Tis the season of candied apples because fall is here! Whether it be biting down on one at a local fair, or baking up a fragrant candied apple dish, this sweet and savory delights taste so much better around this season of the year. But do you wonder how someone thought to put two and two together and come up with a candy apple?
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Whether it's a caramel apple, red candy apple or just a simple green candy apple on a stick, the history is quite interesting.
Who invented it and why?
The candy apple making process kickstarted all due to Christmas. According to Chowhound, New Jersey candy maker, William Kolb, "dipped apples into melted red cinnamon candies to create fetchingly festive objects for a window display all the way back in 1908." He never intended to actually sell the glazed apples, but people wanted them. He started selling thousands at 5 cents a a piece.
How you can make it at home with a Candy Apple Kit
Not only are candy apples delicious, making them is also a fun activity to do with the kids. There are plenty of caramel apple kits out there, but we recommend Concord Foods candy apple kit.
Available on Amazon, the kit can make up to 10 to 12 candy apples. Perfect for a halloween party! Besides the kit that comes with the mix, you'll also need a candy thermometer, 1 cup water, 2-1/2 cups of sugar and 12 red apples.
Instructions:
1. Mix contents of the mix with the water and sugar in a 2 qt. saucepan. Bring to boil and do not stir. Continue on medium high heat.
2. Cook candy syrup to the hard crack stage (302 degrees F on a candy thermometer (If you don't have a thermometer, the hard crack stage is reached when a drop of syrup, dropped into cold water, hardens into a brittle thread.)) Let that boil for 15 to 18 minutes.
3. While the syrup is cooking, put sticks in up the apples. This may be 10 to 12 apples, dependent on serving size and how much syrup you see is prepping. Lightly grease a baking sheet. When syrup is ready, remove from heat, dip apples in the candy coating and place on the sheet. Store the hard candy apples in cool, dry place.
How healthy are these?
It's safe to say that candy apples are not that healthy to indulge. It's full of artificial flavor, corn syrup solids, and the apple coating is basically ruining with this extra cholesterol. Sure apples are fruits (not veggies contrary to popular belief), and full of dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C and calcium. But our at home DIY completely changes these apples into dessert lollipops with an increase on carbohydrates. Let this be our disclaimer for you, although we still encourage you give these a try at home!
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