Candy Apple Recipe

Add color and crunch to your holiday table with a simple recipe for Easy Homemade Candy Apples.

And after whipping up a dozen of them last weekend, I’m even more convinced it’s just one of those foods that doesn’t make sense—like naming miniature candy bars as “fun-size.” There’s nothing fun about having less candy.

But with Halloween right around the corner, I couldn’t resist trying my hand at the homemade version of one of fall’s classic desserts. It turns out giving my friends candy apples was more of a trick than a treat, as I handed them out then enjoyed the hilarious scene that ensued.

Their teeth were slipping and sliding across the slick red surface like tennis shoes on an ice skating rink. Eventually my caveman instincts kicked in. Me use knife. Me cut apple. Me eat apple in slices.

After tripping leaping over the practicality hurdle, we enjoyed slice after slice of the sweet and crunchy snack-on-a-stick. My sister, ever the attorney, suggested I include a legal disclaimer with this recipe stating that I am not responsible for any injuries and/or broken teeth caused by the candy apples.

But I, being the glass-is-half-full kinda gal that I am, like to think of them as a dessert that’s simply keeping dentists around the world in business.

And for all those with a love for this confection’s culinary cousin, check out my recipe for Easy Caramel Apples!

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And for all those joining in my fall dessert frenzy, don’t miss additional classic and creative recipes.

Easy Candy Apple Recipe

Fall calls for these easy candy apples made from scratch with just 3 ingredients and 30 minutes!

Prep: 10min

Total: 30min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 318 kcal, Carbohydrate 83 g, Sodium 10 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 76 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup corn syrup
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
• 8 small-medium apples

Instruction:

1. Insert a stick into the stem end of the apple pushing about halfway through and set aside.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and coat generously with cooking spray.
3. In a large saucepan over high heat, stir together the sugar, syrup and water. Bring the mixture to a boil and turn the heat to medium. Stir in the food coloring. Insert a candy thermometer and continue to boil until the mixture reaches Hard Crack stage (from 300-310 degrees), approximately 15-20 minutes.
4. Remove the sugar mixture from the heat and allow to rest for a few minutes before quickly dipping the apples in the sugar mixture turning to coat. The rest allows the bubbles to subside a bit so you don’t have bubbles in your candy coating.
5. Transfer to the baking sheet to cool completely.

Easy Homemade Candy Apples

Add color and crunch to your holiday table with a simple recipe for Easy Homemade Candy Apples.

Prep: 30min

Total: 60min

Yield: 12

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 328 kcal, Carbohydrate 86 g, Sodium 12 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 79 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 12 small red or green apples (any variety)
• 12 lollipop or popsicle sticks
• 3 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
• Equipment: candy thermometer

Instruction:

1. {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: “Wash and thoroughly dry the apples (See Kelly’s Notes below). Insert the lollipop sticks or popsicle sticks so that they are firmly positioned in the apples. Set the apples aside on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper coated with cooking spray.”, ‘name’: “Wash and thoroughly dry the apples (See Kelly’s Notes below). Insert the lollipop sticks or popsicle sticks so that they are firmly positioned in the apples. Set the apples aside on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper coated with cooking spray.”, ‘url’: ‘https://www.justataste.com/candy-apples/#wprm-recipe-30089-step-0-0’}
2. {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Combine the sugar, corn syrup and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Bring it to a boil and cook the mixture until a candy thermometer reaches 300ºF (the hard crack stage).’, ‘name’: ‘Combine the sugar, corn syrup and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Bring it to a boil and cook the mixture until a candy thermometer reaches 300ºF (the hard crack stage).’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.justataste.com/candy-apples/#wprm-recipe-30089-step-0-1’}
3. {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Remove the candy mixture from the heat and carefully stir in the red food coloring. (It may splash, so stand back. And you may have to add more than the designated 1/2 teaspoon, depending on the quality and strength of your food coloring.)’, ‘name’: ‘Remove the candy mixture from the heat and carefully stir in the red food coloring. (It may splash, so stand back. And you may have to add more than the designated 1/2 teaspoon, depending on the quality and strength of your food coloring.)’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.justataste.com/candy-apples/#wprm-recipe-30089-step-0-2’}
4. {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘One by one, carefully dip the apples into the candy mixture, swirling to coat them thoroughly and allowing any excess to drip back into the pan. Transfer the coated apples to the prepared cookie sheet and allow them to cool until the candy has fully hardened.’, ‘name’: ‘One by one, carefully dip the apples into the candy mixture, swirling to coat them thoroughly and allowing any excess to drip back into the pan. Transfer the coated apples to the prepared cookie sheet and allow them to cool until the candy has fully hardened.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.justataste.com/candy-apples/#wprm-recipe-30089-step-0-3’}
5. {‘@type’: ‘HowToSection’, ‘name’: “Kelly’s Notes:”, ‘itemListElement’: [{‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Apples often come with a waxy coating, which will prevent the candy from sticking to the surface. To remove the wax, simply boil 6 cups water with 1 tablespoon white vinegar. Quickly dip the apples in the boiling mixture for 5 seconds then thoroughly dry them. The candy will stick in an instant!’, ‘name’: ‘Apples often come with a waxy coating, which will prevent the candy from sticking to the surface. To remove the wax, simply boil 6 cups water with 1 tablespoon white vinegar. Quickly dip the apples in the boiling mixture for 5 seconds then thoroughly dry them. The candy will stick in an instant!’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.justataste.com/candy-apples/#wprm-recipe-30089-step-1-0’}, {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘If the candy mixture gets too hard during the dipping process, simply re-heat it over medium heat and continue coating the apples.’, ‘name’: ‘If the candy mixture gets too hard during the dipping process, simply re-heat it over medium heat and continue coating the apples.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.justataste.com/candy-apples/#wprm-recipe-30089-step-1-1’}, {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Serving the apples in colorful cupcake wrappers is a fun way to jazz up your Halloween party spread.’, ‘name’: ‘Serving the apples in colorful cupcake wrappers is a fun way to jazz up your Halloween party spread.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.justataste.com/candy-apples/#wprm-recipe-30089-step-1-2’}, {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘★xa0Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!’, ‘name’: ‘★xa0Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.justataste.com/candy-apples/#wprm-recipe-30089-step-1-3’}]}

Easy Candy Apples

Nothing says fall more than a candy apple. Make this classic treat at home with a super-simple recipe.

Prep: 5min

Total: 30min

Yield: 6

Nutrition Facts: calories 440 calories

Ingredients:

• Cooking spray
• 2 c. granulated sugar
• 3/4 c. water
• 1/2 c. light corn syrup
• 16 drops red food coloring
• 6 medium Granny Smith apples

Instruction:

1. Grease a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Line with parchment and grease parchment with cooking spray.
2. Insert a wooden stick into the top of each apple, pushing about halfway through. Set aside.
3. In a medium heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat, combine sugar, 3/4 cup water, corn syrup, and food coloring and bring to a boil. Insert candy thermometer and continue to boil until temperature reaches between 300° and 310°, about 15 to 20 minutes. Immediately remove from heat.
4. Working quickly and carefully—coating will be extremely hot—coat apples in candy mixture and transfer to prepared baking sheet.
5. Let cool completely before serving.

The Best Candy Apple Recipe!

FAQ

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