Description
Enjoy these vibrant Colorful Sparkle Candy Apples, a delightful treat combining crisp apples with a shiny, crunchy candy coating decorated with colorful sugar crystals. Perfect for parties, festive occasions, or a fun homemade sweet snack that dazzles both the eyes and the taste buds.
Ingredients
Scale
Apples
- 6 medium-sized apples (Granny Smith or Gala work well)
- 6 wooden sticks or skewers (for dipping)
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)
Instructions
- Prepare the Apples: Wash and dry the apples thoroughly. Remove the stems carefully and insert a wooden stick or skewer firmly into the top of each apple, ensuring it is secure for dipping.
- Line Baking Sheet: Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This will be used to place the dipped apples so the candy coating hardens without sticking.
- Make Candy Syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, water, and light corn syrup. Heat the mixture over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves completely to avoid crystallization.
- Boil to Hard Crack Stage: Bring the mixture to a vigorous boil and continue cooking for about 5-7 minutes, or until it reaches 300°F (150°C) on a candy thermometer, indicating the hard crack stage essential for a crunchy coating.
- Add Flavor and Color: Remove the saucepan from heat immediately when the correct temperature is reached. Stir in the food coloring, vanilla extract, and cinnamon if using, quickly blending to evenly distribute.
- Dip the Apples: Carefully dip each prepared apple into the hot candy syrup, tilting the saucepan if necessary to coat the apple fully. Allow any excess syrup to drip back into the pan before placing the apple onto the lined baking sheet.
- Decorate: Immediately sprinkle the wet candy coating with colorful sugar crystals to give a fun, sparkly finish before the coating sets.
- Cool and Harden: Let the candy-coated apples cool and harden at room temperature for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. This will allow the candy shell to become crisp and fully set.
- Serve: Once the candy shells are firm, the colorful sparkle candy apples are ready to be enjoyed as a festive and tasty treat.
Notes
- Use a candy thermometer to ensure accurate cooking temperature for the candy coating.
- Work quickly when dipping apples and decorating, as the candy hardens fast.
- Ensure apples are completely dry before dipping to help the candy coating stick well.
- Store leftover candy apples in a cool, dry place to keep the candy shell crisp.
- For a firmer stick, chill apples briefly before dipping.
