Editing Candy apple

{{short description|Whole apple with a hard toffee coating}}
{{distinguish|Caramel apple}}
{{Redirect|Toffee apple|the Peter Combe album|Toffee Apple}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox prepared food
| name               = Toffee apple
| image              = Tastee-Candy-Apple-Red-Caramel-wPeanuts.jpg
| image_size         = 250px
| caption            = Toffee apple coated with red caramel and covered with chopped peanuts
| alternate_name     = Candy apple
| country            = [[England]] [[United States]]
| region             = [[London]] [[New Jersey]]
| creator            = William W. Kolb
| course             = 
| type               = [[Confectionery]]
| served             = 
| main_ingredient    = [[Apple]]s and [[sugar]] candy
| variations         = 
| calories           = 
| other              = 
}}

'''Toffee apples''' (in [[English in the Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth English]]) or '''candy apples''' are whole [[apple]]s covered in a [[sugar]] [[candy]] coating, with a stick inserted as a handle. These are a common treat at fall festivals in [[Western culture]] in the [[Northern Hemisphere]], such as [[Halloween]] and [[Guy Fawkes Night]], because these [[festivals]] occur in the wake of annual apple harvests.<ref>{{cite news|last= ThisisSouthDevon|date= October 9, 2008|title= Apples galore as event grows|url= http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Apples-galore-event-grows/story-12371428-detail/story.html|newspaper= Torquay Herald Express|location= Torquay, Devon, UK|publisher= localworld.co.uk|access-date= November 17, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151003154525/http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Apples-galore-event-grows/story-12371428-detail/story.html|archive-date= October 3, 2015|url-status= dead}}</ref> Although toffee apples and [[caramel apple]]s may seem similar, they are made using distinctly different [[Food processing|processes]].

==History==
Toffee apples were originally sold in London in the 1890s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Toffee Apples |url=https://www.foodsofengland.info/toffeeapples.html |website=The Foods of England Project |access-date=17 April 2025}}</ref>
However, according to one source, American William W. Kolb invented the red candy apple.
<blockquote>
Kolb, a veteran [[Newark, New Jersey|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]], at the circus and in candy shops across the country, according to the ''Newark News'' in 1948.<ref>''Newark Sunday News'', November 28, 1948, pg.16. The first candy apples brand was named after Kolb's wife Chelle's. Nowadays, Chelle's Candy Apples is known candy apples, hard candy and other sweet treats. ''[[Newark Evening News]]'', June 8, 1964, pg. 32</ref><!-- Bit confusing here this quote. I assume the 1964 edition had some kind of "On This Day" column? 28 Nov 1948 was indeed a Sunday. --></blockquote>

==Ingredients and method==
Toffee apples are made by coating an apple with a layer of sugar that has been heated to hard crack stage.<ref>{{cite web|last=Flickety|title=How to make Toffee Apples|url=http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Toffee-Apples|publisher=WikiHow|access-date=February 17, 2014|display-authors=etal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305074658/http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Toffee-Apples|archive-date=March 5, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Homemade toffee apples recipe {{!}} Good Food |url=https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/homemade-toffee-apples |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=www.bbcgoodfood.com |language=en}}</ref> The most common sugar coating is made from [[sugar]] (white or brown), [[corn syrup]], water, [[cinnamon]] and [[Allura Red AC|red food coloring]]. Humid weather can prevent the sugar from hardening.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/102401/Taste/dish.shtml|title=Caramel Apples vs. Candy Apples. Tart Green Granny Smith apples work very well for making candy apples.|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=October 24, 2001|access-date=October 22, 2010|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202649/http://www.sptimes.com/News/102401/Taste/dish.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Regional traditions==
{{ref improve|section|date=October 2020}}
[[File:Pommes d amour.jpg|thumb|right|''Pommes d'amour'' on display]]
[[File:Candy Apple (5819333319).jpg|thumb|Blue and red candy apples, dipped in sprinkles and sugar]]
* [[Australia]] – the [[Granny Smith]] variety of apple is considered ideal for toffee apples.<ref>{{cite web|title=Designer Toffee Apples|url=http://www.toffeeapples.com.au/apples.html|publisher=Designer Toffee Apples|access-date=February 17, 2014|archive-date=February 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227124359/http://toffeeapples.com.au/apples.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 
* [[Brazil]] – toffee apples (named as in other [[Lusophone]] countries ''maçã do amor'', as in the [[French language|French]] ''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 [[Crataegus pinnatifida|hawthorns]] with hard sugar syrup.
* [[Canada]] – very popular and usually eaten at [[fairs]] or [[carnivals]].
* [[France]] – toffee 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 [[Traveling carnival|carnivals]] and [[Funfair|fairs]]
* [[Israel]] – almost solely sold in cities' squares on [[Yom Ha'atzmaut]] eve (Israel Independence Day) as part of the street celebrations.
* [[Japan]] – toffee apples, grapes, strawberries and tangerines are commonly available at [[Japanese festivals]].<ref name="HeiterPress2009">{{cite book|author1=Celeste Heiter|author2=Things Asian Press|title=To Japan with Love: A Travel Guide for the Connoisseur|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D2i_yhQJ7kIC&pg=PA127|access-date=November 11, 2011|date=November 1, 2009|publisher=ThingsAsian Press|isbn=978-1-934159-05-7|pages=127–}}</ref>
* [[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 [[Guy Fawkes Night|Bonfire Night]] ([[England]], Scotland and [[Wales]]).
* [[United States]] – jelly apples, found in New York's [[Coney Island|Coney Island area]], are related but have a soft candy ("jelly") coating and a cherry flavor, not cinnamon.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}
* [[Uruguay]] – Manzanas acarameladas, sold in [[fairs]], [[zoos]] and [[carnivals]]
* [[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.

==See also==
* [[List of apple dishes]]
* [[Lollipop]]
* [[Tanghulu]]
*[[Caramel apple]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{portal|Food}}
*{{Commons category-inline|Candy apples}}

{{Apples}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Candy Apple}}
[[Category:British confectionery]]
[[Category:American confectionery]]
[[Category:American inventions]]
[[Category:Apple desserts]]
[[Category:Christmas food]]
[[Category:Fruit confectionery]]
[[Category:Halloween food]]
[[Category:Skewered foods]]
[[Category:Thanksgiving food]]