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Looking for the perfect fall dessert? How about a fun and retro treat for Halloween? Look no further, these 1960’s Cinnamon Candy Apples are delightful and I've got a step-by-step video showing you exactly how to make them!
IT'S TIME FOR FALL FLAVORS
Fall is officially here, and I mean officially here, as in I’m currently wearing a sweatshirt in Los Angeles. For all of you lovely people who have real seasonal weather, I don’t envy you. I’m much more a Spring and Summer loving lady which is why I love LA and it’s “seasons.” Even though I don’t love this time of year (except for Halloween and Thanksgiving), I do enjoy the food. Bring me roasted butternut squash, maple spice almond milk lattes, and ALL THE perfectly crisp apples.
Lucky for me I found a vintage recipe for Cinnamon Candy Apples and I jumped right into the candy making process. And guess what? They are full of fall flavors. The crisp apples and cinnamon candy coating are perfect together, and they’ll be a showstopper when you make them for your Halloween party!
THANKS FOR THE SOLID RECIPE
These Cinnamon Candy Apples were first published in the 1966 Better Homes and Gardens Cookies and Candies Cookbook. When I tested the original recipe as written, I was pleasantly surprised! It worked really well, so well, that I only made like, one change.
All I did was reduce the amounts of the recipe. No one needs eight apples coated in a delicious and almost too sweet candy coating. I ended up making six perfectly coated apples, and they get cut into slices when you eat them, so you can share with anyone and everyone.
Oh, I also made these apples super fancy with some gold leaf. I mean, I just had a packet of edible gold leaf lying around and what else was I going to use it for? Hahahaha…I sound so pretentious, but it was a gift from a fellow crew member from the Guy’s Grocery Games culinary team. I don’t regularly have gold leaf in laying around in my kitchen!
Anyway, other than making fewer apples, giving them a little bling, and adding a bit more cinnamon flavor, I didn’t change much else!
I THOUGHT IT WAS A HALLOWEEN THING
What time of year do you associate candy apples with? I think of them as a Fall and Halloween treat, but they were actually created and originally sold during Christmas time. According to FoodandWine.com, Candymaker William W. Kolb supposedly invented them in 1908 in New Jersey. He was trying to sell cinnamon candies for Christmas when he decided that dipping apples in the candy would be a fantastic way to showcase the candy. The candy apples were gorgeous, and people wanted to buy them instead of the candy by itself. Since then, candy apples became super popular and have transitioned into a Halloween treat.
[bctt tweet="Candy Apples are great all year long! Let's make some!" username="@cupofzest"]
He was trying to sell cinnamon candies for Christmas when he decided that dipping apples in the candy would be a fantastic way to showcase the candy. The candy apples were gorgeous, and people wanted to buy them instead of the candy by itself. Since then, cinnamon candy apples became super popular and have transitioned into a Halloween treat.
TELL ME ABOUT IT!
Tell me in the comments, did you grow up eating candy apples? I’d love to know if you are going to make them too. Let me know below, and make sure to watch my video above.
CINNAMON CANDY APPLES RECIPE TIPS
-Use any type of apple you like! The tartness of Granny Smith apples would go great with the sweetness of the candy coating.
-Washing the wax off the apples is such an important step. If you don't take the time to remove it the candy coating won't stick. Directions for removing the wax is in the recipe below!
-When making the candy coating and dipping the apples, make sure your kids and pets are not close by. The candy coating is molten sugar it would be a bad thing if any spilled onto your little ones.
-You will have leftover candy coating after dipping the apples. You can make them into lollipops using a mold like this and then boil off the remaining candy in the pan following these tips from The Kitchn.
-Plan on making your Cinnamon Candy Apples fancy like mine? Check out The Spruce's post on How to Apply Edible Gold Leaf. I used her tips and they really helped me.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
- 6 small to medium apples
- 6 lollipop sticks or other sticks
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon red food coloring
- 2 drops maroon food coloring
- 10-12 drops cinnamon oil
- Optional: gold leaf sparkles, etc.
Instructions
- To remove the was from the apples, bring a medium pot of water and vinegar to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce heat to low, and one at a time place an apple in the hot water for 5 seconds. Remove the apple and rub dry with a clean dishtowel. Repeat with remaining apples.
- Line a baking sheet or platter with parchment paper and librally spray with nonstick spray.
- To make the candy coating, stir together the sugar, water, corn syrup and food coloring into a medium pot.
- Without stirring, bring the sugar mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Continue cooking until the mixture reaches 300 degrees (hard-crack stage)on a candy thermometer.
- While the sugar mixture cooks, remove the stems from the apples and insert a stick into the center.
- Remove from heat and quickly stir in the cinnamon oil.
- Dip an apple into the candy coating, slowly turning the apple to coat all the sides, and place on the parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining apples.
- Add any decorations (gold leaf or sparkles) to apples while the candy is warm.
- Once candy has cooled, cut apples into slices before eating...you definitely cannot take a bite from one!
Notes
MORE DESSERT RECIPES
Chocolate Chunk Candy Cane Cookies - Santa LOVES them! 
Eggnog Chiffon Pie - Perfect for any eggnog lover! Simple Rich Refrigerator Fudge - Makes a wonderful holiday treat.
Cindy G. Gracia says
Can I make the candy apples 2 days ahead of time and keep them in the refrigerator?
Michelle Weiner says
Great q Cindy!
I have not tested the storage of these candy apples, so this is my educated (and quickly researched) answer! You should be okay with just making them and storing them in an airtight container for 1 or 2 days. Just make sure that the candy coating does not go all the way up the apple into the section the stick is inserted into. Moisture will get under the candy and the candy coating my start to melt.
I also would not put them into the refrigerator as it could ruin the candy coating as well.
Maureen says
Can I make these without corn syrup?
Michelle Ferrand says
Hi Maureen!
The corn syrup helps keep the sugar from crystalizing. You can try it without the corn syrup, but you'll need to be extra careful when making the candy coating. I haven't tried it without the corn syrup, so if you give it a go, please let us know!
Pat Mcneely says
When I was young we used the apples that grew in our yard. Love the cinnamon candy apples, one year we sprinkledthem crushed peanuts...added yumminess.
Michelle Ferrand says
Yum, that sounds great! My grandparents had an apple tree and I have great memories of eating them!
Food Blog Names says
Hi! I love how informative and great your articles are. Can you recommend any other Food Blog Names or blogs that go over the same topics? Thanks a lot!
Ruby Richards says
I’m going to try to make these since my mother used to make these when I was young! Wish me luck! 😀
Kay Cotton says
How i loved these at our high-school football games in the 50's. I never cared for carmel ones. Thanks for the recipe and the memories.
Gia says
Wow, these are beautiful just like I remember them.
What a great way to begin the holidays. I will be making these for Christmas. A tradition we should all follow. Let’s bring Christmas traditions back to our kids. ? ? ?
Michelle Ferrand says
Thank you so much! I love that you'll be making them for Christmas!
Tatiana says
Halloween is tomorrow , my kids will love it!
Julie says
I've always been so curious about candied apples - I've never had one before. I had no idea they were usually cinnamon flavored! What a great retro recipe - they're always so beautiful and shiny.
Lois. O says
Wow! These look beautiful! They almost look like a Christmas tree ornament. I will make these as a gift for Christmas.
Amanda says
Wow, all these years and I didn't know candy apples were originally made for Christmas! What an interesting backstory. It's been way too long since I've had a candy apple. I love the gold leaf accents you added, too!
Cheryl says
What a classic! I loved making these as a kid. They look so pretty and perfect.
Kate says
Oh my gosh, those you too pretty to eat! I love the addition of the gold leaf. They look like art!
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
The color of these little candy gems is absolutely exquisite. And I love the little bling that you added to them. It really does a nice job of dressing them up.
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen says
I had no idea they were originally a Christmastime treat - how fun! These are gorgeous - love the addition of gold foil 🙂
Donna Davis says
Sorry, Better Homes and Gardens cookbook
Donna Davis says
Is there any possible way that You can share some of these 1966 recipes from the Betty Crocker cookbook?
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
I do remember seeing candied apples growing up but I don't think I had any. I did have the caramel apples, though. They do remind me of Halloween and Fall. Now that brings back memories. Your apples look so good and tempting! I'll have to make some for the grandsons.
Alicia Taylor says
Oh - now I am feeling nostalgic for childhood when candied apples were a simple affair. These looks so good.
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
Wow...those look awesome. I don't even know when the last time I had these....probably the 60's. What a great trip down memory lane..and they look beautiful too.
Dominique | Perchance to Cook says
These are absolutely gorgeous! They are so red and vibrant, I just want to take a big bite out of one. I love that you used a recipe from the 60s here...so creative and fun!
Michelle Ferrand says
Thank you so much Dominique!