Saturday, October 23, 2010

Cinnamon Candy Apples - Pink Saturday



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...It's hard to imagine a fall harvest without candied apples. While caramel apples have become more popular, the cinnamon variety predates them by 50 years. Candied apples were created at the turn of the 20th century by William Kolb, a New Jersey candy maker. He made them to use as part of his Christmas display and they rapidly became popular with his customers. His approach was simple. He dipped apples into a candy made from sugar, corn syrup, red dye and cinnamon oil. As the candy hardened it formed a glistening shell around the apple and the candied apple as we know it was born. The apples are still prepared in this way. If you are comfortable working with a candy thermometer you'll find these easy to make. There are, however, a few pitfalls that you want to avoid. For openers, make sure your apples are wax free. Since this is not a recipe that can be tasted as it cooks, be generous with the amount of flavoring you use up front. You should be able to find bottled cinnamon flavoring in the spice aisle of major grocery chains. It can also be ordered online. Make sure you use a pot that is deep enough to allow dipping the apples and that sticks inserted into the apples are strong enough to hold them. If the syrup becomes too thick don't be afraid to reheat it and when you're finished dipping, make sure you put the apples down on a buttered baking sheet or parchment paper. Wax paper will melt. Finally, these are best eaten within 24 hours of making. Their appearance begins to deteriorate after that. This recipe will make enough syrup to coat 12 small apples. It may be doubled. Here's the recipe.

Cinnamon Candy Apples...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite inspired by Paula Deen

Ingredients:
1 cup water
1/2 cup corn syrup
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon flavoring
1 teaspoon red coloring
1 dozen wooden craft sticks
1 dozen small firm apples

Directions:
Boil water, syrup, and sugar together until a brown caramel color is reached (at about 250 degrees F on a candy thermometer). Remove from heat and add cinnamon and red coloring. Cool slightly. Meanwhile force a stick into the core of each apple. Dip apples 1 at a time into heavy red syrup, drain well, and place on a buttered baking sheet or parchment paper to cool. Yield: 12 small candied apples.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Caramel Corn - Chasing Delicious
Making Candy in the Spirit of Halloween - The Food Addicts
Mummy Munch - Picky Palate
Caramel Apples - Annie Eats
Candy Compost Bars - Sugar Plum
Cakespy: Homemade Candy Corn - Serious Eats

This post is being linked to:
Pink Saturday, sponsored by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.

40 comments :

Kerstin said...

How cool you made these at home - definitely the perfect fall treat!

Ginny Hartzler said...

I've never heard of these, but they're pretty!

Mickey said...

OOPs! I meant these are one of my favorite things ever!!!:)
mickey

Coleens Recipes said...

How pretty!!! What a treat.

Rita said...

They look like teh perfect candy apple that I remember as a child.

Martha said...

I've never cared for caramel apples but cinnamon apples -- and there was a shop in KC that we used to get them at -- Topsy's (which makes the best cheese popcorn in the world!!!) -- ah, . . . . memories of days gone by --

cocoa and coconut said...

Well done! These are pretty hard to make but you seem confident. They used to be sold here at fĂȘtes and fairs all the time.

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

These are beautiful Mary!

Julie said...

I love these. They're beautiful. I loved hearing about your trip! Fascinating!

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

Oh my... this brings me right back to my childhood in NY. It was always a huge treat to receive a red candy apple. I much prefer them to caramel apples. Thanks for posting these!!!!

:)
ButterYum

A SPICY PERSPECTIVE said...

Mary I just love the color of thee apples! They bring back such good childhood memories!

♥ Kathy said...

Oh my, those look sooooo good!

PeggyR said...

Those look yummy!

Susi's Kochen und Backen said...

These apples look so beautiful! Wish I could reach through the screen and grab one! I'm so impressed you made them yourself! :o)

Elsa said...

I would love to make candy apples. This sounds delicious.

Char said...

I can't think of anything more perfect!!
Happy Pink Saturday, Char

Claudia said...

Oh the memories you just evoked. I ama child all over again.

SashaInTheKitchen said...

I love candy apples and caramel apples - they are one of my favorite things about fall!

JG said...

Oh, this brings back my childhood memories of attending the Columbus Day Fair in a nearby town. The Candied Apple was the treat we brought home. :)
~JG

Carolyn™ said...

Look great, my Mum made them every January when small red apples came on the market but not with cinnamon which to me would make them taste even better.

aipi said...

So pretty!

US Masala

Charo said...

Love to eat candy apples!

LV said...

One of my favorite things when we went to the fair. A good old candy apple. Wish I had one your right now.

The Red Umbrella said...

Such visual sweetness!!

Fresh Local and Best said...

These apples are so enticing with the glistening gleam of the cinnamon candy.

Sweet Southern Prep said...

Oh my goodness! DELICIOUS! I'm definitely going to attempt this recipe. Thanks!

Donnie said...

That was so yummy. Happy Pink Saturday!

Sushma Mallya said...

so tempting,love the colour..

Sherry from Alabama said...

Yum! Your apples would go wonderfully with the apple-cinnamon jelly I made this week.

Sherry @ A Happy Valentine

Unknown said...

They look AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!

Lucie said...

Your apples are beautiful, Mary! Hope India is going great!

CaSaundraLeigh said...

I bet these caramel apples are extra special with the cinnamon twist!

We Are Not Martha said...

I love candy apples! And cinnamon makes them all the better :) I really need to try making my own!

Sues

Beverly said...

Happy Pink Saturday, Mary. It sounds like you are having a wonderful trip.

These candy apples are almost too pretty to eat. They are definitely picture perfect.

Nancy said...

Candy apples are such eye candy! I am, however, more interested in the following recipe for chicken wings. As one who attended college in the vicinity of the Anchor Bar, I am picky about my wings. However, we always bake them, making for a healthier snack, and are actually okay with that. Of course, the sauce is Anchor original in our home!

Hope you are having a wonderful trip. Still visiting around for PS.

Bams Kitchen said...

Do you have an alternative I could use for corn syrup and still have the nice hard yummy crunch of the candy? Living in HK makes some product availability challenging but my teenagers still crave the foods from home.

jen said...

complete failure.... followed directions to a 'T'.... the candy didn't harden. now i look at my candy thermometer's guide and 250Âș's max says 'hard ball'.
isn't at least 'soft crack' what we should shoot for at 280Âș?

Mary Bergfeld said...

jen, I'm sorry the recipe did not work for you. It was developed by Paula Deen and can be found on the Food Network website along with reviews of others who tried the recipe. I've made these myself and never had a problem.

Unknown said...

golden syrup, glucose or honey x

Mary Bergfeld said...

Alexandrea, you could try any of the three you suggested. You could also try a simple syrup or agave syrup. I can't guarantee what you results will be, but the major reason for using corn syrup is to prevent crystal formation, so in theory they all should work.

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