“What you talkin’ bout Willis? “
Anybody remember this iconic question from the tv show, Different Strokes? To this day, my husband and I will tease each other and repeat this question to each other, complete with the lower lip stuck out…What you talkin’ bout Willis?
Today I am here to tell you that these Colorful Candy Apples are what Willis was talkin’ bout! Absolutely gorgeous in bright colors, these are reminiscent of the old fashioned clear, hard red candy apples that you used to get at a state or county fair. But with this recipe, you can make them in any color that you like. A new updated version!
Taking the recipe from a pin from Rose Bakes here is what you will need:
- 6-8 medium apples (washed, dried & stems removed) I used Granny Smith apples
- 3 cups of white sugar
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 Tbsp white food coloring – I used AmeriColor Bright White Soft Gel Paste
- 1-2 tsp. of your color of choice – the more color you use, the brighter the apples will be!) I used pink, blue and purple AmeriColor Gel Colors
- Candy Apple Sticks (or craft sticks or short dowels)
- Cookie Sheet
- Non-stick Spray
- Heavy Duty pot
- Candy Thermometer
Spray your cookie sheet with a non-stick spray and set aside. In a med to large pot, mix together the sugar, corn syrup and water over medium heat. Have your candy thermometer inserted but make sure the tip is not touching the bottom of your pan. Bring to a boil. After reaching a boil, let it continue to boil until it reaches 302 degrees on your candy thermometer. This process can take up to 20 minutes or so and there is no need to continually stir it but let just this mixture boil.
When it reaches the hard crack stage (302 degrees) remove from heat immediately and stir in the vanilla flavoring. Work quickly as this mixture will cool fast and you need it hot to easily cover the apples.
Quickly add your white paste and stir well. Next add whatever color you have chosen for your apples and stir until well blended and then start to dip your apples. Tilt your pot a little to help easily cover your apples. Let the excess candy mixture drip a little and then place the apples on the cookie sheet sprayed with Pam.
Now, even though this mixture is hot, it will cool quickly and the apples will be ready to eat within minutes.
These apples will keep for about 2-3 days but don’t refrigerate as they will lose their dry hardness.
Aren’t these beautiful? Yes, I definitely believe that this was what Willis was talkin bout and Willis would agree that This Pin Rocks!
You can also find us on Pinterest │ Facebook │ Twitter │ Instagram │ StumbleUpon │ Hometalk
Check out these sites that we are linking up with today!
Memories by the Mile – Hun Whats for Dinner – The Recipe Critic – The Blackberry Vine – Home Stories A to Z – Sugar Bee Crafts – Mandy’s Recipe Box – Lady Bug Blessings – Nap Time Creations – Chef in Training – Living Well Spending Less
How fun is this. My kids are going to LOVE these. We love caramel apples anyway. But these are so pretty and cheery and just fun!
Thank you for sharing at Memories by the Mile
How fun and cute are these? I think I’ll need to try them, this summer! Thanks for sharing at Simple Supper Tuesday.
These are ADORABLE!!! Perfect for any party. Thanks for the recipe!
The colors really do look that good in real life too! Deb – The Oldest Sister
What is your process for cleaning your apples?
For these I just washed and make sure they were very dry but we have a great post on how to wash your fruits! https://www.thisgrandmaisfun.com/wash-fruit/
Okay my daughter would love this!!!! they are beautiful and can also be an edible gift. Roechelle
Hi Roechelle! Aren’t they pretty? And someone else made a comment that they would be great for Easter. Great idea huh? Deb – The Oldest Sister
Debbie – These are stinkin’ cute! How fun would these be for Easter! Thanks!
Hi Carole! Yeah, I’ve just had them on my table as a centerpiece! haha Hadn’t thought of Easter…what a great idea! Deb – The Oldest Sister
Hi Ruth! Thanks so much for stopping by! Just added your link to our Thursday partying!! Deb – The Oldest Sister
Where can I buy the americolor white paste
Hi Gia! I bought mine from Hobby Lobby but you can also get them online at Amazon.com Hope that helps! Deb – The Oldest Sister
I made these for a birthday party they were a hit. I did run into one problem a few of the came out dull looking. Does None know how to prevent that?
Hi Rah, I also had one that looked a little dull. I believe that my mix had cooled down too much which is why you need to dip fast!! So glad to hear they were a hit though!! Deb – The Oldest Sister
The recipe says “hard crack stage” @302° but my thermometer says the hard crack stage is at 320°? This is my first time making these and would appreciate the help!
Hi Cristi, I just looked at the original recipe that I used and it did state 302 degrees which is what I went by so I’m crossing my fingers that will work for you too. And just remember to dip fast!! Deb – The Oldest Sister
I try these and they came out prefect , but some had air bubble how can I pervent from getting air bubbles
Hi Tricia! I just read the original post on these and she also said that some of hers had air bubbles. Mine didn’t so I’m not quite sure how they get there. Sorry that I couldn’t be more help but glad to hear that they turned out okay! Deb – The Oldest Sister
Does the vanilla extract just add flavor? Or is it used for something else too
Hi Crystal! I’m pretty sure the vanilla is just to add a smooth flavor. In one batch that I made, I used almond extract! Deb – The Oldest Sister
Thank you! One last question. Do you find these apples to be extremely hard? I actually used a different recipe last night that called for one half cup of water instead of one cup and I could not even bite into them. They were also covered in bubbles. Do you think the water (1/2) cup caused this?
Hi Debbie, can I cover the whole apple instead of leaving the top uncover…so that the green of the apple don’t show. thanks Marisol
Hi Marisol! I think you can and it should be just fine. What colors are you doing? Deb – The Oldest Sister
Thank you Debbie!
I will be doing Hot Pink… will let you know the outcome. Love your apples
Thank you! One more question.. did you find that your candy was extremely hard? When I made my apples last
tonight I actually used another recipe that was very similar to this one but only required 1/2 cup of water. The candy dried super fast, had bubbles, and was too hard to eat. I’m trying again today and I’m wondering if the 1cup of water makes a difference. What do you think?
Yes, this also is a recipe for a hard coating like the old fashioned red cinnamon candy apple. Not like a caramel apple with a soft coating. And you do have to work fast because the mixture hardens quickly!
Right. I was expecting a hard coat like on your typical candy apple. But these were not edible at all. I am going to try it with more water and see how that works. Thank you!
Also, please excuse me for asking the question so many times. My phone kept giving me an error message so I wasn’t sure if it went through. Do you have any suggestions for bubbling?
Gotcha. Mine were edible so maybe that will make a difference. Maybe stir very quickly to get bubbles out before dipping but make it quick! Thanks Crystal. You’re an Awesome Possum!
Thanks! My apples turned out perfect the ssecond time!
Phew! I am so glad to hear that!! Thanks Crystal. Deb
Can any other flavor be used besides the vanilla like blue raspberry for the blue apples or grape for the purple?
Hi Tracie!
In another batch that I made, I did use almond so I’m guessing another flavor would be just fine. Grape sounds great! Deb – The Oldest Sister
Thanks, I’ll give it a try
The bubbles can be avoided by cleaning the apple very good and also by making sure that the apple is completely dry. The wax from the apple and water causes the bubbles. Some people also add shortening or butter to the mixture to prevent it. Hope this helps!! 🙂
Hi Samone! Thanks so much for the tips! Sure appreciate it! Deb – The Oldest Sister
One recipe I found says to use a rubber spatula to stir in color and flavor but it started to melt from the heat, what do you use to stir in the flavor and color?
Hi Tyra! I just used a wooden spoon. The mix is pretty hot so I can imagine it would melt a spatula! Deb – The Oldest Sister
Thanks Debbie, also when mixing in the food color I find that I can’t get it to completely mix in….what am I doing wrong?
hmmm…not quite sure. You do have to move fast so I’m not sure if your mix is hot enough? Just a guess. Gosh I hope that works for you!!!
I love making candy apples but I fine they come out beautiful at first then after about two hours the candy starts to get sticky
Hi Betty! Mine lasted days without getting sticky. I really like this recipe. Let me know if it works for you! Deb – The Oldest Sister
Why do you use the white paste first? What is white paste?
The white paste is to make the other colors show up better. If it is not added then the colors will come out as a clear color. Does that make sense? Thanks Evette! Deb – The Oldest Sister
THANKS FOR THE RECIPE!!!! I’M USING THESE EXACT SAME COLORS FOR MY DAUGHTER’S 4TH BIRTHDAY PARTY !!!!! SO EXCITED THEME OF DOC MCSTUFFINS ….:)
How fun! Just one tip..make sure you dip fast! And then they will be beautiful! Deb – The Oldest Sister
THE CANDY APPLES CAME OUT FINE,BUT SINCE IT WAS TOO LATE TO ORDER THE AMERICOLOR WHITE FOOD COLORING THEY CAME OUT DARK COLORS,BUT STILL VISIBLE!!! ALSO,I READ THE COMMENT ABOUT HOW HARD THEY WERE,BUT I MADE A MISTAKE AND THOUGHT THE RECIPE SAID 1 CUP OF SUGAR,BUT THEY STILL CAME OUT PERFECT!!!! THEY WERE NOT TO HARD JUST RIGHT FOR THE KIDS AND SOME OF THE ADULTS.I THINK THE MORE SUGAR JUST MADE THEM HARDER,BUT I WILL STICK TO THE 1 CUP OF SUGAR BECAUSE IT WAS JUST ENOUGH AND STILL SWEET!!!THANKS FOR THE RECIPE
So glad you liked them! Deb
I reallllllly need to learn this I do the boxed red/caramel and they do great at my bake sales I’m ready to raise the bar now. HELP!!!!
Hi Theresa! These would probably go GREAT at a bake sale! I would do a test run and see how they work for you ahead of time and then darn….you will have to eat them! You do have to work fast but if you do the red cinnamon apples, you probably already know that! Good Luck! Deb
All of this is helpful advice. I’m doing my baby a carnival theme party. I’m doing different colors.
Sweet! Literally haha! But really thanks for the idea!! I really wanted to incorporate some sort of covered apple for a bridal shower..but didn’t want the typical red candy since party is pastels..and since it is summer I didn’t want typical caramel. This will be a perfect solution!!!!
Thanks bunches!!
Jackie
What a great idea! These would be beautiful for a wedding! Deb
Ohhh this is to just give the sisters a little giggle. I was reading the comments, I do this to find little tricks and hints when I want to try something. Well I am reading away..and kept noticing a number of them ended signed Oldest Sister…after a number of comments (obviously I didn’t notice names) I thought wow a lot of Oldest sister…wonder what it means???? Ohhh Duhhh you literally are the Oldest Sister answering questions!!! Sometimes in comments other people reply I obviously didn’t realize it was you! LOL
Jackie
Oh Jackie, your comment just made my day and gave me a great chuckle!! Deb – THE OLDEST SISTER! haha
Hi, question, do you have to use the white on all colors
I would say yes if you want them to be a vibrant color. Without the white, they will come out as a clear color. But you can always try it and see if you like it! Deb – The Oldest Sister
Thanks so much, I havee been using the white wasn’t sure, what they’d look like without it… I’m on a mission to figure out how people are getting platinum, and gold colored apples
hmmm….I might have to try platinum and gold myself!!
Where did you purchase the platinum and gold colors from?
ummm…I’m not quite sure what you are referring to. The colors that I used for the apples were blue, purple and pink Americolor Gel colors.
Hi deb where do you buy white paste from or tis it sold only online
Hi Bree! I’ve seen this at Hobby Lobby and other craft stores. I bought mine on Amazon since I get free shipping. Hope that helps! Deb
Hi ladies….. I’ve tried these apples
Twice and for some reason both (different colors) had a funny taste.. What am I doing wrong??? Could it be tht I add my color and vanilla in the beginning with the sugar, water and corn syrup? Help lol
Hi Krystal! Wow. I’m not sure about the funny taste, I’ve never had that problem. Are you adding in the vanilla before boiling? If you are, that might be it. It needs to not be cooked. If you are a brave soul and you try this again, I’d love to know if that helped! Deb
Hi.love your site.im making 125 orange candyapples for a graduation next month.i know I dont have the time to make 6 to 8 candyapples at a time.how many apples can I do at a time?can I just triple the recipe?
Hi Jackie! Wow! You are amazing for doing that! But hmmm…..I’m not sure about tripling the batch because the mixture cools so quickly you might not be able to dip all the apples i time before it cools. But it’s at least worth a shot. I’d LOVE to know if tripling the recipe works for you! Happy Graduation! Deb – The Oldest Sister
Hi ladies, I’ve also tried this recipe twice and both batches had a bitter after taste
Plz help. Ive read Krystal post and I didn’t add the coloring or flavor until after the candy reached 302. Can’t figure out wat I’mdoing
Shaconna….darn! Without me actually seeing you while you are doing this, it is SO hard to know what is going wrong. I’ve made multiple batches and have never had a bitter taste to them. This really has me puzzled and am so sorry that I don’t have a better solution for you.
A lot of times you will get a bitter taste with colors like hot pink and purple. Its similar to when you order a cake and get those colors on icing it has a weird taste. I just add a little at a time until I get the color I want.
Thanks so much Debbie. I’ll keep trying.
Hello there,
Can you tell me if you used turquoise color for the blue one?
hmmm…I think I just used blue AmeriColor Gel Color. Hope that helps! Turquoise would be awesome though! Deb
My candy was really hard and I followed the recipe what can I do differently?
Hi Pam! The candy is supposed to be very hard and not like a caramel apple. Were you able to dip them and then they turned hard?
Yes but they were too hard to bite
Okay, well that’s what the recipe is supposed to be like. They turn out like the hard red candy apples instead of a caramel apple. So sorry that it wasn’t to your liking but we hope that you continue to come back for some other great pin ideas!
I love the colors!! Quick question, I’m usually a caramel fan instead of candy, how do I even begin to eat it w such a hard coating? Do kids have trouble eating them? I’d love to try them out for a party 🙂
Hi Telara! This recipe is definitely for a hard coating like the old fashioned red cinnamon candy apples. After making these, I just cut the apple in slices which made it easier to eat. Have fun! Deb
These were delicious!! and not a challenge to enjoy at all!! The only problem I ran into were big bubbles forming on my apples 🙁 Thank you for your response and great tutorial!
Oh Telara, you don’t know how happy I was to hear this! So glad it worked for you. Deb
My Mother-in-law 80 birthday is coming up, and she love “GREEN” so I want to make green candy apple to added to the candy table. where can I find the right green food coloring or gel at to make Green Candy Apples… Do Wal Mart stores have what I’ll need. Please help!!!!
Hi Diane!
I don’t know if Wal-Mart will have green gel but Amazon does! Here is a link for an electric green color but they also have other green shades. Good luck! Deb https://www.amazon.com/AmeriColor-Gel-Paste-Electric-Green/dp/B000Q6JYKK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1410492332&sr=8-2&keywords=green+food+gel
How can you add liquor to the candy apples color.
Hi Estella, I’m not a drinker so I don’t really have any good ideas for adding liquor but I would think that you could. Hope that works for you! Deb
Hi I love this recipe
As a kid growing up in Louisiana, to eat hard candy apples were a normal thing. But now as an adult I’ve made my own with this recipe.
Only 2 issues I’ve had was
1) The bubbles
2) tge after taste was bitter
( I added flavoring to them)
Why did they taste bitter?
I have bubbles too sometimes because of having to boil the mixture. I don’t know why they taste bitter as I always add flavoring. My favorite is almond! Thanks so much for stopping by Mel. Glad you like the recipe!
Hi. These are beautiful. I tried the recipe and they were delish but the second day they started melting and were sticky. Any suggestions
Kisha, I didn’t have that problem. The only thing that I can think of was that maybe the apples weren’t completely dry before dipping?? So sorry!
So, the white gel PASTE is different from the white gel?
Hi Joy! I’m not quite sure since I don’t know what white gel you are referring to but here is what I used: https://www.amazon.com/Americolor-Paste-Color-75-Ounce-Bright/dp/B000MSZTQA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1423693265&sr=8-2&keywords=white+paste+americolor
Hope that helps! Deb
How do prevent bubbles from forming in the apple? Or what causes bubbles in the candy after dipping the apple?
Hi Dasha, sometimes stirring too long can cause bubbles but bubbles are just kind of part of the process. Mine had bubbles too!
hi I have a question. I was wondering how hard the candied apples get when they are done. im looking for a recipe where they are soft but not completely. I want them just a little hard but not much. please get back to me as soon as possible. thanks!
Hi Teanea!
If you are looking for something a little softer, then these apples aren’t what you are looking for. The coating is hard and crunchy. So sorry but hope you find what you are looking for!
Hi Debbie, I see you ordered your gel paste from Amazon, do you know if anyone has found it in Walmart?
Yes, I have seen these Americolor gel paste at WalMart. Hope yours has them!
I am planning to make these for my five year old for halloween, I was hoping to do a spooky black or dark purple type color ; any suggestions for colors I should use.
Thanks.
Here is a black color: https://www.amazon.com/Americolor-Paste-Color-Super-Black/dp/B000Q6I5CS/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1445889025&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=americolor+black
And if you look at the listing, you can choose other colors! A lime green and purple would be fun!
how do you prevent apples from puddling???
With this recipe and when I make caramel apples, after dipping, I take a knife and scrape off the bottom. The apples will still puddle but not so much.
will this recipe make the apples soft. I cann’t stand hard apples, but loves soft apples.
When I made these it did not change the texture of the apples. The outside will be extremely hard but it shouldn’t change the inside of the apples! Thanks for stopping by Susie!
How well does the candy coating stand up to outside temperatures above 85?
Well I’ve never had them outside in that temperature so I can’t really say but I know that they will do a LOT better than caramel apples. My best guess is that they will be fine because the coating is so hard. Good luck Alesha! I’d love to hear how they turn out!
For the people who state they can’t eat their candy apples/they are too hard, you may want to try cooking the sugar syrup to a lower temperature. Perhaps 5 degree lower, just beware if you cook it at too low a temperature it may not set properly. Also, altitude may play part in the need to adjust your temperature goal.
With sugar syrup, once you cook it UP TO a temperature, letting it cool will not fix the problem.
The commercial candy apples I enjoy do allow for me to take a bite with my teeth, I hope to find the right temperature that will allow me to do this when I try to make my own candy apples.