This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
Candy apples are a sweet, crunchy treat with a glossy, marbled, beautiful, delicious finish. Their crisp coating and a burst of juicy apple flavor make them perfect for adding a festive touch to year-round gatherings, from Halloween parties to summer picnics!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItAfter making these, I couldn’t wait to share how simple it is to create marbled candy apples! Just look at how stunning they are. I’m smitten with how they turned out and think they’ll be a hit at any fall party!
The process is straightforward, especially if you have a candy thermometer and carefully monitor the sugar temperature.
Plus, you can choose any color to match your fall or Halloween theme or party décor, making these candy apples versatile and customizable. Check out my marble drip cake, too!
Candy Apple Ingredients
Granny Smith Apples: The tartness of green apples pairs perfectly with the sweet candy coating, and their bright color complements the marbling.
Granulated Sugar: This forms the base of the candy shell.
Light Corn Syrup: Acts as a sweetener, thickener, and binding agent.
Vanilla Extract: Adds a touch of flavor. You can also substitute it with other flavored extracts.
White Food Coloring: This is essential for the base of the marble effect, allowing other colors to pop on the apples.
Gel Food Coloring: Choose 2-3 gel colors for a pretty marbled appearance. The possibilities are endless!
Helpful Supplies for Making Candy Apples
To ensure your candy apples turn out perfectly, you’ll need a few key tools:
- Candy Thermometer: A must-have for reaching the hard crack stage, ensuring the candy sets properly.
- Parchment Paper or Wax Paper: Place your dipped apples on this nonstick surface to cool and harden.
- Baking Sheet: Line this with parchment or wax paper for an easy cleanup.
- Heavy Saucepan: Ideal for heating the sugar mixture to the correct temperature.
- Wooden Sticks: Use craft sticks, lollipop sticks, or even rustic twigs for a Halloween vibe.
- Rubber Spatula: Handy for swirling the sugar mixture to achieve that marbled look.
How to Make Marbled Candy Apples
- Prep the Apples: Soak apples in hot water with vinegar for 10–15 minutes, scrub to remove wax, rinse, and dry. Wipe with vodka for extra cleanliness.
- Set Up: Keep apples near the stove and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the Candy: Heat sugar, water, and corn syrup in a saucepan with a candy thermometer until 300°F. Don’t stir.
- Add Color: Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and white food coloring, then swirl in a few drops of other colors with a skewer.
- Dip & Cool: Dip apples into the candy, let excess drip, and place on parchment to harden.
Adding Flavors
While we used vanilla extract, feel free to get creative with other flavors like:
- Cinnamon
- Orange
- Almond
- Butter Pecan
- Lavender
- Pumpkin Spice
These extracts are an easy way to customize the flavor profile of your candy apples.
Tips for Making Perfect Candy Apples
- Prep Your Surface: Have your baking sheet lined and ready before you start dipping the apples.
- Marbling Technique: Swirl them gently with a wooden skewer.
- Sugar Temperature: For the perfect candy shell, let your candy thermometer reach the hard crack stage (300°F). Then remove form heat OR the mixture will bubble on the apple.
- Make Ahead: Candy apples can be made up to two days before. For the best flavor and texture, store them in the fridge and enjoy them within 1-2 days.
Removing the Wax Coating from Apples
Soak the apples in a mixture of hot water and a few tablespoons of vinegar for 10-15 minutes.
Brush the apples with a clean brush to help remove the wax.
Rinse thoroughly, then wipe them dry.
Clean the apples with a cloth dipped in vodka to remove any remaining residue, leaving the apples extra clean for dipping.
Fun Candy Apple Varieties
Galaxy Candy Apples: For a unique twist, swirl blue and purple food coloring for a cosmic-themed apple.
Blackout Candy Apples: Add black food coloring for a spooky, Halloween look.
Caramel Candy Apples: Swap the sugar syrup for caramel to make a classic fall treat.
Chocolate Candy Apples: Use chocolate instead of sugar syrup, and create fun designs like ghost faces with white chocolate.
Glitter Candy Apples: Sprinkle edible glitter for an extra festive touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Make sure the apples are thoroughly cleaned and free of wax or residue. Dry them completely before dipping to ensure the candy adheres properly.
Use gel or liquid food coloring for vibrant, swirlable colors that mix well with the melted candy. Red is the classic candy apple color, but you can mix and match colors to match your event theme!
Use a candy thermometer and heat the mixture over medium-high heat without stirring, carefully watching for it to reach exactly 300°F. Remove immediately to prevent burning.
More Dessert Recipes
If you love these apples, try some of more treats:
- Marble Drip Cake
- Easy Ghost Trifles
- Mummy Cupcakes
- Frankenstein Macarons
- Black Velvet Cupcakes
- Halloween Dessert Platter
Let me know if you make these by leaving a comment and review below!
You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious recipes, cocktails, desserts, and parties!
My new Entertaining book is here! Order Now!
Candy Apples
Equipment
- Candy Thermometer
- Medium Sauce Pan
Ingredients
- 6 Granny Smith apples
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp White food coloring, or more
- 2 tsp additional colors of food coloring, we used teal and green gel coloring. You can play around with how much dye you need.
Instructions
- Soak the apples in a mixture of hot water and a few tablespoons of vinegar for 10-15 minutes. Brush the apples with a clean brush to help remove the wax. Rinse thoroughly, then wipe them dry. Clean the apples with a cloth dipped in vodka to remove any remaining residue, leaving the apples extra clean for dipping.
- Put your apples near the stove so they’re close by when you need them. Also, prepare a cookie sheet with parchment to keep close.
- Mix the sugar, water, and corn syrup in a medium saucepan. Attach the candy thermometer to the side of the pot, but make sure it’s not touching the bottom of the pan. Heat over medium-high heat and let bubble without mixing until it reaches 300 degrees.
- Once it reaches that temperature, immediately take off the heat with a heat-proof rubber spatula.
- Mix in the vanilla extract and the white food coloring until combined.
- Quickly add a few drops of the two other colors.
- Use a wooden skewer to gently stir the colors, but don’t mix.
- Lightly move the colors around. Tip the pot to one side and dip the apple in the candy, coating it on all sides.
- When you pull the marbled candy apple out of the sugar, give it a second to drip off the bottom, then place it on the parchment paper to cool and harden.
Video
Notes
- Soak the apples in hot water and a few tablespoons of vinegar for 10-15 minutes.
- Brush the apples with a clean brush to help remove the wax.
- Rinse thoroughly, then wipe them dry.
- Clean the apples with a cloth dipped in vodka to remove any remaining residue, leaving the apples extra clean for dipping.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How do you make bubble free candy apples? Every time I make them they always have bubbles.
Some tips for no bubbles. Keep you apples cold and make sur no moisture gets in the mixture when dipping
Some tips for no bubbles. Keep your apples cold and make sure no moisture gets in the mixture when dipping
For bubble free apples, make sure the wax is cleaned off apples. Fill a pot with water, bring to a boil, then dip your apples, about 5 -8 seconds and wipe quickly with a paper towel. If you’re doing the hard candy apples make sure you let them sit for at least 48 hrs after cleaning before dipping them.
Also Adrienne before dipping let your bubbles subside in your pan. When you tilt your pan to dip it may bubble up again because the candy is hot, so just let the bubbles subside again. Don’t dip while there are a lot of bubbles because it will look that way on your apples. Hope this helps
Do you have to have white food coloring to do the marble or can you just use any two or more colors.
The white food coloring helps make the colors more bold… otherwise it’s more of a clear color.
How do you prevent the bubbles from forming on the candy apples after dipping
How much white food coloring did you use?
Hi Hannah! We used about 5-7 drops of the color!
Absolutely beautiful. These apples are from a magical fairytale!
Oh my gosh these are totally blowing my mind right now — amazing! I love the colors, the swirls and the cute rustic sticks, great job!
Thank you so much Joan!!! They are fun to make and not very hard at all!! Think of the beautiful color combos you can do!!! XO
omgosh….you’ve outdone yourself!!! these are about the coolest things i’ve EVER seen!! must try!! 🙂
This looks so awesome!
Wow, those look absolutely stunning! Love how unique your recipes always are.
These apples look so beautiful. What a brilliant idea. I like the natural twigs as well. Super post thank you. Sammie x