Caramel apples and candy apples. It is tasty together with something healthy. Always a good combination in my opinion! These dipped apples, with caramel, chocolate or sugar coating, are originally from America. Nowadays you see them more and more in the Netherlands around autumn and December holidays, often at (Christmas) markets. Children love this colorful decorated delicacy. And you can also make them yourself! 😋
Please note: red-hot sugar, caramel and chocolate are used. So proceed with caution and always stay with it as an adult. And you have to keep up the pace a bit, otherwise your mixture will cool down too much and it will be too thick to work with.
For each recipe you use 6 apples with popsicle sticks inserted and a baking tray with baking paper for cooling.
Candy Apple's History
It seems that candy maker William W. Kolb invented the red candy apple. In 1908 he produced his first batch of candied apples. While experimenting with melted red cinnamon candies for the Christmas Trade at his candy store, he dipped some apples into the mixture. He put the shiny apples in his window and sold them for 5 cents each. In no time, this treat was a hit and became available all over America, especially at circuses and candy stores.
Make your own candy apples
Ingredients
• 500 grams of fine granulated sugar
• 150 ml of water
• 100 ml glucose syrup (toko, health food store, Xenos)
• 1 teaspoon of natural vinegar
• Food coloring of your choice
• Kitchen thermometer
That's how you make them
• Bring the sugar, water and glucose to the boil in a saucepan. Also mix in the food coloring until you have the desired color.
• Keep a close eye on the pan (using a kitchen thermometer) and when the hot caramel has reached about 160°C, turn off the heat. Let stand for a minute until it stops bubbling.
• Now dip the apples in the pan until they are completely covered with the hot sugar mixture. Let them drain briefly above the pan
• If necessary, dip or roll the apple in a topping and then set aside on a sheet of baking paper until hard
Caramel Apple's History
Caramel apples came much later, by Kraft Foods in 1950. Like candy apples, the invention of caramel apples was also the result of an experiment with candy. Employee Dan Walker melted excess Halloween caramel candies and dipped apples in them. This popular delicacy was made by hand for ten years. The caramel apple machine was created and patented in 1960.
If you add toppings to your caramel apple, such as crushed peanuts or sprinkles, it is actually called a "taffy apple".
Make your own caramel apples
Ingredients
• 400 grams of fudge in pieces
• Dash of whipped cream
That's how you make them
• Melt the fudge in a bain-marie
• Turn off the heat and carefully stir in a dash of whipped cream
• Now dip the apples in the pan until they are completely covered with the hot caramel. Let them drain briefly above the pan
• If necessary, dip or roll the apple in a topping and then set aside on a sheet of baking paper until hard
Apples naturally have a waxy coating that prevents the caramel or chocolate from sticking properly. You can easily solve this by bringing a pan of water with a tablespoon of natural vinegar to the boil and submerging the apples completely for a few seconds. Then dry the apples completely before dipping them in the chocolate or caramel.
Chocolate Apples
There are many more varieties than the old school candy apple, caramel apple and taffy apple. A well-known (and favorite!) is the chocolate apple, to which colored candy toppings such as M&M's and sprinkles are often added.
Make your own chocolate apples
Ingredients
• 400 grams of chocolate (white, milk or dark)
That's how you make them
• Melt the chocolate in a bain-marie
• Now dip the apples in the pan until they are completely covered with the hot chocolate. Let them drain briefly above the pan
• If necessary, dip or roll the apple in a topping and then set aside on a sheet of baking paper until hard
Do you think a whole apple is too big, clumsy or you can't choose? Then cut discs or parts of apple and make different tasty variants like in the picture below 🤗
