Halloween Candy Apples Food

HALLOWEEN CANDY-COATED APPLES

Steps:

• Insert a lollipop stick or dowel into the top of 6 apples. Microwave 3 cups white candy melts in 30-second intervals, stirring, until melted. Dip each apple into the white candy and let the excess drip off. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet; let set before decorating unless otherwise directed.
• Mummy: Attach 2 candy eyeballs to a white candy-coated apple using more candy melts. Microwave 2 marshmallows until puffed, 10 to 15 seconds. Stir until smooth; let cool slightly. Using a spoon, scoop up the marshmallow (it will stretch into a thread) and wrap it around the apple.
• Spiderweb: Microwave black candy melts until melted; transfer to a small resealable plastic bag. Snip a corner. While a white candy-coated apple is still wet, pipe a spiral onto one side with the melted black candy. Use a skewer to gently drag lines out from the center to create a web pattern. Let set.
• Cat: Snip a marshmallow in half diagonally, then trim to make 2 triangles. Press the cut sides in black sanding sugar. Attach to a white candy-coated apple using more candy melts, then attach 2 green candies for eyes. Pipe lines with black icing.
• Skeleton: Roll mini marshmallows between your thumb and index finger to make them into a bone shape. Attach the marshmallows to a white candy-coated apple in a hand formation using more candy melts.
• Werewolf: Drag a skewer across a white candy-coated apple in 3 spots to look like scratches. Fill the scratches with red gel icing.
• Ghost: Make a puddle of melted white candy melts on parchment; set a white candy-coated apple on the puddle while still wet. Let set, then pipe eyes and a mouth with black gel icing.

HOLIDAY CANDY APPLES

Steps:

• Insert lollipop sticks into 4 apples, one-third of the way. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray. Stir together 1 1/4 cups sugar and 1/4 cup each corn syrup and water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and add 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring. Continue cooking, swirling the pan but not stirring, until a candy thermometer registers 290 degrees F, about 10 minutes; remove from the heat. Immediately dip each apple into the candy, then twirl the apple over the pan to let the excess drip off. Decorate (see instructions below).
• How to Decorate
• Spun-sugar apple: Dip the apple as directed, then hold sideways over the pan, dip a fork in the candy mixture and quickly wave it all over the apple to make thin threads. Let set.
• Candy cane apple: Roll the apple in crushed candy canes immediately after dipping. Let set.
• White chocolate apple: Let the coating set, then drizzle the apple with melted white chocolate. Sprinkle with silver nonpareils.
• Coconut apple: Roll the apple in shredded coconut immediately after dipping. Let set.

JACK-O'-LANTERN CANDY APPLES

Steps:

• Line cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper. Wash and dry apples; remove stem and blossom ends. Insert stick into stem end of each apple.
• In 3-quart heavy saucepan, mix granulated sugar, water, corn syrup and food color. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Boil uncovered 15 minutes, without stirring, to 300°F on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into cup of very cold water separates into hard, brittle threads. (Watch carefully so mixture does not burn.) Immediately remove from heat. Let stand until bubbling stops.
• Dip each apple into hot sugar mixture, turning to coat and letting excess drip off. Place on cookie sheet. Let stand until set.
• On surface lightly sprinkled with powdered sugar, roll fondant to 1/8-inch thickness. Using paring knife, cut out eyes, nose and mouth for each jack- o'-lantern. Attach leaf tip to icing tube; pipe leaves on each apple. Remove leaf tip from icing tube; attach small round tip. Pipe vines. Use icing to attach eyes, nose and mouth to each apple, pressing gently. Let stand until set.

HALLOWEEN CARAMEL APPLES

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth and set aside. In another microwave-safe bowl, microwave the caramels and water, uncovered, on high for 1 minute; stir. Heat 30-45 seconds longer or until caramels are melted; stir until smooth. , Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and grease the paper; set aside. Wash and thoroughly dry apples. Insert a Popsicle stick into each; dip into caramel mixture, turning to coat. Place on prepared pan. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Sprinkle with crushed candy bars. Refrigerate until set. Remove from the refrigerator 5 minutes before serving; cut into wedges.

HALLOWEEN CANDY APPLES

Steps:

• Wash, dry and polish apples.
• Remove stem.
• Insert wooden stick in stem end.
• Remove blossoms.
• Set aside.
• Put sugar, syrup and water into saucepan.
• Heat and stir to dissolve.
• Boil without stirring until it reaches 300 degrees on candy thermometer.
• A bit of syrup dropped into cold water will separate into brittle threads.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in cinnamon and food coloring.
• Dip apple to cover.
• Hold above saucepan to drain.
• Place on greased pan or tray stick side up.
• Quickly dip remaining apples.
• Return syrup to heat long enough to liquefy if it firms too much.
• Let stand at least 1 hour before serving.

CANDY APPLES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; butter parchment, and set aside. In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine sugar, 3/4 cup water, corn syrup, and food coloring, if using. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to medium-high. Insert candy thermometer and continue to boil until temperature reaches between 300 degrees and 310 degrees (hard crack stage), about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, insert a wooden stick into the top of each apple, pushing about halfway through; set aside. When mixture reaches temperature, immediately remove from heat. Working quickly, dip apples in sugar mixture until completely coated. Transfer to prepared baking sheet; allow to cool.