Description
These Striped Candy Apples are a festive and colorful treat perfect for autumn celebrations and Halloween. Crisp apples are coated in a hard candy shell with vibrant red and green stripes that add a fun twist to the classic candy apple. The shiny, crunchy coating pairs perfectly with the tartness of the apples for a delightful snack or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Apples
- 6 medium apples, washed and dried
- 6 wooden sticks
Candy Coating
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- Red food coloring
- Green food coloring
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Apples: Insert wooden sticks firmly into the stem end of each washed and dried apple to serve as handles for dipping.
- Make the Candy Syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, light corn syrup, and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves.
- Bring to Hard Crack Stage: Increase heat to high and allow the mixture to boil without stirring. Use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature and continue boiling until it reaches 300°F, known as the hard crack stage.
- Divide Syrup: Remove the saucepan from heat and carefully divide the hot candy syrup into two separate heatproof bowls.
- Color the Syrup: Add red food coloring to one bowl and green food coloring to the other. Stir each bowl thoroughly to evenly distribute the color. Optionally, stir in vanilla extract if using into one or both bowls.
- Dip Apples: Dip each apple first into the red candy syrup, allowing any excess to drip off. Then, drizzle or roll green candy stripes over the red coating to create a striped pattern.
- Set the Apples: Place the striped candy apples on a greased baking sheet to cool and harden fully.
- Cool and Serve: Let the candy coating set completely at room temperature before serving to ensure a crisp shell.
Notes
- Use a candy thermometer for accurate temperature measurement to ensure proper candy texture.
- Work quickly when handling candy syrup as it hardens fast once off the heat.
- Greasing the baking sheet prevents the candy apples from sticking.
- Be cautious when working with hot sugar syrup to avoid burns.
- The optional vanilla extract adds a subtle hint of flavor but can be omitted.
- Striped pattern can be customized by using different dipping and drizzling techniques.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
