Red White & Blue Candy Apples

 

A layer of chewy blue raspberry candy coats a crisp, tart apple in this old-fashioned favorite, Red White & Blue Candy Apples.

If you follow me on twitter or facebook, you probably saw all my hints and teases all weekend about “what am I making”.

I don’t remember how it happened really, but one day while stumbling around on the internet I ran into Blue Raspberry Candy Apple Magic Mix.  The instant I saw it I knew I had to make some Red White and Blue Candy Apples for 4th of July!

I’m a big fan of caramel apples and candy apples.  Most of the time I only get them in the fall when I see those cute little Happy Apples all over my grocery store.  I’ve never made candy apples before, I thought how hard could it be!

HA!……well, let me tell you, it’s NOT hard if you have the correct directions and a little information.

My first attempt was failure.  I hung my head as tears rolled down my cheeks.  My apples LOOKED pretty.  They looked as good as I had envisioned.

Only one problem………the candy coating was ROCK hard! like a sucker!  You couldn’t even cut it with a knife, much less bite in with your teeth.

So I crawled in to bed defeated, I tossed and turned all night, wondering why my apples didn’t turn out….was the “magic” that it turns your apple to a sucker? 🙁  couldn’t be.

Day 2 I got up determined to give it another try.

After speaking to my friend Cindy, I discovered the package directions suggest heating your candy mixture to 300°, will yield candy like a sucker.  She suggested I try 250°.  …………..and guess what?!  THAT was it!!!! I had a nice caramel/taffy consistency on my apples!

HOW TO MAKE CANDY APPLES

Supplies for Blue Candy Apples

(click items to find them online)

• Apples – I used Granny Smith, but any firm tart apple will work.

• Blue Raspberry Candy Apple Magic Mix **NOTE** do NOT follow temperature directions on package for cooking, unless you want a hard candy coating

• Sugar & water (per instructions on bag)

• Candy Thermometer

• Large pot for making candy coating

• wooden spoon for stirring

• Candy Apple Sticks

• 5″ x 5″ clear cellophane sheets

• Red Twisty Ties

• Sprinkles

• 2 small bowls for sprinkles

• baking sheet pan to place covered apples on

• Wax paper

• Non-Stick cooking spray

 

Prepare your apples and kitchen/supplies:

• Wash and dry apples and remove stems

• insert sticks in apples

• Line baking sheet with waxed paper and spray heavily with non-stick spay (you will place coated apples on this)

• Pour Sprinkles into one bowl. (leave one bowl empty)

 

DIRECTIONS

one bag of Candy Apple Magic can coat up to 100 apples – so I only used 1/2 of the package.

• Combine 1/2 package of  Blue Raspberry Candy Apple Mix with 2.5 pounds granulated sugar and 1 cup water in large sauce pan over medium heat stirring until sugar is dissolved

• Place candy thermometer on pan (not touching bottom of pan)

• Increase heat to medium high heat, do NOT stir and cook until candy thermometer reaches exactly 250° F.  This took about 15 mins, but can be different according to your stove, so watch carefully. (NOTE: the package say 300° you do NOT want to cook to 300° or your candy will be too hard)

• When temp reaches 250° remove pan from heat and dip apples working quickly. * BE VERY CAREFUL candy coating is very hot and will burn your skin

• I sprinkled each apple right after dipping – I held the freshly dipped apple over an empty bowl while showering with sprinkles. (I had to work very quickly, as they did not want to stick well )

• Place on lined & greased pan and continue with rest of the apples.

• Place in refrigerator to cool.

• Once your apples have cooled, you can eat and enjoy! Make sure to eat them within three days of making them, and I would recommend storing in the refrigerator. We left ours out over night in the air conditioned house and they melted quite a bit.

If you’d like to give some as gifts or party favors, cover in cellophane and tie off with a pretty ribbon or red twisty tie.

Helpful sites on Candy and Candy Apple Making

Cooking stages of candy making (wish I had found this site the first day)

How to Make Candy Apples (great how to video)

 

I just LOVE the way they turned out! and they were every bit as chewy and delicious as I had anticipated!! I’m glad I gave them a second chance!!

I think these would be adorable for a 4th of July celebration!!

More 4th of July recipes and crafts you may enjoy:

Fourth of July Marshmallow Pops

Red White & Blue Cupcakes

Fourth of July Free Printables

Fourth of July Snack Cups

Fourth of July Cupcakes in a Jar

Red & Hot Boom gift and printable

Flag Hurricanes

Made in the USA pins

Red White and Blue Star Cookies

Confetti Firecrackers

Red Hots & Blue Rocket Wreath