples: Wash and thoroughly dry the apples to ensure the candy coating will stick properly. Insert the lollipop or popsicle sticks firmly into the apples. Place the apples on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper coated with cooking spray.
- Make Candy Syrup: In a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, corn syrup, and water. Bring the mixture to a boil and continue cooking until a candy thermometer registers 300ºF (hard crack stage).
- Add Food Coloring: Remove the saucepan from heat. Carefully stir in the red food coloring, adding a bit more if needed for a vibrant color, but be cautious of splashes.
- Dip Apples: One at a time, dip each apple into the candy mixture, swirling to coat evenly. Allow excess syrup to drip back into the pan, then place the coated apple back onto the prepared cookie sheet to cool and harden.
- Remove Wax Coating (Optional): To help candy stick better, remove any wax on apples by boiling 6 cups of water with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. Quickly dip apples for 5 seconds and dry thoroughly before coating.
- Reheat Candy if Needed: If the candy mixture hardens while coating apples, simply reheat it gently over medium heat to return it to proper consistency.
- Serve: Once cooled and hardened, serve the candy apples, optionally placing them in colorful cupcake wrappers for a festive presentation.
Notes
- Removing the wax coating on apples helps the candy adhere better. Use the vinegar-water dip method described.
- If the candy mixture hardens during the dipping process, reheat gently to soften and continue coating.
- Using a candy thermometer is important for achieving the correct temperature and texture of the candy coating.
- Serving within cupcake wrappers adds a fun and festive touch to your presentation.
- Be careful when working with hot sugar syrup to avoid burns.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Method: Candy making, dipping
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 candy apple
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 50 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 66 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: candy apples, homemade candy apples, Halloween candy, candy-coated apples, red candy apples, easy candy apples recipe
