Description
Crafting Sweet Ocean Candy Apples brings back beach memories. Learn my easy recipe for shimmering, vibrant blue treats for a touch of coastal magic.
Ingredients
Scale
- Base Candy Coating:
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon blue gel food coloring (more for deeper color)
- 1/2 teaspoon ocean blue edible glitter
- Apples & Sticks:
- 8 small Granny Smith apples
- 8 sturdy lollipop sticks
- Flavor Boosters:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional Extras:
- White nonpareils (for a ‘sea foam’ effect)
- Edible pearl dust flakes
Instructions
- Prep Your Apples:: First things first, let’s get those apples ready. Wash them really, really well to remove any waxy coating; honestly, a quick scrub with hot water and a bit of vinegar helps. Dry them completely – and I mean *completely*! Any moisture will mess with your candy. Then, carefully insert a lollipop stick firmly into the stem end of each apple, pushing it about halfway through. This is where I always make sure they’re super secure. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ready for their dip.
- Combine the Candy Base:: Grab a heavy-bottomed saucepan, something that holds heat evenly, and combine your granulated sugar, light corn syrup, and water. Give it a gentle stir just until the sugar is moistened. Try not to stir too much after this; we’re trying to avoid sugar crystallization. This step feels calm before the candy storm, you know? Just seeing the clear liquid makes me excited for the blue transformation.
- Boil to Temperature:: Now, place that saucepan over medium-high heat. Attach your candy thermometer to the side, making sure it doesn’t touch the bottom of the pan. Let it boil, undisturbed! No stirring, no swirling, resist the urge! We’re aiming for the hard crack stage, which is 300°F (150°C). This can take a bit, so be patient. I remember once getting impatient and pulling it off too early – soft, chewy candy apples, not quite the crispness we want for these sweet ocean candy apples.
- Add Color and Flavor:: Once your candy reaches 300°F, immediately remove the saucepan from the heat. This is important! Quickly stir in your blue gel food coloring, the ocean blue edible glitter, and the vanilla extract. Be careful, the mixture is super hot! Stir until everything is evenly combined and that beautiful, shimmering ocean blue appears. The kitchen smells so sweet and vanilla-y at this point, it’s just lovely.
- Dip Your Sweet Ocean Candy Apples:: Working quickly but carefully, tilt your saucepan to one side to create a deeper pool of candy. Dip each apple into the hot candy, twisting it to ensure an even, complete coating. Let any excess drip off back into the pan. You want a nice, thin, even layer. This is where I always try to be super neat, but a little drip here and there is totally fine, adds character! The candy sets fast, so no dilly-dallying here.
- Cool and Set:: As soon as each apple is dipped, place it back onto your parchment-lined baking sheet. Don’t let them touch! Let them cool completely at room temperature, which usually takes about 20-30 minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when the candy coating is hard, shiny, and perfectly crisp. Seeing them lined up, all shimmering and blue, just makes my heart happy. These homemade candy apples are a real treat!