Who doesn’t enjoy a good candy apple or two from time to time? If you’re in for a sweet tooth, then these recipes are sure to delight your palate. Candy apples are a favorite of both children and adults, and the great thing about them is you can mix whatever your heart’s desire with the candy apples.
From classic red treats to inventive twists like caramel-covered, cinnamon sugar, maple pecan, Jolly Rancher, M&M, and cotton candy apples, this blog post promises a flavorful adventure in your kitchen.
Ready for a delicious journey? Let the candy-making magic begin!
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What You’ll Need to Make Candy Apples
Water
Sugar
Corn syrup
Food coloring
Thermometer
Apples
Apple sticks
Cinnamon (optional)
Wax paper
When choosing a color for your candy apples, begin by assembling your ingredients and materials. Pour the corn syrup mixture into a pot and heat it at medium temperature. Once it starts boiling, it’s time to add the food coloring.
While the traditional candy apple is typically red, you have the creative freedom to select any color that suits your preferences. Red remains a beloved classic, but feel free to explore other options. Other popular choices are orange, yellow, and green.
I purchased my own food coloring for the candy apples from Amazon.
After you’ve added your dye to the corn syrup mixture, take your apples and place them in a big bowl of ice cold water. The reason you’re doing this is to get off as much wax from the apples as possible in order to allow the corn syrup to stick to the fruit. Your last step is to dip the apples in the dyed corn syrup mixture.
Pay extra careful attention as you do this, as you do not want to get burned. Tilt the pot slightly as you dip the apple and turn it at the same time. Coated two or three times, then lay it on your wax paper that is lined with the butter. And there you have it, you completed the first step. The next step is to wait. Let your apple sit at room temperature for up to 2 hours before enjoy.
What Are the Best Apples for Candy Apples?
In the United States, there are over a hundred apple varieties grown commercially, but the exact number can vary by region and over time. This doesn’t encompass all the heirloom and lesser-known varieties that might be found in specific regions or local orchards. The best apple for your candy apple will ultimately depend on your tastes, and the truth is, even though you may hear that not all apples are good for candy apples, you may find a candy apple of a rater variety tastes better than even the traditional ones. So don’t be afraid to experiment.
The following is a list of some of the most popular apple varieties for your candy apples, along with their taste profile:
Seven Apple Varieties and Their Flavor Profiles
Honeycrisp
Honeycrisp apples have a sweet-tart flavor with a hint of honey, which gives them their name. They are excellent for both snacking and baking.
Gala
Gala apples are sweet and aromatic with a mildly floral flavor. Galas are perfect for fresh eating, salads, or making applesauce.
Granny Smith
These bright green apples have a sharp, refreshing flavor, making them ideal for pies and adding a zing to salads.
Fuji
Fuji apples have a fine balance of sweetness and a hint of spice. These apples are great for eating fresh or adding a sweet note to salads.
Red Delicious
Red Delicious apples are often eaten fresh, but their sweetness can also complement salads.
Crispin (Mutsu)
Crispin (Mutsu) apples are excellent for fresh eating, cider-making, and cooking in various recipes.
Braeburn
Braeburn apples offer a sweet-tart balance, often with a spicy, aromatic undertone. They work well in both snacking and cooking applications.
How Do I Make Candy Apples Less Sticky?
First, ensure your apples are thoroughly washed and dried to remove any natural surface moisture. Insert wooden sticks into the apples for easy handling. Next, cook the candy coating to the correct temperature, usually around 300°F (150°C). This high temperature ensures the candy hardens quickly, reducing stickiness. You can also add a touch of vinegar or lemon juice to the candy mixture to help prevent crystallization, which can make the candy sticky. Lastly, once you’ve coated the apples, let them cool and harden on a parchment paper-lined tray. This should help minimize stickiness, making your candy apples a delicious and less messy treat.
Now, let’s move on to the seven different candy apple recipes:
1. Classic Candy Apples
Classic candy apples are typically red, and traditionally, cinnamon was added. You can enjoy them with or without the spice, as most people prefer them plain. Even though red is the standard color, you’re free to use whatever color you like. For example, orange may be an interesting change from the traditional red.
How to Prepare
1. Simple Steps: These are the simplest to make. Using the ingredients mentioned above and having prepared the apples by cooking, you then add the red coloring and dip the apples in the corn syrup mixture. Afterwards, you lay the apples on a tray, following the above instructions, and wait the required 15 minutes.
Classic candy apples are a timeless treat that’s loved by many. Whether you prefer them with or without added flavor, these candy apples are a delightful blend of sweet and crunchy.
2. Caramel-Covered Candy Apples
The second most popular candy apple is the caramel-covered candy apple. These are usually found alongside the traditional red-colored candy apples whenever sold in pairs. Caramel is an acquired taste, so many who think of candy apples usually want the traditional red. Sweet and savory, these apples are a great choice to serve alongside the red ones and are preferred by those who crave less sugar or opt for a sugarless treat.
How to Prepare
1. Dip in Caramel: The second easiest to prepare, this kind of apple requires you to dip the caramel, as you would in apple in the corn syrup, but the cooling time is longer at 1 hour. For an extra special treat, you could add nuts or other toppings of your choice.
Caramel-covered candy apples are a wonderful choice for those who enjoy the rich and buttery flavor of caramel. You can get creative by adding various toppings to the caramel for a unique twist on this classic treat.
3. Cinnamon Sugar Apples
How to Prepare
1. Mix Cinnamon Sugar: Combine cinnamon and sugar in a bowl to create a sweet and fragrant cinnamon sugar mixture.
2. Dip Apples: Dip each apple into the cinnamon sugar mixture, ensuring it’s coated with the delightful blend of cinnamon and sugar.
3. Cool and Harden: Place the cinnamon sugar apples on a parchment paper-lined tray and let them cool and harden, creating a sweet and aromatic candy apple with a classic twist.
Cinnamon Sugar Apples provide a nostalgic flavor reminiscent of warm, comforting treats. The combination of cinnamon and sugar adds a delightful twist to the classic candy apple.
4. Maple Pecan Apples
How to Prepare
1. Prepare Maple Glaze: Create a maple glaze by mixing maple syrup, powdered sugar, and finely chopped pecans in a bowl until it forms a thick and sweet glaze.
2. Dip Apples: Dip each apple into the maple glaze, ensuring it’s fully coated with the delightful maple and pecan goodness.
3. Pecan Topping: Roll the maple-glazed apples in a bowl of crushed pecans to add a crunchy and nutty topping.
4. Cool and Enjoy: Place the maple pecan apples on a parchment paper-lined tray and let them cool and harden, creating a delightful combination of maple and pecan flavors.
Maple pecan apples offer a taste of autumn with their sweet maple glaze and crunchy pecan coating.
5. Jolly Rancher Apples
How to Prepare
1. Crush Jolly Ranchers: Crush Jolly Rancher candies of your preferred flavors into small pieces.
2. Melt and Dip: Melt the crushed Jolly Ranchers in a pot and dip each apple into the melted candy to coat them with vibrant Jolly Rancher flavors.
3. Set on Wax Paper: Place the Jolly Rancher-coated apples on wax paper to allow the candy to harden.
4. Cool and Enjoy: Let the Jolly Rancher coating cool and harden, and savor the sweet and tangy flavors.
Jolly Rancher apples add a burst of fruity flavor to the traditional candy apple. They are a colorful and tangy twist on this classic treat.
6. M&M Apples
How to Prepare
1. Melt Chocolate: Melt chocolate in a microwave or over a double boiler until smooth.
2. Dip Apples: Dip each apple into the melted chocolate, ensuring even coverage.
3. Add M&Ms: While the chocolate is still wet, press M&M candies onto the apple’s surface for a colorful and crunchy topping.
4. Cool and Harden: Place the M&M-covered apples on a parchment paper-lined tray and allow them to cool and harden.
M&M apples combine the sweetness of chocolate with the crunch of M&Ms for a delightful and colorful candy apple variation.
7. Cotton Candy Apples
How to Prepare
1. Create Cotton Candy: First, prepare the cotton candy by spinning it onto a stick or forming it into a cotton candy shape.
2. Dip Apples: Dip each apple into the cotton candy, coating it with the sweet and fluffy treat.
3. Set on Wax Paper: Place the cotton candy-covered apples on wax paper to allow the cotton candy to set and harden.
4. Cool and Enjoy: Let the cotton candy coating cool and harden, and then indulge in this unique twist on candy apples.
Cotton candy apples bring a delightful combination of the classic candy apple with the whimsy of cotton candy. They are perfect for a fun and colorful treat.