Which Types of Apples to Use for Candy Apples
There are so many varieties of apples. Which ones are best to cover with a sweet candy coating and which ones will leave you disappointed?
I bet ourย How to Make Candy Apples tutorial has you hankering for some candy apple crunch. But unfortunately not every type of apple makes for a good candy apple.
You want one with a strong apple flavor that can break through all the chocolate, caramel, or candy. Keep reading to find out which apple varieties to look for at your grocery.
Apple Varieties For Candy Apples
Empire: Mildly tart flavor, with some sweet undertones. This apple is firm, which means it will give you a satisfying crunch when you take a bite. This was developed in New York, although it is a popular apple in Britain.
Fuji: Tart flavor. It is a very firm apple, and will stand up to the heat from the candy coating. This apple is named after Mount Fuji in Japan, where it was discovered in the 1930s. But it didn’t it U.S. grocers until the 1980s.
Gala: Sweet flavor and firm. This apple originated in New Zealand. The Royal Gala, one strain of this apple, is named in honor of Queen Elizabeth II because she preferred it. These are also perfect roasted with Brussels sprouts.
Granny Smith: Tart flavor and firm. You can layer on the candy because this variety can withstand the weight of an epic amount of toppings. Thank sweet Granny Anne Smith, who discovered this apple in 1868 in Australia.
Haralson: Tart flavor.
Jazz: A newer apple on the market, it’s a cross between a Royal Gala and a Braeburn. Crunchy and oh so tart and sweet.
McIntosh: Mildly tart flavor. This variety is old. It was discovered in 1811 by John McIntosh, hence the name (I totally want to name an apple after myself!).
Paula Red: Mildly tart flavor.
Wealthy: Mildly tart flavor.
Whichever of these apples you choose, we know you’re going to love love love your candy treat.
This article originally appeared in October 2015 and was revised in September 2024.
Christine is the founder of TheCookful and also of her blog COOKtheSTORY. Her passion is explaining the WHY behind cooking โ Why should you cook things a certain way; Will they turn out if you do it differently; What are the pros and cons of the method? Learn more about Christine, her cookbooks, and her podcast.