Homemade Candy Apples How-To

Learn how to make these frightfully delicious candy apples from scratch.

By: Melissa Caughey

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Photo By: Photo by Melissa Caughey

They're Frightfully Delicious!

Black food coloring and branches from your garden in lieu of lollipop or popsicle sticks creates a spooky twist on this classic fall treat. You'll have just as much fun making them as you will eating them!

Gather Your Supplies

Here is what you will need to get started: 8 apples / 8 small branches from food-safe tree (apple, maple, birch, etc.) / sugar / corn syrup / water / candy thermometer / black food coloring / black sugar sprinkles / cooking spray / parchment paper / cookie sheet.

Start the Candy Coating

Add 2 cups of sugar, 3/4 cup of corn syrup, 1 cup of water and 2 teaspoons of food coloring to a small pot over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Stir it only once to combine the ingredients and then do not stir again.

Give it Time

Add the candy thermometer to the pot with the sugar mixture as it simmers. The temperature will need to reach 300 degrees F (this will bring the mixture to the hard-crack stage). This can take up to 30 minutes. In the meantime, move on to the next steps. Warning: Use extreme caution when working with the hot sugar mixture to avoid injury. Do not let children handle the hot candy coating.

Prepare the Apples

Give the apples a rinse and remove the stems. Trim the branches to approximately 8 inches long.

Add the Stem

Insert a stick a couple of inches down into the top of each apple.

Set Up a System

Set up a workstation close to your stove. Place the apples in reach. Pour the sugar sprinkles in a bowl. Add a piece of parchment paper to the top of the cookie sheet and spray it with cooking spray. A potholder nearby comes in handy, too.

Get Rolling

You will need to move quickly with this step! Once the sugar mixture has reached the desired temperature, remove the candy thermometer and turn off the stove's heat. Roll the apple around in the candy mixture. You may need to tilt the pot to coat the top of the apple. Allow the excess candy to drip off. Roll it in the sugar sprinkles and place it on the cookie sheet to harden. Repeat this process with each apple.

Let Them Rest

Allow the apples to completely cool and harden prior to handling again. Tip: Pour out any excess sugar in the cooking pot onto a piece of parchment paper. Everything cleans up with warm soapy water.

Pick a Color

When making these candy apples, you can work with any color. Black lends itself to Halloween.