Best Holiday Candy Apples Recipes

EASY HOMEMADE CANDY APPLES

Steps:

• 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.
• 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).
• 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.)
• 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.

HOLIDAY CHOCOLATE CARAMEL APPPLES

Steps:

• 1. In a large double boiler melt caramel over medium heat. This will take about 45 minutes when using block caramel.
• 2. While caramel is melting, wash apples and remove labels and stem. Dry well. Place sticks into top of apple. Push down firmly but do not go through bottom of apple. Set aside. Prepare Candi-Quik by breaking into smaller pieces.
• 3. Place parchment paper on counter top, table or tray. When caramel is melted dip each apple up to stem area. Twirl to remove excess caramel. Transfer to parchment paper. Let set so caramel can harden about 30-45 minutes. While caramel is setting up, melt chocolate Candi-Quik in double boiler over medium-low heat. Be careful not to overheat or you will end up with "dull" chocolate.
• 4. Pick apples up and trim excess caramel off the bottom where it has pooled. Kitchen shears work very well for this task. Place excess caramel back into double boiler for later use. Dip each apple into chocolate, twirl to remove excess chocolate. Set on clean sheets of parchment. While chocolate is setting up, melt white Candi-Quik in double boiler.
• 5. Drizzle white chocolate onto one apple at a time and working quickly, sprinkle liberally with toffee bits. Place M&M's on wet chocolate. Sprinkle with decorative sprinkles. Repeat until all apples are completed.
• 6. Place apple in a muffin top paper or pastry cups (found at Candy/Cake decor supply) Place apple into goody bag. Secure around stick with twisty tie, then tie with ribbon. Store in refrigerator for up to five days.
• 7. Remove from refrigerator and allow to warm up a bit at room temperature before cutting into wedges.

CANDIED APPLES II

Steps:

• Lightly grease cookie sheets. Insert craft sticks into whole, stemmed apples.
• In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine sugar, corn syrup and water. Heat to 300 to 310 degrees F (149 to 154 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms hard, brittle threads. Remove from heat and stir in food coloring.
• Holding apple by its stick, dip in syrup and remove and turn to coat evenly. Place on prepared sheets to harden.

CANDY APPLES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; butter parchment, and set aside. In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine sugar, 3/4 cup water, corn syrup, and food coloring, if using. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to medium-high. Insert candy thermometer and continue to boil until temperature reaches between 300 degrees and 310 degrees (hard crack stage), about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, insert a wooden stick into the top of each apple, pushing about halfway through; set aside. When mixture reaches temperature, immediately remove from heat. Working quickly, dip apples in sugar mixture until completely coated. Transfer to prepared baking sheet; allow to cool.

HOLIDAY CANDY APPLES

Steps:

• Insert lollipop sticks into 4 apples, one-third of the way. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray. Stir together 1 1/4 cups sugar and 1/4 cup each corn syrup and water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and add 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring. Continue cooking, swirling the pan but not stirring, until a candy thermometer registers 290 degrees F, about 10 minutes; remove from the heat. Immediately dip each apple into the candy, then twirl the apple over the pan to let the excess drip off. Decorate (see instructions below).
• How to Decorate
• Spun-sugar apple: Dip the apple as directed, then hold sideways over the pan, dip a fork in the candy mixture and quickly wave it all over the apple to make thin threads. Let set.
• Candy cane apple: Roll the apple in crushed candy canes immediately after dipping. Let set.
• White chocolate apple: Let the coating set, then drizzle the apple with melted white chocolate. Sprinkle with silver nonpareils.
• Coconut apple: Roll the apple in shredded coconut immediately after dipping. Let set.