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Crunchy, sweet and brightly colored, homemade candy apples are a classic fall treat that never goes out of style. Coated in a glossy red shell and served on a stick, these apples are perfect for Halloween parties, fall festivals or a nostalgic afternoon in the kitchen. This simple recipe creates crisp apples wrapped in crackly candy with just the right balance of tart and sweet. They’re fun to make, gorgeous to serve and always a hit. When it comes to Halloween desserts, easy and delicious is ideal!
Homemade candy apples are sweet, sticky, coated in glossy red candy, and just perfect for fall. This classic treat is easy to make and always draws a crowd.
You might also like candy corn peanut butter cookies, chocolate frogs, monster eye crinkle cookies, and vampire kiss vial shooters.
Why You’ll Love It
Fun to make: Dipping the apples is a hands-on, satisfying process.
Great for gifting: Wrap in cellophane and tie with ribbon for a festive look.
Perfect texture: Crunchy on the outside, crisp on the inside.
Visually stunning: Bright red shells make these a show-stopping seasonal treat.
Homemade Candy Apple Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Apples: Any variety works, but red Gala apples offer great color and crunch.
Granulated sugar: The base of the hard candy coating.
Corn syrup: Helps create a smooth, shiny finish and prevents crystallization.
Red food coloring: Gives the candy its classic bright red look.
How to Make Candy Apples – Easy Halloween Snacks
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Remove apple wax: Dip apples in hot water and scrub to remove wax for better candy adhesion.
Insert sticks: Twist out stems and insert sticks securely into each apple.
Prep the tray: Line a baking sheet with parchment and spray with oil.
Cook the candy: Combine sugar, corn syrup, water, and coloring, then heat without stirring to between 300 and 310°F.
Dip the apples: Roll apples in the hot candy mixture and let excess drip before placing on tray.
Cool and serve: Let apples set completely before eating.
Substitutions and Variations
Try other colors: Use green or purple food coloring for a spooky twist.
Add toppings: While the candy is still tacky, roll in chopped nuts or crushed candies.
Use flavored extract: Add a drop of cinnamon or vanilla extract for extra flavor.
Vegan version: A lot of red food colorings are made using cochineal (a dye from beetles!) so ensure you’re using a non-cochineal version if you want your candy apples vegan.
Serving Suggestions
With Halloween treats: Halloween pretzel snacks, spider Oreos and spooky white chocolate bark are all great ideas if you’re having a Halloween party.
With a drink: Enjoy boozy whipped lemonade (for the grownups only!) or a fun Halloween ice cream float with your red candy coated apples.
How to Store Homemade Candy Apples
Store: These apples are best eaten the same day but can be stored in fridge in an airtight container (not touching each other) for up to 3 days, so feel free to make these easy Halloween treats ahead.
Freeze: You can freeze these for up to 3 months, although the apple might thaw out grainy or softer.
Thaw: Let them thaw in the fridge overnight.
Top Tips
Remove wax thoroughly: The candy won’t stick properly if the apple skin is still waxy.
Don’t stir the candy: Stirring can cause crystallization and ruin the smooth texture.
Adding the sticks: Push them at least ¾-inch into the apples, or longer if possible. The further in you push the stick, the sturdier your easy candy apples will be.
Work quickly: Dip as soon as the candy is ready before it starts to harden.
Homemade Candy Apples FAQs
Yes, just make sure they’re inserted deeply enough to hold the apple securely. I used these re-usable candy apple sticks that look like twigs.
Reheat it gently to soften again and continue dipping.
Yes, for accuracy. Reaching the right temperature ensures the candy hardens properly.
Easy Candy Apples Recipe
Homemade Candy Apples
Equipment
- Skewers or Popsicle Sticks
- Pot Large
- Pot Medium
- Metal Tongs or Slotted Spoon
Ingredients
- 4 apples, I used red Gala apples
- 1 ⅛ Cups granulated sugar
- ⅓ Cup water
- ¼ Cup light corn syrup
- ½ Teaspoon food coloring, red
Instructions
Remove the Wax from the Apples
- In order for the candy to stick to the apples properly, you must prepare them by removing the wax coating. One way to remove the coating is to dip the apples in very hot water and rub away the wax with a dish towel. Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil, then turn off the heat.
- Very carefully as to not burn yourself with the water, take an apple and let it rest in the hot water for 10 to 15 seconds, use a tongs or slotted spoon to remove the apple and place on a dish towel. Use the dish towel to vigorously rub the apple until the wax is removed.
- Repeat with the remaining apples.
Prepare the Apples
- Twist the stems out of each apple then insert a stick into the center of the apples where the stem used to be – be sure it's stuck in the apple really good.
- Prepare a cookie pan by lining it with parchment paper and spraying with oil. This tray will be used to place your dipped apples on.
Make the Candy Coating
- Over medium heat, using a medium-small pot, big enough to let your mixture bubble and boil, combine the water, sugar, corn syrup, and red food coloring.
- Bring the candy mixture to 300 to 310 degrees F. Don't stir at any point
Dip the Apples
- Remove from heat and immediately begin dipping your apples. It's important to work swiftly but you don't need to rush. If your candy hardens too fast you can always reheat the mixture.
- Let the excess candy drip off the apples for a few moments before placing on your greased tray.
Let the Candy Apples Harden
- Let apples cool and harden before serving.
- These apples are best eaten the same day but can be stored in fridge in an airtight container (not touching each other) for up to 3 days.
Notes
Don’t stir the candy: Stirring can cause crystallization and ruin the smooth texture.
Adding the sticks: Push them at least ¾-inch into the apples, or longer if possible. The further in you push the stick, the sturdier your easy candy apples will be.
Work quickly: Dip as soon as the candy is ready before it starts to harden.
Nutrition
Homemade candy apples are a timeless treat that bring crisp texture, glossy color and sweet flavor to any autumn day. With just a few basic ingredients and a little care, you can make a batch of these easy Halloween snacks that rivals any fairground version. They’re a fun project for holidays, parties or just because. Whether you’re handing them out at Halloween or enjoying one on your own, these candy apples are a seasonal must.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
Using sticks that look like twigs is a genius idea!
I know, right? I’m all about the details!
These candy apples took me back to my childhood—delicious and so easy to make.
I was tempted to make these when I saw all you need are four ingredients and boy am I happy I did! I have seven grandchildren and every one of them loved these candy apples made by Nana!
How do you clean your pot after you’re done sipping the apples? Even with extremely hot water it doesn’t seem to be melting off the pot. What do you suggest?
This trick to cleaning a pot after making stove top candy (caramel sauce, candy applies, caramel apples, fudge, toffee, peanut brittle) is to fill the dirty pot with water and bring it to a boil. When the water starts to bubble, it will remove the hardened candy from around the sides of the pot.
These look so good for fall and I am a fan of caramel apples! I so want to try and make my own.
Hello, I was just wondering if you could possibly add a flavored candy making oil for some different flavors?
That sounds like a great idea! The recipe has only the sugar, corn syrup, water, and food coloring for the glaze, so you can flavor them however you like.
I love how you added the drips on the ones that didn’t look as nice. Great idea