Homemade Candy Apples are such a fun way to start any party or celebration. With their shiny red coating and deliciously crisp crunch, these homemade candy apples are a wonderful way to bring a little old-fashioned sweetness to the season.
These stunning treats can be customised to your preference, from deep red candy apples to playful colours to match the theme of any party. Give them a try they are so much easier to make than you think!
As a kid, I loved it when autumn came around and candy apples, or sometimes known as toffee apples where everywhere. Given out on Halloween or Bonfire Night as a sweet treat and something to look forward to. Making them now for my children was so nostalgic and brought back so many lovely childhood memories!
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Recipe Snapshot
⏱ Prep & Cook Time: Around 20 - 30 minutes from start to finish.
👩🍳 Skill Level: Beginner-friendly, easy.
🥄 Servings: 6-8 apples.
🍎 Flavour & Texture: Juicy tart apples with a sweet and crunchy exterior.
📖 Dietary Notes: Gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and nut free.
❄️ Make Ahead: They are best eaten on the day they are made, but can be made 1-2 days ahead. Once cooled, wrap in food-safe plastic wrap and store in a cool, dry place.
Ingredients & equipment notes
- Apples - The best apples to use in my opinion are crisp, tart apples like granny smiths, as the tartness of the apples and the sweetness of the candy make the perfect match. I also love using sweet/tart apples such as Braeburns. Always prepare the apples by washing them in lukewarm water to remove any wax from the surface of the skin.
- Sugar - superfine sugar or caster sugar works well.
- Water - helps prevent the sugar from burning and gives the right consistency to the candy mixture.
- light corn syrup - creates a beautiful, smooth, and shiny finish and when it reaches a temperature of 150℃ will then create that hard, glass-like shell. Golden syrup also works well. I got my light corn syrup from Amazon.
- food colouring - using food colouring is optional. I like to use a little red food colouring to give them a traditional look but you can omit this if preferred.
- Wooden skewers, or thick lolly sticks, work well. I've even seen others on social media using tree branches for a rustic look. I got my wooden candy apple sticks from Amazon.
- Sugar thermometer - I recommend using a food thermometer to make sure the candy reaches the correct temperature. I got mine from Amazon, but it can usually be found in the kitchen section of most stores.
See recipe card below for measurements.
Substitutions & Variations
- Golden syrup - don't worry if you can't get light corn syrup as golden syrup will also work well.
- Fun Coatings - why not add a little extra fun by dipping the tops of the apples in some sprinkles or nuts once the excess candy has dripped off but the surface of the apple is still sticky.
- Food colouring - change the colour of the food colouring to match the theme. Having a baby shower then use blue or pink food colouring. Make pumpkin-themed candy apples use orange food colouring and add some edible candy eyes to the apples for a fun finish.
Step by Step Instructions
Below is a brief step-by-step process with photos of how to make candy apples.
See the recipe card below for more detailed recipe instructions.
Step 1: Prepare the apples by washing and drying them to remove any wax on the skin of the apples.
Push the sharp end of the wooden sticks into the stalk of the apples, about halfway.
Prepare a baking sheet or tray with parchment paper.
Step 2: In a pan, add the sugar, water, and light corn syrup and stir over an medium heat until the sugar has dissolved.
Tip: Be sure that the apples have fully dried, If they are still damp it will make it more difficult for the candy to sick to the surface of the apple.
Step 3:Bring the mixture to a boil and stop stirring. Using a sugar thermometer, let it boil until the mixture reaches 150℃/300℉.
Add a few drops of food colouring until it reaches the desired colour and carefully stir.
Step 4: Carefully tilt the pan on its side slightly and gently dip and swirl the apple into the liquid candy until it is evenly coated.
Tip: Be very careful as the candy is VERY hot and can cause injury if it comes into contact with the skin. Keep children away from the candy and allow it to cool before handling or eating.
Step 5: Let any excess candy mixture drip back into the pan and then place the apple onto the parchment paper.
Step 6: Repeat until all the apples have been coated.
Tip: Keep the candy on the heat between dipping the apples, as you don't want the mixture to firm up in the pan.
Pro Recipe Tips
- Tip #1: Be sure that the apples have fully dried, If they are still damp it will make it more difficult for the candy to sick to the surface of the apple.
- Tip #2: Be very careful as the candy is VERY hot and can cause injury if it comes into contact with the skin. Keep children away from the hot candy and allow it to cool before handling or eating.
- Tip #3: Keep the candy on the heat between dipping the apples, as you don't want the mixture to firm up in the pan.
More recipes
📖 Recipe
Candy Apple Recipe
Ingredients
Ingredients for Candy Apples
- 6-8 apples Washed and dried.
- 400 grams sugar superfine sugar or caster sugar works well.
- 150 milliliters water
- 160 grams light corn syrup golden syrup also works well.
- 3 drops red food colouring (optional)
Instructions
How to make candy apples
- Prepare the apples by washing and drying them to remove any wax on the skin of the apples.
- Push the sharp end of the wooden sticks into the stalk of the apples, about halfway.
- Prepare a baking sheet or tray with parchment paper.
- In a pan, add the sugar, water, and light corn syrup and stir over an medium heat until the sugar has dissolved.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and stop stirring. Using a sugar thermometer, let it boil until the mixture reaches 150℃/300℉.
- Add a few drops of food colouring until it reaches the desired colour and carefully stir.
- Carefully tilt the pan on its side slightly and gently dip and swirl the apple into the liquid candy until it is evenly coated.
- Let any excess candy mixture drip back into the pan and then place the apple onto the parchment paper.
- Repeat until all the apples have been coated.
- Once they are fully cooled, they are ready to eat.
Notes
- Tip #1: Be sure that the apples have fully dried, If they are still damp it will make it more difficult for the candy to sick to the surface of the apple.
- Tip #2: Be very careful as the candy is VERY hot and can cause injury if it comes into contact with the skin. Keep children away from the candy and allow it to cool before handling or eating.
- Tip #3: Keep the candy on the heat between dipping the apples, as you don't want the mixture to firm up in the pan.
Thank you for visiting. I hope you love the recipe!