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| Alternative names | Toffee apples, taffy apples |
|---|---|
| Type | Confectionery |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Created by | Hunter's Candy |
| Main ingredients | Apples,caramel, sometimesnuts |
Caramel apples ortoffee apples are whole apples covered in a layer ofcaramel. They are created bydipping or rollingapples-on-a-stick in hot caramel, sometimes then rolling them innuts or other small savories or confections, and allowing them to cool. When these additional ingredients, such as nut toppings, are added, the caramel apple can be called ataffy apple.[1]
For high-volume production of caramel apples, a sheet ofcaramel can be wrapped around the apple, followed by heating the apple to melt the caramel evenly onto it. This creates a harder caramel that is easier to transport but more difficult to eat. Caramel apple production at home usually involves melting pre-purchased caramel candies for dipping or making a homemade caramel from ingredients likecorn syrup,brown sugar,butter, andvanilla. Homemade caramel generally results in a softer, creamier coating.
In recent years,[when?] it has become increasingly popular to decorate caramel apples for holidays likeHalloween. Methods used to do this include applying sugar or salt to softened caramel, dipping cooled, hardened apples in white or milkchocolate, or painting designs onto finished caramel apples withwhite chocolate colored withfood coloring.[2]
Classically, the preferred apples for use in caramel apples are tart-tasting apples with a crisp texture such asGranny Smith.
Hunter's Candy in Moscow, Idaho began selling caramel apples in 1936. Hard-coated candy apples had been around since the late 19th century,[3] but Hunter's Candy created a new treat by coating the apples with their caramel. During World War II, these apples were shipped overseas to soldiers in Korea, Japan, and England.[4][5]
In 1948, the Kastrup family founded The Affy Tapple Company in Chicago. The recipe for their caramel apples came from Edna Kastrup and is still used today for their "The Original Caramel Apple" line[6]
In 1960, Vito Raimondi patented the first automatic caramel apple making machine, replacing much of the process that involved production by hand.[7]
