These Black Candy Apples Make the Scariest Halloween Treat—and They Take 10 Minutes to Make

3.4

(41)

They're a bewitching bite that's surprisingly quick and simple to make.

Prep Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

25 mins

Yield:

8

Clad in a sweet yet spooky black-sugar shell, these apples glow menacingly. Though they look impressively frightening, they take just 10 minutes to make—and 15 minutes or more to set up before everyone can take a bite. The only special ingredient required is black food coloring (plus wooden dowels for sticks). The magical candy coating is made with butter, sugar, and light corn syrup. When it’s time to sink your teeth in, the assembled ghosts and witches will find each bite packed with fresh apple flavor and a crunchy sweetness from the candy coating.

Black Candy Apples — Credit:
Nick & Chloe

Sticks for Candy Apples

Every candy apple needs a stick. We used 1/8-inch by 1/4-inch bass wood dowels for these Halloween candy apples.

Directions

Prep baking sheet; combine sugar, water, syrup, and coloring and cook:

Line a baking sheet with parchment, and lightly brush parchment with butter. Combine sugar, water, corn syrup, and food coloring in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-high. Boil until syrup reaches 300°F to 310°F (hard-crack stage) on a candy thermometer, about 15 minutes.
Insert dowels into apples:

Meanwhile, insert a wooden dowel into the stem end of each apple, pushing halfway down.
Dip apples in syrup to coat; let cool:

When syrup reaches desired temperature, immediately remove from heat. Working quickly, dip apples, 1 at a time, in caramel to coat. Transfer to baking sheet; let cool. Candy apples can be made up to 4 hours ahead; keep at room temperature until ready to serve.