Layered just like the classic Halloween treat, these Candy Corn Candy Apples are a delicious and festive looking homemade sweet!
Candy Corn Candy Apples
These festive candy corn apples look just like candy corn and taste like them too! These are a traditional candied apple, but the coating is done in three layers to look like candy corn. These are a fun Halloween treat that’s different than the usual candies! They also look beautiful on a fall tablescape!
The sweet candy coating pairs perfectly with tart Granny Smith apples — so they’re sweet but not too sweet. The combination of flavors makes a fun and interesting fall treat that’s great for snacking during the fall months.
Related: Try our Hocus Pocus Halloween cookies too! The frosting is on the INSIDE!
What You Need to Make Candy Corn Apples
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- Apples
- White sugar
- Light corn syrup
- Water
- Cotton candy flavoring
- Gel food coloring: white, yellow, orange
Handy Kitchen Tools
What is the Best Type of Apple to Use for Candy Apples?
You really can use any type of apple you like to make candy apples. However, we chose Granny Smith for this particular recipe because the light green color doesn’t show through the white candy layer. The tart flavor also balances well with the sweet candy coating.
How to Make Candy Apples that Look Like Candy Corn
To make candy corn apples, you’ll need to make three batches of candy coating, as we will be layering them.
TIP: Before starting make sure to wash and thoroughly dry your apples. Insert the sticks so you’re all ready to go!
First, make the white layer by mixing:
- 3 cups sugar
- ½ cup corn syrup
- 1 cup water
- white food coloring
Add the above ingredients to a heavy pan over medium-high and allow to come to a boil. Stir constantly and keep boiling until you reach the hard crack stage (300-310°F).
Meanwhile, wash & dry the apples and insert the sticks. Add parchment to a sheet pan.
When the coating is done, remove from heat and add the cotton candy flavoring while stirring. Fully dip each apple in the white candy mixture and set them on the parchment paper to dry.
TIP: Make sure the mixture doesn’t get overheated or it will begin to turn a brown color and get too thick.
Next, make the yellow layer:
- 3 cups sugar
- ½ cup corn syrup
- 1 cup water
- yellow food coloring
Repeat the same process as you did with the white layer, but this time dip only ⅔ of the apple. Set apples aside to cool again.
TIP: You can use the same pan for each different color of candy, just wash between each color.
Finally, make the orange layer:
- 3 cups sugar
- ½ cup corn syrup
- 1 cup water
- orange food coloring
Use the same process as you did with the white and yellow layer, but only dip 1/3 of the apples.
Allow apples to cool and set completely before serving, wrapping, or storing.
How Do You Keep Candy Apples from Getting Sticky?
If your candy apples aren’t setting or still feel sticky to the touch, there could be a couple reasons for this:
- Your candy mixture didn’t get hot enough. — The “hard crack stage” is between 300-310°F. At this point, almost all the water has cooked out and 99% of what remains is sugar. The candy coating will be hard and brittle.
- It’s too hot or humid where you’re working. — Heat and humidity can affect the outer coating, even if you cooked your candy properly. The candy will still be brittle and a solid coating, but may feel sticky to the touch.
A candy thermometer is extremely handy for making sure that reach the hard crack stage, as even a few degrees off means that your candy apples might not turn out properly. There’s no real way to fix it…you’ll need to make another batch.
More homemade candy recipes:
- Chocolate Pop-It Candy Bars
- Homemade Nut & Honey Candy
- Easy Pecan Praline Recipe
- Healthy Paleo Candied Pecans
Candy Corn Apples Recipe (Printable Copy)
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Candy Corn Candy Apples for Halloween
Equipment
- Candy apple sticks or dowels
- Parchment paper
- Candy thermometer
Ingredients
- 6 Granny Smith Apples
- 9 cups white sugar divided
- 1 ½ cups light corn syrup
- 3 cups water
- Cotton candy flavoring
- 2 teaspoons white food coloring
- 1 teaspoon yellow gel food coloring
- 1 teaspoon orange gel food coloring
Instructions
- Wash & dry the apples and insert the sticks. Place parchment on a sheet pan.
- Mix 3 cups sugar, ½ cup corn syrup, 1 cup water & white food coloring in a heavy pan over medium heat.
- Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until the hard crack stage is reached at 300-310°F.
- Remove from heat and stir in the cotton candy flavoring. Dip each apple in the white candy mixture until completely coated and set on the parchment paper to dry.
- Make a new batch of candy coating with the same measurements as the first, but using yellow food coloring instead of white.
- Dip each apple 2/3 of the way in the yellow coating and set aside to dry. You should still see some of the white coating, in an even stripe at the top of the apple.
- Repeat the candy mixture a third time, this time using orange food coloring. Dip apples 1/3 of the way, so that there is now a white stripe, yellow stripe, and orange stripe on each apple.
- Set all the apples aside to fully cool before serving.
Pin our Candy Corn Candy Apples on Pinterest:
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