Chilling, timing and caramel (lots of caramel) make candy apples a breeze to make. Here are our best tips to make yours deeeelicious.
We love the end result of candy apples. But making them can be just as much fun. A few simple tips makes the process simple.
Make Delicious Candy Apples
1. Wash your apples. It removes a waxy film that makes apples look extra shiny in the store (ew, gross). Washing the apples helps the caramel stick better too. And let’s be honest. The more caramel, the better.
2. Chill your apples to help the caramel or chocolate coatings stick. Give them at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
3. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to my caramel apples. I hate those puddles of caramel that harden around the tops. This tip prevents that. After dipping your apples, hold them upside down to let the excess caramel drip off. Place on parchment paper. Chill for 15 minutes.
4. Don’t throw away that extra candy coating. Make our delicious candy apple candy.
5. To get a nice chocolate drizzle on your apples, put melted chocolate in a ziptop bag and cut a small hole in one bottom corner. Squeeze and drizzle to your heart’s content.
6. You can roll your apple in candy or other toppings right away after dipping in caramel or candy coating.
7. Insert the stick at least ¾-inch into the stem side of the apple. It will support all that appley goodness. If your sticks are long, go ahead and stick them most of the way through the apple. Extra support is never a bad thing.
8. Candy apples are best if made the day you want to enjoy them. But they keep in the refrigerator for up to two days, if you can stop yourself from eating them!
9. Don’t burn yourself. Prevent the candy coating from bubbling by adding 1/8 teaspoon of shortening just before you dip your apples.
11. Two other safety tips. Never add water when your candy syrup is 200ºF or higher. And never pour the syrup down the drain. Splattering can occur and cause severe burns.
10. Clean up. Don’t leave it a sticky mess. Soak everything in hot soapy water. For pans and utensils that have acquired a candy coating, fill the pan with water such that all candy is covered, add the utensils and boil. The mess will come right off.
Sources: Real Mom Kitchen, The Yummy Life, Concord Foods
This article originally appeared in October 2015 and was revised and republished in September 2016.
Hi, any tips for preventing the bubbly look on the candy apples? Mine dipped fine but then as they sat on the paper to cool, small bubbles started appearing all over them 🙁
Make sure that the syrup has stopped simmering before you start dipping. Try tapping the saucepan of syrup a couple of times to get any air moving to the surface. Other than that, I’m not really sure, Juanita. My candy apples do usually have some bubbles on them. I’ve never really thought much about it. You can see what I mean in the pictures of my apples here https://thecookful.com/how-to-make-candy-apples/ I don’t find the bubbles troubling.
HI there. I need some advice on my toffee apples please.
Once coated in the syrup and cooled down completely, can I wrap them and place them in the fridge? Also what type of wrapping do I use, as I am not sure if it will stick to the toffee?
Many thanks
Gail, I’ve never wrapped my apples in anything. You’re right, I think it would stick, especially if the coating isn’t firm or if it warms even a tiny bit. I would put them in the fridge unwrapped.
The candy tastes burnt 😬
Vivian, do you know what temperature you cooked the syrup to? The only thing I can think of is that it got too high.
How do I clean the pot after making candy apples
Vivian, one way to do it is to put water in the pot and then heat it on the stove. The syrup will dissolve in simmering liquid. That tip and some other candy apple tips are over here https://thecookful.com/make-a-better-candy-apple/
Thanks for the help and tips. I am making candy apples with my special education class at school this week. They will love it!
Carol, Fantastic! Let us know how they turn out and how they enjoy it.
The candy apples turned out GREAT, and the boys loved making them! Oddly, none of the boys had ever had one before!!?? but were greatly impressed! We tinting the coating in black to make “poison” apples, but your tips were a great help! I ran off copies for the boys (ninth graders) to take home so they could duplicate their in school success. Thanks.
Carol, That’s fantastic. Ooooo I love the rotten apple idea. I might do that next Halloween. Thanks for letting us know that they turned out great for you and also for the great idea!