Trolltide Candied Apples

Ingredients

• 6 small tart apples, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp
• 6 wooden sticks or chopsticks
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1 tsp red gel food coloring
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, optional
• Nonstick spray for the parchment

Instructions

Prep

1. Dip apples in very hot water for 10 seconds and rub dry to remove the wax. Pull stems, push a stick into each core, chill 15 minutes.
2. Line a sheet pan with parchment and coat lightly with nonstick spray.

Candy

1. In a heavy 2-quart saucepan, stir sugar, water and corn syrup over medium-high until the sugar dissolves.
2. Stop stirring. Clip on a candy thermometer and boil to 300°F, hard crack, 20 to 25 minutes.
3. Off heat, stir in food coloring and vanilla.

Dip

1. Tilt the pan, dip each apple and twirl to coat. Let excess drip off.
2. Set on the prepared pan. Harden 15 minutes.

Tips

Safety: hot sugar burns badly. Adults dip; kids decorate sticks.

Candy thickening: warm over low heat for 30 seconds.

Same day: humidity makes the shell sticky by the next day.

Inspired by Hero's Feast