Candied Apple Food

CANDY APPLES

Steps:

• Remove the stalks from the apples, then put them in a heatproof bowl and pour over boiling water from the kettle to cover them and leave for 3-4 mins. Remove with a slotted spoon and pat dry. (This removes the protective wax from the skin and makes the toffee stick to the apples better.)
• Push the sharpest end of each stick into the stalk-end of each apple, making sure it's firmly wedged in. Put a large piece of baking parchment on a board.
• Tip the sugar into a large saucepan, add the lemon juice and 100ml water. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sugar has dissolved. Swirl the pan gently to move the sugar around, but don't stir. Add the golden syrup and simmer the mixture (be careful it doesn't boil over) until it reaches 'hard crack' stage or 150C on a sugar thermometer. If you don't have a thermometer, test the toffee by dropping a small amount into cold water. It should harden instantly and, when removed, be brittle. If it's soft, continue to boil. When it's ready, drip in some food colouring, if you like, and swirl to combine. Turn off the heat.
• Working quickly, dip each apple into the toffee, tipping the pan to cover it fully. Lift out and allow any excess to drip off back into the pan before placing on the baking parchment. Repeat with the remaining apples. Gently heat the toffee again, if you need to. Leave to set. Best eaten on the same day.

CANDY APPLES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or a piece of lightly greased parchment paper. Place the apples onto the prepared baking sheet, and press a treat stick firmly into the stem end, into the center of each apple.
• In a medium pot, combine the sugar, corn syrup, 1/2 cup water, vanilla bean seeds (discard the pod) or extract, cinnamon and salt. Stir the mixture over medium heat until the mixture begins to bubble at the edges, about 5 minutes - once it begins to bubble, stop stirring.
• Cook the mixture (without stirring) until it reads 300 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, about another 10 to 15 minutes. Leave the syrup mixture in the pot, and cool to 275 degrees. (The mixture will cool quickly; if it cools too much, it can be reheated until fluid.)
• Working quickly, dip 3/4 of an apple into the sugar syrup, tilting the pot as needed to coat. Hold the apple over the sugar syrup, letting the excess drip off, then transfer to the baking sheet. Repeat with remaining apples, reheating the sugar syrup as necessary. Cool completely before serving.

COLORFUL CANDIED APPLES

Steps:

• Wash and thoroughly dry apples; remove stems. Insert pop sticks into apples. Place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet; set aside., In a large heavy saucepan, combine sugar, water and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Stir in food colorings. Bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 290° (soft-crack stage)., Remove from heat. Working quickly, dip apples into hot sugar mixture to completely coat. Place on prepared baking sheet; let stand until set.

OLD-FASHIONED RED CANDIED APPLES

Steps:

• Mix 1st 3 ingredients in saucepan.
• Put on high heat with candy thermometer positioned in center of fluid level.
• While it is boiling, thoroughly wash and dry your apples, and spear with the sticks.
• Boil mixture until reaches hard crack (300ºF), then immediately add red food coloring and stir.
• Quickly immediately dip the apples, twisting to cover, and set on a greased cookie sheet.

CANDIED APPLES II

Steps:

• Lightly grease cookie sheets. Insert craft sticks into whole, stemmed apples.
• In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine sugar, corn syrup and water. Heat to 300 to 310 degrees F (149 to 154 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms hard, brittle threads. Remove from heat and stir in food coloring.
• Holding apple by its stick, dip in syrup and remove and turn to coat evenly. Place on prepared sheets to harden.