How to Make Candy Apples

Candy apples are easy to make, taste great and look beautiful displayed on a platter. You can make candy apples any time of the year for only a few dollars.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• 1 1/4 light corn syrup
• Red food coloring
• Sugar
• 6 to 8 apples
• Sticks
• Parchment paper
• Metal sauce pot
• Wood sticks
• 1 ½ cups water
• Candy thermometer

1. Wash the apples in your sink. Dry them with a dish cloth.
2. Press a wood stick about halfway into the stem area of each apple.
3. Pour the water into a saucepan. Use a stainless steel saucepan at least three quarts in volume.
4. Add the sugar and the corn syrup. Stir to combine all of the ingredients.
5. Heat the sugar mixture at a medium setting.
6. Bring the sugar mixture to a boil. Then turn the heat setting to high.
7. Continue to cook the sugar mixture until it reaches 283 degrees, close to the hard ball stage.
8. Add 1 teaspoon of red food color once the hard ball stage is reached. Stir with a metal spoon.
9. Place your candy thermometer in the side of the saucepan. Watch the temperature rise until it reaches the hard ball stage, at 300 degrees.
10. Take your saucepan off the stove. Set a timer for two minutes and let your sugar mixture rest for this time.
11. Dip one apple in the red candy apple mixture. Swirl the apple around to evenly coat it. Pull the candy apple out. Let the excess mixture drip back into the saucepan.
12. Place your candied apples on cookie wrap to cool and harden. To catch the excess red candy, have a cookie sheet wrapped in foil under the cookie cooling sheet.

Tips & Warnings

• You can roll your still-wet candy apple in other fun candies to embellish it. Try using chopped nuts, sprinkles, candy corn or even bite-sized red licorice.
• Never leave the boiling sugar mixture unattended. This is a hot and dangerous mixture.