MAKE IT: Candied Apples

Candied Apples, is there anything more reminiscent of a fair or carnival? In the fall who doesn't love the taste of childhood in a candy coated apple? These fair favorites are actually very easy to create in your kitchen. Show off at your next fall festival, Halloween party, or birthday party by making these fun treats!

For a little extra splash of color and fun, roll freshly dipped apples in nuts, candy sprinkles, chocolate chips, or coconut shreds!

Makes 12 apples
Full time: 2 hours (make in roughly 1 hour, sets in roughly 1 hour)

You will need:

12 medium apples, I like using Gala
12 popsicle sticks or skewers thick enough to support apples

2 cups white granulated sugar
1 1/2 cup water
1 cup light corn syrup
8-9 drops red food coloring

Let us begin:

Your going to want to use a candy thermometer to do this, if you don't have one that is okay, but it is much easier with one.

In a small stock pot or medium sauce pan, combine the sugar and water. Giving it a mix to dissolve sugar.

Add in the corn syrup and stir, you should see the mixture go from cloudy to clear.

Insert thermometer and set onto burner.

Heat mixture over medium-high heat to 300-310 on your thermometer. Not using a thermometer? Than keep an eye on mixture it will take roughly 30 minutes to get to the "hard crack" point, by this I mean if you drop a small amount into cold water, a hard string should appear instantly.

While this comes to temperature, let's prepare your apples and coating station. 

Remove stems and wash apples. Ensure apples are completely dry. You want apples that sit mostly right side up, ones that lean to much don't work well. (good sitter on bottom, bad sitter on top)

Insert stick into apple about half way, you'll actually feel it almost "snap" into place when it hits the center.

Set apples aside on wax paper lined tray or paper towels.

Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.

To set up your station place the apple to the left of a hot pad (or something you put hot pots on when placing them on a table) and the empty tray to the right of the hot pad. This will allow you to pick up an apple, dip, and then place it on the setting tray. If you left handed feel free to do this in the reverse staging order.

Once your mixture reaches 300-310 remove from heat, to the hot pad and stir in the food coloring. The mixture will bubble so be careful doing this.

 

 

Dip apples into the mixture and give them a spin to evenly coat.

Remove and place on greased cookie sheet, working quickly to coat all remaining apples.

Allow to sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour before using.

I like them to sit in the refrigerator overnight for the best result. Enjoy!