Description
A festive and vibrant twist on the classic candy apple, Colorful Sparkle Candy Apples feature crisp apples coated with a glossy, hard candy shell infused with vanilla and cinnamon, then sprinkled with bright sugar crystals for a sparkling finish. Perfect for celebrations or a fun fall treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Apples
- 6 medium-sized apples (Granny Smith or Gala work well)
Candy Coating
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 tsp red food coloring (or any color of your choice)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)
Decoration
- 1/4 cup colorful sugar crystals (for decoration)
Tools
- 6 wooden sticks or skewers (for dipping)
Instructions
- Prepare Apples: Wash and dry the apples thoroughly. Remove the stems and firmly insert a wooden stick or skewer into the top of each apple, ensuring it is secure for dipping.
- Line Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to place the dipped apples on after coating.
- Make Candy Syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine granulated sugar, water, and light corn syrup. Heat over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar has fully dissolved.
- Boil to Hard Crack Stage: Bring the mixture to a boil and continue cooking for 5-7 minutes or until the candy reaches 300°F (150°C) on a candy thermometer.
- Add Flavor and Color: Remove the saucepan from heat once the temperature is reached. Stir in the red food coloring, vanilla extract, and optional cinnamon quickly but thoroughly.
- Dip Apples: Immediately dip each prepared apple into the hot candy coating, tilting the saucepan to fully cover each apple. Allow excess syrup to drip off before placing the apple on the prepared baking sheet.
- Decorate: While the candy coating is still wet, sprinkle colorful sugar crystals generously over the apples to add sparkle and texture.
- Cool and Set: Let the coated apples cool and harden at room temperature for 30 minutes up to 1 hour until the candy shell is fully set.
- Serve: Once the candy coating is completely hardened and crisp, the Colorful Sparkle Candy Apples are ready to enjoy as a fun and festive treat.
Notes
- Use a candy thermometer to achieve the perfect hard crack stage for a shiny, crisp coating.
- For best results, use firm, fresh apples like Granny Smith or Gala for tartness and crunch.
- You can customize the food coloring and sugar crystals to fit holiday or party themes.
- Be careful when working with hot sugar syrup as it can cause burns.
- Store leftover candy apples in a cool, dry place and consume within 1-2 days for maximum freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
