We’ve all seen candy apples, but this recipe from Sweetapolita takes them to a whole new level. By using food colouring combinations of your choice, you can transform each apple into a unique work of art. The best bit? It’s still an apple!

These whimsical candy apples are perfect for a kid’s party, and they’re so pretty that we bet the adults won’t be able to resist them either!
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TIME

45 minutes

SUITABLE FOR

Ages 14+

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

6 medium cookie sticks | 6 medium granny smith apples | 3 cups granulated sugar | 1 cup water | 1/2 cup light corn syrup | 3/4 tsp of candy candy flavour oil | 2 tbsp bright white soft gel food colour (plus 2 – 3 additional colours of your choice) | cotton candy | glitter or sprinkles of your choice | 6 paper straws (optional)

WHAT TO DO

  1. Line a baking sheet with a silicon baking mat or a baking sheet greased with shortening.
  2. Insert the cookie sticks about 3/4 of the way into each apple, but be sure the stick doesn’t come out the bottom (You might need to use a metal skewer to pierce each apple prior to inserting the sticks). Place prepared apples close to the stovetop, as you will need to move quickly once the candy coating is ready to go.
  3. In a medium heavy-bottom saucepan combine the sugar, water and corn syrup. Brush the sides of the saucepan with a damp pastry brush to rid of stray sugar crystals. Turn the heat to medium-high and clip on a candy thermometer (be sure the thermometer doesn’t touch the bottom of the saucepan).
  4. Let the mixture bubble and cook undisturbed until the thermometer reaches 150C (hard crack stage). In the meanwhile, get your flavour oil and colours ready to go.
  5. When the candy coating has reached 150C, promptly remove from heat and stir in the flavour oil, followed by the white colour, using a heatproof rubber spatula. Once the white is blended completely, quickly add a drop or two of your favourite food gel colours, but this time do not stir the coating. You can swirl the saucepan once or twice, or use a skewer to marble the colours, but be sure not to over-blend, or you will end up with a solid colour.
  6. Holding the handle of the saucepan with one hand, tilt so the coating pools to one side, and dip/swirl each apple until thoroughly coated. Let the excess coating drip back into the saucepan, and set aside on prepared baking sheet.
  7. When ready to serve, pierce a poof or two of cotton candy and slide down each stick to sit atop the apples. Only add the cotton candy right before serving or it will disintegrate. Adorn with sprinkles or glitter of choice.
  8. If using patterned paper straws, simply slide the straw over the cookie stick and trim the tops of each straw to match the height of the stick underneath.

AND THEN

The coated apples will last 2 – 3 days at room temperature. Serve them up and make sure they’re on full display for everyone to admire at your next party!

Recipe + photography by Sweetapolita