Description
These vibrant Jolly Rancher Candy Apples are a delightful twist on the classic treat. Crisp Granny Smith apples are coated in a glossy, hard candy shell made from melted Jolly Rancher candies, creating a colorful, crunchy dessert perfect for fall festivities like Halloween. The recipe is straightforward, using simple ingredients and stovetop candy-making techniques to achieve a hard crack stage candy coating that hardens quickly for a satisfying crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Apples
- 6 medium Granny Smith apples, washed and dried thoroughly
- Wooden sticks or lollipop sticks
Candy Coating
- 18 oz Jolly Rancher hard candies (about 1½ bags, assorted flavors or all one flavor)
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
Preparation
- Nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Prepare Apples: Insert a wooden stick into the center of each apple through the stem end to use as a handle. Set the apples aside on a clean surface.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray it with nonstick cooking spray to prevent the candy apples from sticking once dipped.
- Make Candy Coating: In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the unwrapped Jolly Rancher candies, light corn syrup, granulated sugar, and water. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally to help dissolve the candies completely. Continue heating until the mixture reaches 300°F (hard crack stage) on a candy thermometer, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Dip Apples: Carefully remove the saucepan from heat. Immediately dip each apple into the hot candy coating, tilting the pan as needed to coat the apple evenly. Allow any excess candy to drip back into the pan.
- Set Candy Apples: Place the coated apples onto the prepared baking sheet. Allow them to cool and harden at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the apples are completely dry before dipping; moisture can prevent the candy from sticking effectively.
- Experiment with different Jolly Rancher flavors to create colorful and fun variations.
- Store finished candy apples at room temperature and consume within 2 days to maintain the best crunch and freshness.
