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Candy Apple Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 82 reviews

This classic Candy Apple recipe transforms crisp, fresh apples into a glossy, sweet treat coated with a hard candy shell. Perfect for parties, fall festivities, or a nostalgic dessert, this candy-coated apple recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward steps to achieve a vibrant, crunchy finish that contrasts beautifully with the juicy apple inside.

Ingredients

Scale

Candy Coating

  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 1½ cups water
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 8 drops red food coloring

Apples

  • 15 medium apples, washed and dried
  • 15 craft sticks
  • cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Prepare Apples: Lightly grease your cookie sheets with cooking spray to prevent sticking and insert craft sticks into the stem end of each washed and dried apple to create handles for dipping.
  2. Mix Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine the white sugar, water, and light corn syrup over medium-high heat, stirring gently to dissolve sugar.
  3. Boil Mixture: Bring the syrup mixture to a boil. Once boiling, insert a candy thermometer to monitor temperature closely.
  4. Cook to Hard Crack Stage: Continue boiling the syrup without stirring until it reaches 300 to 310°F (149 to 154°C), the hard crack stage, which ensures the candy will harden properly.
  5. Test Syrup Consistency: To check readiness, drop a small amount of syrup into cold water; it should form hard, brittle threads indicating perfect candy texture.
  6. Add Food Coloring: Remove the syrup from heat and carefully stir in 8 drops of red food coloring, mixing until the color is even.
  7. Dip Apples: Holding each apple by its stick, dip it fully into the hot syrup coating, turning it to cover the surface evenly for a smooth candy shell.
  8. Set Apples: Place the candy-coated apples on the prepared cookie sheets and allow the candy coating to harden completely before serving.

Notes

  • Use a candy thermometer for accuracy to achieve the proper hard crack stage for the candy coating.
  • Work quickly when dipping apples as the syrup hardens fast once off the heat.
  • If the syrup thickens too much while dipping, reheat gently to restore fluidity but avoid stirring after removal of the thermometer.
  • Cooking spray on the cookie sheets prevents the sticky candy from adhering.
  • For a fun twist, try using different food coloring or adding edible glitter to the syrup once colored.

Keywords: candy apple, caramel apple alternative, candy coating, fall treats, easy candy apple recipe, homemade candy apples

Find it online: https://stirringwithstella.com/candy-apple-recipe/