Candy Apples
Traditional candy apples are dipped in a vibrant syrup that’s tinted red. This version skips the food coloring, and instead infuses the candy coating with cinnamon and vanilla. If you're worried about your teeth, serve these by slicing them, rather than trying to take a bite, as the candy coating sets to be quite firm. Be sure to start with room temperature apples as cold apples will cause the candy mixture to harden too quickly making it difficult to work with.
- Total:
- Serves: 4 persons
Ingredients
- 4medium apples (about 1 1/2 pounds total), such as Granny Smith, McIntosh or Honeycrisp, preferably organic (see note), washed and dried, at room temperature
- 4(8-inch) sturdy treat sticks
- 2cups/405 grams granulated sugar
- ⅓cup/80 milliliters light corn syrup
- 1vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped, or 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
Step 1
Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or a piece of lightly greased parchment paper. Place the apples onto the prepared baking sheet, and press a treat stick firmly into the stem end, into the center of each apple.Step 2
In a medium pot, combine the sugar, corn syrup, 1/2 cup water, vanilla bean seeds (discard the pod) or extract, cinnamon and salt. Stir the mixture over medium heat until the mixture begins to bubble at the edges, about 5 minutes — once it begins to bubble, stop stirring.Step 3
Cook the mixture (without stirring) until it reads 300 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, about another 10 to 15 minutes. Leave the syrup mixture in the pot, and cool to 275 degrees. (The mixture will cool quickly; if it cools too much, it can be reheated until fluid.)Step 4
Working quickly, dip 3/4 of an apple into the sugar syrup, tilting the pot as needed to coat. Hold the apple over the sugar syrup, letting the excess drip off, then transfer to the baking sheet. Repeat with remaining apples, reheating the sugar syrup as necessary. Cool completely before serving.