Candy Apples

Just like we couldn’t picture Christmas without cookies, it’s hard to imagine Halloween without candy. Between trick-or-treat hauls and seasonal specialties (Reese’s pumpkins, anyone?), there’s a lot for any sweet tooth to love during the month of October.

If you’re a true Halloween candy aficionado, you’ll appreciate the sweet simplicity of candy apples. These ooey-gooey treats feature a tart apple enveloped in a hard, spicy-sweet coating. And unlike caramel apples, they’re best licked like a lollipop.

To learn how to make candy apples at home, you’ll need some basic equipment, including lollipop sticks and a candy thermometer. You’ll also need about an hour to prep, make the coating and dip the apples. Ready to get started on this candy apple recipe?

Ingredients for Candy Apples

• Apples: Look for smaller-sized apples as they’ll be easier to dunk. You also want to peek at the bottom; flat-bottomed apples will sit nicely once dipped in the candy coating.
• Wooden pop sticks: Feel free to buy wooden or decorative sticks for the candy apples. Just make sure that they have a point on one side so they can be speared into the center of the apples.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar (aka white sugar) is key here so the candy coating can be dyed red or black. Basically, don’t use brown sugar or coconut sugar!
• Light corn syrup: Corn syrup keeps the sugar coating a little soft so it can still be bitten into. Use light corn syrup, not dark.
• Cinnamon: While optional, cinnamon is one of the main flavor components of this candy apples recipe. Feel free to omit it if you’re not a fan.
• Food coloring: Red food coloring creates that gorgeous candy apple red that so many car, lipstick and shoe colors are named after. Black food coloring gives the candy apples a “poisoned” look that’s perfect for Halloween.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the apples

Before you candy the apples, you need to prep them. Wash and thoroughly dry the apples. Remove the stems and replace them by inserting a wooden stick into each apple. Place the prepped apples on a baking sheet covered with waxed paper. Set them aside.

Editor’s Tip: The sticks should be inserted far enough into the apple so they can be picked up, but they shouldn’t go all the way through.

Step 2: Make the candy coating

In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, water and corn syrup. Cook and stir the ingredients over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to boil. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 290°F— the soft-crack stage.

Test Kitchen Tip: Cooking with sugar to make candy can be a tricky business. For candy apples, you’ll be cooking the mixture until it reaches the soft-crack stage. To ensure it has the proper consistency, avoid stirring the mixture once it begins to boil. Invest in quality candy-making tools, too, like a large heavy-bottomed saucepan and a candy thermometer. Most importantly, be extra-careful around hot candy to avoid burns.

Step 3: Color and flavor the coating

Remove the sugar mixture from the heat and pour it into two small bowls. In the first bowl, add 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and the red food coloring. In the second bowl, add the remaining cinnamon and the black food coloring. Stir each mixture until the color is well combined.

Step 4: Dip the apples

Working quickly, dip two apples into the red sugar mixture and two apples into the black sugar mixture to completely coat them. Place them on a prepared baking sheet, and let the apples stand until the candy has set.

Test Kitchen Tip: Make sure to work quickly! The sugar mixture will begin to solidify in the bowls if you let it rest for longer than a few minutes.

Candy Apple Variations

• Change the colors: No need to stick to just red or black food coloring. You can use any food coloring hue you desire!
• Finish with toppings: Just like a caramel apple, you can decorate candy apples with all sorts of toppings. Chopped nuts, crushed Oreos or Reese’s, sprinkles, M&Ms and shredded coconut would taste great on a candy apple. It’s a great way to use leftover Halloween candy!

How to Store Candy Apples

Once the candied apples have set, transfer them to an airtight container (you may need to take out their wooden sticks). Stash the container in the fridge.

How long do candy apples last?

Candy apples should last up to four days in the fridge. Because the wooden stick was pushed through the center of the apple, the apple will slowly oxidize and turn brown and mushy. However, if you dip your candy apple far enough into the mixture to hit the wooden stick and seal the hole, your candy apple can last up to a week or more in the fridge!

Candy Apple Tips

What are the best apples to use for this candy apple recipe?

The best types of apples to use for a candy apples recipe are firm, crisp apples. If you like a really sweet candy apple, use Honeycrisp apples. If you like nicely balanced tart-yet-sweet candied apples, Granny Smith is your best option. Avoid mealy apples like Red Delicious or McIntosh or you won’t have a satisfying bite.

How do I get the wax off an apple?

Many store-bought apples have a waxy coating on them. While the wax is safe to eat, it’ll make the candy-coating process pretty difficult. To remove the wax, use a slotted spoon to submerge the apple into boiling water for three to five seconds. Carefully lift the apple out with the slotted spoon and wipe it dry with a paper towel. Repeat with the rest of the apples.

How do I clean the candy out of the saucepan?

Fill the saucepan up with enough water until the water covers all the hardened candy. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, then carefully dump the water into the sink. Most, if not all, of the candy should have washed away. If not, repeat the process.