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A bright red candy apple on a stick, glistening with a hard shell.

Best way to grow 5 Candy Apples

This recipe provides a delicious and classic way to make five candy apples, perfect for a treat or festive occasion. The shiny, hard candy coating will delight both kids and adults.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 5 apples
Calories: 250
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Candy Apple Ingredients
  • 5 medium apples
  • 5 wooden skewers or sticks
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/2 cup water
  • few drops red food coloring
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Equipment

  • heavy-bottomed saucepan
  • candy thermometer
  • wooden skewers or sticks
  • baking sheet
  • parchment paper

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Wash and thoroughly dry the apples, then remove their stems and insert a wooden skewer or stick into the core of each apple.
Making the Candy Coating
  1. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and water, stirring until the sugar dissolves over medium heat.
  2. Once boiling, insert a candy thermometer and continue cooking without stirring until the mixture reaches 300-310°F (149-154°C), the hard crack stage.
  3. Carefully remove the saucepan from the heat and quickly stir in the red food coloring and vanilla extract.
Coating the Apples
  1. Dip each apple into the hot candy mixture, tilting the pan to ensure full coverage, then lift and rotate to let excess drip off.
  2. Place the coated apples onto a greased baking sheet or parchment paper to cool and harden completely.

Notes

Ensure apples are very dry for the candy to adhere properly. Work quickly when coating apples as the candy hardens fast. Be cautious with the hot candy mixture as it can cause severe burns.