National Candy Apple Day | Candy Apples with Peanuts

In the great caramel vs. candy apple debate, caramel always wins. I shared my caramel apples recipe ^[4], and now it’s candy apples time. I’ve only had candy apples a handful of times, probably enough to count on one hand. Caramel apples are so much better that they’re my first choice at the candy shop.

However, I don’t like caramel apples with peanuts and the times that I’ve been at a candy shop with only peanut-covered caramel apples, I have to get candy apples, which I actually prefer with peanuts. I know, it’s weird, but I have more nuances than that, believe me.

Let me be honest and say that the candy part is very simple, but to apply the chopped peanuts is a painstakingly slow process. I rolled the candy apples in the chopped peanuts and then placed more in the spaces that hadn’t originally picked up any.

These candy apples won’t make me make the conversion from caramel apples, but they definitely make me want candy apples more than usual. Enjoy!

Print Recipe ^[5]

Candy Apples with Peanuts

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 8 Granny Smith apples
• 1 cup and 1 Tbsp white sugar
• 1/2 cup and 2 tsp light corn syrup
• 3/4 cup and 2 tsp water
• 4 1/4 drops red food coloring
• 4 cups chopped peanuts

Directions:

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Push the craft sticks into each apple core and set aside. Pour chopped peanuts in a shallow bowl; set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine sugar, corn syrup and water. Heat to 310*F, or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms hard, brittle threads. Remove from heat and stir in food coloring.
3. Holding onto the craft stick, dip the apples, one by one, into the syrup, turning to coat all around.
4. Immediately roll in chopped peanuts and place on prepared sheets to harden.