BLACK-HEARTED CANDY APPLES

Black-Hearted Candy Apples image

The glossy coating of these old-fashioned candy apples is hard, not soft like the more common caramel variety. It's best to lick them like a lollipop. You can also cut into wedges with a sharp knife, but the candy coating may crack. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 40m

Yield 4 apples.

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

4 medium red apples
4 wooden or decorative pop sticks
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
Red food coloring
Black food coloring

Steps:

Wash and thoroughly dry apples; remove stems. Insert wooden pop sticks into apples. Place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet; set aside., In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, water and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 290° (soft-crack stage)., Remove from the heat and pour into 2 small bowls. Stir 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and red food coloring into 1 bowl; stir black food coloring and remaining cinnamon into other bowl., Working quickly, dip 2 apples into red sugar mixture and 2 apples into black sugar mixture to completely coat. Place on prepared baking sheet; let stand until set.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 614 calories, Fat 0 fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 35mg sodium, Carbohydrate 161g carbohydrate (129g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 0 protein.