Add color and crunch to your holiday table with a simple recipe for Easy Homemade Candy Apples.
Have you ever tried to bite into a candy apple?
I don’t think it’s humanly possible.
And after whipping up a dozen of them last weekend, I’m even more convinced it’s just one of those foods that doesn’t make sense—like naming miniature candy bars as “fun-size.” There’s nothing fun about having less candy.
But with Halloween right around the corner, I couldn’t resist trying my hand at the homemade version of one of fall’s classic desserts. It turns out giving my friends candy apples was more of a trick than a treat, as I handed them out then enjoyed the hilarious scene that ensued.
Their teeth were slipping and sliding across the slick red surface like tennis shoes on an ice skating rink. Eventually my caveman instincts kicked in. Me use knife. Me cut apple. Me eat apple in slices.
After tripping leaping over the practicality hurdle, we enjoyed slice after slice of the sweet and crunchy snack-on-a-stick. My sister, ever the attorney, suggested I include a legal disclaimer with this recipe stating that I am not responsible for any injuries and/or broken teeth caused by the candy apples.
But I, being the glass-is-half-full kinda gal that I am, like to think of them as a dessert that’s simply keeping dentists around the world in business.
And for all those with a love for this confection’s culinary cousin, check out my recipe for Easy Caramel Apples!
And for all those joining in my fall dessert frenzy, don’t miss additional classic and creative recipes.
Ingredients
- 12 small red or green apples (any variety)
- 12 lollipop or popsicle sticks
- 3 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
- Equipment: candy thermometer
Instructions
- 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 ½ 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.
Kelly’s Notes:
- Apples often come with a waxy coating, which will prevent the candy from sticking to the surface. To remove the wax, simply boil 6 cups water with 1 tablespoon white vinegar. Quickly dip the apples in the boiling mixture for 5 seconds then thoroughly dry them. The candy will stick in an instant!
- If the candy mixture gets too hard during the dipping process, simply re-heat it over medium heat and continue coating the apples.
- Serving the apples in colorful cupcake wrappers is a fun way to jazz up your Halloween party spread.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
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Recipe by Kelly Senyei of Just a Taste. Please do not reprint this recipe without my permission. If you'd like to feature this recipe on your site, please rewrite the method of preparation and link to this post as the original source.
When I was a very small child (78 now), I had candied apples at a carnival. I have never forgotten the experience. I loved those apples. I have never had one since. I am so excited to have found this recipe. There just are not words to express my appreciation. I think my experience at the carnival, was the beginning of my life being a “foodie”. Can’t wait to enjoy this beautiful apple again. Thank you to the poster.
Love reading this, Carol! Enjoy!
These were absolutely delicious! My husbands fav treat is candy apples so we made them today for his birthday n they were perfect! The candy was thick though hard to bite through but I think that’s a me dipping issue not with the recipe
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Charlene! Happy birthday to your husband!
I love this recipe. As long as you have a good thermometer, you can’t mess this up. I use a candy thermometer inside what looks like a spatula. I use this to stir so I know at all times what the temperature is. The candy apples coat well but I recommend dipping wax off. It turns out with a thin crackle and are delicious.
So glad you enjoyed it, Chrystal!
Melted topping immediately hardened to pan after coating apples. Constant reheating pan to melt enough to remove. Coated apples have been setting for hours but still sticky to touch so I could wrap. Suggestion to harden. .
Hi there! Did you use a candy thermometer?
Easy to make as long as you’re patient enough to get to 300 degrees. take us somewhere.They came out perfect. Reminds me of the fall fair.
So glad you enjoyed it!
I add a teaspoon and a half of hot cinnamon oil
Great idea, Scarlett!
I came here to say that!
My candy looked weak,some spots on apple didn’t cover
Hi Carmen! Did you take the sugar to the correct temp?
Simple and concise recipe!! This recipe can be used for decorating. I use it to make ponds and stained glass windows for my gingerbread houses. Thank you.
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoy the recipe, Windea! So creative for gingerbread houses as well!
After making the candy apples it like the mixture is melting after a while. I leave them out but do I need to put them right in the fridge right after add the candy to them.
It sounds like the candy didn’t get to the hard-crack stage, Dorothy!
I could only find gel food coloring. Will this work?
Absolutely, Brenna!
I make these every Halloween for my kiddos and it’s absolutely perfect! If you’re looking for the candy apple recipe, this is it!
I’m so happy to hear that you and your kiddos enjoy the recipe, Nathan!!
The candy apples came out Perfect! Thank you!!
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Patricia!
I followed the recipe, they came out perfect!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Debbie!
Excellent recipe. We used to buy the box that you add sugar and water to and make from there. Now I don’t even have to look for that.
Just to mention, recipe made 17.
Also it takes about half an hour to simmer up to hard crack stage so don’t start testing right off. Look for the small bubbles.
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed the recipe, Evelyn!
Just made a batch and they came out just like how my grandma and mother used to make them. This recipe will give you all the nostalgic feelings and tastes your looking for.
I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the recipe, Stephanie!
Perfect! The candy had a beautiful crack and the recipe was so easy
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe, Kendall!
Sadly did everything you instructed to do and the candy just won’t stay on the apples :( we were going to take them to tricker trunk tonight
Hi Danielle – Did you remove the wax and use a candy thermometer?
Easy recipe! Delicious!
So glad you enjoyed it, Kathy!
It’s obvious that you didn’t get the wax off of your apples! There’s a cleaning method that must be achieved before dipping your apples! I use lemon juice, baking soda and salt! Allow this to come to a boil and dip the apples for about 10 seconds and put in a cold water bath to stop the cooking process and you should see a White Film on the apples which is Wax! Take a clean paper towel and wipe your apples clean of the wax! Your Apples should sit 24 to 48 hours before dipping! You will see some sap come from the apples and before dipping remove the sap from the apples
I made these apples and was so pleased.
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed them, Bessie!
Your recipe is very good, only thing that I didn’t do was get rid of the wax. Next time. Those apples will still get ate at my house.
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe, Debbie!