A combination of sweet, ultra-glossy black candy coating with a hint of vanilla over a tart Granny Smith apple makes these poison Halloween candy apples mysteriously spooky and all-around delicious.

Why this recipe works

When you take a bite of this poison candy apple, prepare to be enchanted with wickedly sweet candy coating and juicy-tart green apple that will ignite your senses. These Halloween candy apples will be a hit at your haunted parties and may cast spells on your guests to keep coming back for more!

In all reality, these glossy black candy apples look impressive on the Halloween dessert table alongside some witch finger cookies. You can also use them as party favors wrapped up in cellophane baggies and tied with a bow. To add even more spookiness, use natural branches (cleaned of course) as the base for your candy apples.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

ingredients for Halloween Caramel Apples

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

APPLE – Organic apples are ideal for this recipe as they are unwaxed. We highly suggest using Granny Smith green apples. The tart, juicy, and crisp green apple complements the sugary candy coating and balances the flavors perfectly. If you are using waxed apples, in a medium bowl combine ¼ cup of vinegar with a teaspoon of baking soda. Dip the apples in the solution and allow it to break down the wax by rubbing it off.

CANDY COATING – We’re using regular corn syrup with a hint of vanilla extract added, but you can opt for vanilla corn syrup instead. We would recommend sticking to gel food coloring (aka icing gel) as the deep color can be achieved much easier than using regular liquid food coloring. Feel free to switch up the colors to whatever you’d like to use.

How to Make Black Halloween Candy Apples

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

Wash the apples and branches, dry thoroughly, and set aside.
Prepare a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Grease with butter and set aside.
Prepare apples by removing the stem.
Use a metal straw to create a hole in the top of the apple to insert a natural branch.
Repeat with all 6 apples and set aside.
Add granulated sugar, corn syrup, water, and black icing color to a medium saucepan or dutch oven. Mix to combine the ingredients until the sugar has dissolved.
Cook over medium heat. Once the mixture begins to boil, refrain from stirring. Using a pastry brush dipped in water remove any sugar from the inner sides of the pan to avoid crystallized sugar falling into the pan.
Continue to cook until the mixture reaches 300 degrees on a candy thermometer. Carefully remove the mixture from the heat. Stir in vanilla extract.
Working quickly, dip the apples in the hot sugar mixture to evenly coat and place on the prepared cookie sheet to harden. Repeat with remaining apples.
Once apples have hardened they are ready to enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Can I make these candy apples a different color?

Yes, you can make the color of your candy coating whatever you’d like by simply swapping out the color of gel icing you use. Purple, orange, or lime green would look great!

How do I store candy apples?

These candy apples are best consumed the day they are made. Moisture will begin to build up inside and the candy apples will no longer have the same desirable texture. Refrigerating the apples will cause moisture build-up, so we’d suggest placing the candy apples in an air-tight container at room temperature until you’re ready to serve. If you want to make them in advance, do so the night before or the morning of.

Black Halloween Caramel Apple with a bite out of it

Serving Suggestions

These glossy black Halloween candy apples make awesome party favors for your guests. Wrap them in cellophane baggies tied with Halloween-themed ribbon. Keep your candy apples at room temperature as the moisture from the refrigerator can cause them to become sticky – the same goes for an overly humid environment.

Don’t want to use natural branches for your candy apples? Try these caramel apple branch sticks for the same look, or regular candy apple skewers. Sprinkle on some edible glitter if you’d like more pizzazz!

More Halloween Recipes

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This post was originally published here on September 25, 2021.