Turkey Free Candy Apples
Few treats capture the magic of a fall fair quite like a glossy, jewel-red candy apple — and this version is surprisingly straightforward to pull off at home. The coating is a simple sugar syrup cooked to the hard-crack stage, which gives you that satisfying snap when you bite through the shell. A touch of red gel food coloring delivers that iconic deep crimson finish, and an optional hint of cinnamon extract adds a warm, nostalgic kick that takes the whole thing up a notch. Tart Granny Smith apples work beautifully here because their acidity balances the sweetness of the candy shell, though a crisp Fuji brings a slightly milder, fruitier vibe if that's your preference. The key is having everything prepped before the syrup hits temperature — once it's ready, you're working fast and the results are stunning. These are naturally free from any poultry-derived ingredients, so there's nothing to second-guess on the label or in the pan. Make them the day you plan to serve them and the shell stays perfectly crisp and glossy.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 6 medium apples (such as granny smith or fuji), washed and thoroughly dried
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- ½ tsp red gel food coloring
- ¼ tsp cinnamon extract or flavoring (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly coat it with nonstick spray. Push a wooden skewer or lollipop stick firmly into the stem end of each apple, pressing straight down through the core about halfway. Set the prepared apples nearby — once the syrup is ready, you'll need to work quickly.
- 2
Combine the sugar, water, and corn syrup in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan. Stir gently just until the sugar is moistened, then clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan, making sure the tip is submerged but not touching the bottom.
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