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Easy Classic Shiny Candy Apples

Close-up of a perfectly coated, shiny red candy apples on a small white plate, ready to eat.
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Make glossy, hard candy apples with this simple recipe that focuses on achieving a smooth, bubble-free coating.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 medium apples, firm and washed
  • 6 wooden skewers or sticks
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon extract or vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions

  1. Wash apples thoroughly and remove any wax by briefly dipping them in boiling water for 5 seconds, then dry them completely. Insert a skewer firmly into the stem end of each apple.
  2. Combine sugar, water, and corn syrup in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
  3. Stop stirring once the mixture boils. Insert a candy thermometer.
  4. Cook the syrup without stirring until it reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit (Hard Crack Stage). This usually takes 15 to 20 minutes.
  5. Remove the pan from the heat immediately when it reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit. If using, stir in the food coloring and extract quickly.
  6. Let the syrup stand for 2 to 3 minutes to allow large bubbles to subside. Tilt the pan slightly.
  7. Dip and rotate each apple into the hot syrup, ensuring an even coat. Lift the apple and let excess syrup drip off back into the pan.
  8. Place the coated apples on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
  9. Allow the candy coating to cool and harden completely, about 30 minutes, before serving.

Notes

  • Dry apples completely; moisture prevents the candy from sticking properly.
  • Do not stir the syrup after it begins to boil; this causes crystallization and bubbles.
  • If the candy starts to set in the pan before you finish dipping, return the pan to low heat briefly to re-melt the edges, but do not let it boil again.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://eatableempress.com/candy-apples-easy-classic-shiny-recipe/