Photo and recipe courtesy of mattbites
We’ve all seen the ubiquitous candied apple plenty of times, but these shiny specimens will make you look twice! With a twig holder and glass-like coating of syrup, these apples are straight from a fairy tale! A little gothic, a little whimsical, and very gorgeous as a centerpiece! Their shiny vibrant colors are best left plain, without the extra adornment of candy or nuts. Light-colored apples (Granny Smith, Golden Delicious) look best with a blood-red coating, while darker ones (Red Delicious) really emphasize the black. It’s also recommended that you mix the two colors together for a rich, solid black that really pops!
Red & Black Candy Apples
- 8-10 medium sized apples
- 8-10 wooden twigs, twimmed
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup of water
- several drops of cinnamon flavored oil
- 1/4 teaspoon of red food coloring
- 1/4 teaspoon of black food coloring
- Clean and dry the apples. Try to remove as much of the wax as possible. If you purchase them from your local farmer’s market then chances are they have not been treated with the food grade wax that makes then shine. Remove any stems or leaves and insert a twig into the end of each apple. To facilitate easier twig entry you can carefully sharpen the end of the twig or use a candy stick to create a guide hole. Set apples aside.
- Heat and stir sugar, corn syrup and water in a saucepan until sugar has dissolved. Boil until the syrup reaches 300 degrees on a candy thermometer. Don’t go over 310 degrees or your candy burns and then you’ll be sad.
- Remove from heat and stir in flavored oil and food coloring.
- Dip one apple completely in the syrup and swirl it so that it becomes coated with the melted sugar candy. Hold the apple above the saucepan to drain off excess. Place apple, with the stick facing up, onto a baking sheet that’s greased or lined with a silpat. Repeat the process with the remaining apples. If your syrup thickens or cools too much, simply reheat briefly before proceeding. Let the apples cool completely before serving.
