Festive Candy Apples Three Ways Recipe
Prep Time:
45 minutes
Cook Time:
15 minutes
Servings:
12 apples
Ingredients
  • 12 small apples, stemmed
  • 1 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
  • ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons corn syrup, divided
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
Directions
  1. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Push a popsicle stick firmly into each apple and place onto prepared baking sheet. Set aside.
  3. Prepare the caramel coating: In a small pot, stir to combine brown sugar, ¼ cup corn syrup, heavy cream, butter, and salt.
  4. Cook over medium heat, stirring only occasionally, until mixture reaches 235 F on a candy thermometer, about 6 minutes.
  5. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, and set aside for 5 minutes for bubbles to subside.
  6. Dip 6 apples, one at a time, into caramel mixture, scraping the bottom lightly against the edge of the pot to remove excess caramel. Dip coated apple into optional toppings like nuts or sprinkles as desired before placing back on the baking sheet to cool.
  7. Prepare red candy coating: In another small pot, stir to combine granulated sugar, water, and 2 tablespoons corn syrup.
  8. Cook over medium heat, without stirring, until mixture reaches 300 F on a candy thermometer, about 8 minutes.
  9. Remove from heat and stir in red food coloring if desired.
  10. Give the bubbles a few minutes to subside, then dip to coat remaining apples, one at a time, scraping the bottom lightly against the edge of the pot to remove excess, and dipping into toppings immediately after coating if desired. Set aside to cool.
  11. Prepare chocolate coating: Melt chocolate in a bowl set over a pot of simmering water or in the microwave until almost completely melted.
  12. Remove from heat and stir to melt remaining chips.
  13. Use chocolate to drizzle or dip some of the candy- or caramel-coated apples. Set aside until cool or refrigerate to set.
  14. Serve apples immediately or package as gifts.