Candy apples (or toffee apples in Commonwealth English) are whole apples covered in a

sugar Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Compound sugars, also called disaccharides or double ...

candy Candy, also called sweets (British English) or lollies (Australian English Australian English (AusE, AusEng, AuE, AuEng, en-AU) is the set of varieties of the English language native to Australia. It is the country's common language an ...

coating, with a stick inserted as a handle. These are a common treat at fall festivals in Western culture in the

Northern Hemisphere The Northern Hemisphere is the half of Earth that is north of the Equator. For other planets in the Solar System, north is defined as being in the same celestial hemisphere relative to the invariable plane of the solar system as Earth's Nort ...

, such as

Halloween Halloween or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve) is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Saints' Day. It begins the observanc ...

and

Guy Fawkes Night Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Fireworks Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in Great Britain, involving bonfires and fireworks displays. Its history begins with the ev ...

because these festivals occur in the wake of annual apple harvests. Although candy apples and caramel apples may seem similar, they are made using distinctly different

processes A process is a series or set of activities that interact to produce a result; it may occur once-only or be recurrent or periodic. Things called a process include: Business and management *Business process, activities that produce a specific se ...

History

According to one source, American William W. Kolb invented the red candy apple.

Kolb, a veteran Newark candy-maker, produced his first batch of candied apples in 1908. While experimenting in his candy shop with red cinnamon candy for the Christmas trade, he dipped some apples into the mixture and put them in the windows for display. He sold the whole first batch for 5 cents each and later sold thousands yearly. Soon candied apples were being sold along the
Jersey Shore The Jersey Shore (known by locals simply as the Shore) is the coastal region of the U.S. state of New Jersey. Geographically, the term encompasses about of oceanfront bordering the Atlantic Ocean, from Perth Amboy in the north to Cape May Po ...
, at the circus and in candy shops across the country, according to the ''Newark News'' in 1948.

However, toffee apples had previously been recorded as being sold in London in the 1890s.

Ingredients and method

Candy apples, but not toffee apples, are made by coating an apple with a layer of sugar that has been heated to hard crack stage. The most common sugar coating is made from

(white or brown),

corn syrup Corn syrup is a food syrup which is made from the starch of corn (called maize in many countries) and contains varying amounts of sugars: glucose, maltose and higher oligosaccharides, depending on the grade. Corn syrup is used in foods to softe ...

, water,

cinnamon Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus ''Cinnamomum''. Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, breakfa ...

and red food coloring. Humid weather can prevent the sugar from hardening.

Regional traditions

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

– the Granny Smith variety of apple is considered ideal for toffee apples. * Brazil – candy apples (named as in other

Lusophone Lusophones ( pt, Lusófonos) are ethnic group, peoples that speak Portuguese language, Portuguese as a native language, native or as common second language and nations where Portuguese features prominently in society. Comprising an estimated 270 m ...

countries ''maçã do amor'', as in the

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

''pommes d'amour'', meaning "apples of love") are common in the festivities in honor of John the Apostle. * Mainland China – a similar treat called Tanghulu is made by coating small fruits, traditionally hawthorns with hard sugar syrup. * Canada – very popular and usually eaten at fairs or carnivals. * France – candy apples are called ''pommes d'amour'' (apples of love). They are a common treat found at many festivals. * Germany – most often associated with Christmas. They are also sometimes sold at carnivals and fairs * Israel – almost solely sold in cities' squares on Yom Ha'atzmaut eve (Israel Independence Day) as part of the street celebrations. *

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

– candy apples, grapes, strawberries and tangerines are commonly available at Japanese festivals. * Republic of Ireland – eaten at Halloween. * United Kingdom – a similar treat made with toffee is associated with and eaten at Halloween ( Scotland and Northern Ireland), or Bonfire Night ( England, Scotland and Wales). * United States – jelly apples, found in New York's Coney Island area, are related but have a soft candy ("jelly") coating and a cherry flavor, not cinnamon. * South Africa - toffee apples are mostly available at supermarkets such as Checkers and Spar. They are also very popular throughout apple season. Mostly dipped in red or green coloured sugar syrup.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Candy Apple American confectionery American inventions Apple dishes Christmas food Confectionery Halloween food Skewered foods Thanksgiving food

History

Ingredients and method

Regional traditions

See also

References

External links