Description
Follow these steps to make classic, glossy candy apples at home with a perfect, bubble-free coating.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 medium apples (Granny Smith or Fuji recommended)
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon red food coloring (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon extract or vanilla extract (optional)
- 6 wooden skewers or lollipop sticks
Instructions
- Wash and thoroughly dry the apples. Remove the stems and insert a wooden skewer firmly into the center of each apple.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Stop stirring once the mixture boils. Insert a candy thermometer.
- Cook the syrup without stirring until it reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit (hard crack stage). This usually takes 15 to 20 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat. If using, quickly stir in the food coloring and extract. Work fast, as the mixture will thicken.
- Tilt the saucepan slightly. Dip and rotate each apple into the hot syrup, ensuring an even, thin coating. Lift the apple and let excess syrup drip off briefly.
- Place the coated apples on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Let the candy apples cool completely and harden for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a bubble-free coating, ensure your apples are completely dry before dipping. Moisture causes bubbles.
- Do not stir the syrup once it begins to boil; this can cause crystallization.
- If the coating thickens too much while dipping, return the pan to low heat briefly to thin it out, but do not let it boil again.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 apple
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 85g
- Sodium: 1mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 90g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg