Mini Candy Apples Sticks (Printable)

Shiny, crunchy candy-coated bite-sized apples on sticks, perfect for fun snacks and kids' parties.

# What You Need:

→ Apples

01 - 8 small apples such as Gala or Fuji, or 16 crabapples

→ Candy Coating

02 - 2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup light corn syrup
04 - 1/2 cup water
05 - 1/2 teaspoon red gel food coloring

→ Assembly

06 - 16 wooden sticks or popsicle sticks
07 - Nonstick cooking spray or parchment paper

# How-To Steps:

01 - Wash and thoroughly dry the apples. If using large apples, cut each in half and scoop out the seeds with a small melon baller. Insert a wooden stick firmly into the stem end of each apple or apple half.
02 - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly grease, or spray a silicone mat with nonstick spray.
03 - In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and water. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely.
04 - Increase heat to high, bring the mixture to a boil without stirring, and cook until it reaches 290°F on a candy thermometer, approximately 8 to 10 minutes.
05 - Remove the saucepan from the heat. Carefully stir in the red gel food coloring until evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
06 - Working quickly, dip each apple into the hot candy coating, swirling to coat evenly. Allow excess coating to drip off, then place the apple on the prepared baking sheet.
07 - Let the candy apples cool completely at room temperature until the coating hardens, approximately 10 minutes.
08 - Serve the candy apples and enjoy immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • They look like you spent hours in the kitchen when really they're embarrassingly quick to pull together.
  • Kids actually want to help make them, which means less chaos and more quality time standing at the stove together.
  • The candy shell has this satisfying crack when you bite into it—texture that makes people genuinely excited about eating fruit.
02 -
  • A candy thermometer is not optional—guessing at temperature is how you end up with sticky candy that never sets, which I learned the hard way on my first attempt.
  • The moment you take that pan off the heat, the candy starts thickening fast, so have your apples lined up and ready to go or you'll be left holding a pan of solid candy and regret.
03 -
  • Dip fast and confidently—hesitation means less coating, so channel your inner candy apple expert even if this is your first time.
  • Keep a bowl of room temperature water nearby to dunk your hands between apples, because you will get sticky and that's okay, it's part of the ritual.
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