Halloween Poison Apples

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20 minutes

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These Halloween poison apples give the popular fall candy apple treat a fun and spooky Halloween makeover. With their shiny black candy coating, these apples will be the star of any party!

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Poison apples on paper ready to eat

Candy apples are a classic fall treat and we love the shiny and sweet candy coating covering a tart and crunchy Granny Smith apple. And though they’re typically a bright red color, this black version is so much fun, and perfect for Halloween!

The best part is that these Halloween poison apples are just as easy to make as the traditional version. You’ll boil a mixture of sugar, water, and corn syrup until it forms a thick candy coating. Then just use black food coloring to get the striking inky black color and dip your apples!

Try these festive treats next time you need a showstopping Halloween dessert! Serve them alongside these Caramel Apple Cake Pops, Hocus Pocus Spellbook Brownies or as part of a fun Halloween Charcuterie Board idea!

Poison apples shot from above

Why We Love This Recipe

Perfect for Halloween – The striking spooky black color of these poison candy apples guarantees that they’ll be the star of your Halloween party.

Great for Kids – Candy apples are always a huge hit with kids, so these are perfect for a children’s party or classroom event. You can even turn this into a red candied apple for a Snow White or princess themed birthday party too.

Inexpensive – This Halloween recipe is made with inexpensive ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry. That means that you won’t have to spend a lot of money to make these treats.

Fun For Gifting – Ideal for any fall party, these would also make a fun gift or party favor when individually wrapped in cellophane.

Ingredients

Ingredients for poison apples
  • Granny Smith apples
  • White granulated sugar
  • Corn syrup
  • Water
  • Black gel food coloring
  • Salt
  • Vanilla extract

How to Make Poison Apples

Step 1: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Place the sugar, water, and corn syrup in a saucepan.

Sugar and corn syrup in saucepan

Step 2: Add the black food dye. Stir until completely blended.

Black dye added to corn syrup mixture

Step 3: Heat over medium-high and stir the mixture to combine.

Step 4: Place the candy thermometer in the pan. Continue heating until mixture reaches 290° Fahrenheit (about 8-10 minutes).

Measuring temperature of candy for the candied apples

Step 5: Wash the apples and remove the stems. Dry with a paper towel, then push a wooden stick all the way down into the center of each apple.

Step 6: Once the candy coating reaches 290° Fahrenheit, remove it from the heat. Add the salt and vanilla extract and stir.

Step 7: Dip each apple into the saucepan. Swirl a couple times to get a thick,
dark black coating. Lift and let the excess drip off.

Dipping apple into black syrup mixture

Step 8: Place the apple on the parchment covered baking sheet then repeat with the rest of the apples and let them cool until hardened.

Candy apples setting to let candy harden

Tips & Tricks

  • If you want a bubbly look, dip the apples into the candy mixture while you still see bubbles after you remove it from the heat. For a smooth candy coating, remove the candy from the heat and stir until all the bubbles have disappeared before dipping the apples.
  • Decorate these treats with Halloween sprinkles or candy eyeballs or try adding a gummy worm for a cute and festive touch.
  • Work quickly when dipping the apples, as the candy coating hardens quickly. If it does start to harden, you can put it back on the heat and stir until it softens up.
Poison apples on white

Are Caramel Apples The Same As Candy Apples

No, candy apples and caramel apples have two different types of coating. These are made from sugar and corn syrup, which gives them a hard candy layer. Regular caramel apples are usually made with brown sugar and heavy cream, which gives them a softer, more chewy texture.

How Do I Store Candy Apples?

Store your apples in the fridge in an airtight container separated by wax paper. They should keep for 7-10 days.

Can I Use a Different Kind of Apple?

Sure – you can use any kind of apple you prefer. However, I think the tart varieties like Granny Smith provide a nice contrast to the sweetness of the candy coating.

Candied apples waiting to dry

More Fun Halloween Treats

Halloween candy apple
Poison apples square
4.80 from 5 votes

Halloween Poison Apples


Course Desserts & Sweets
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
These Halloween Poison Apples, with their shiny black candy coating, give everyone's favorite fall treat a fun and spooky Halloween makeover.

Equipment

Ingredients
 

Instructions

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Place the sugar, water, and corn syrup in a saucepan.
    3 cups white granulated sugar, 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons water, ¾ cup corn syrup
  • Add the black food dye.
    black food coloring
  • Heat over medium-high and stir the mixture to combine.
  • Place the candy thermometer in the pan and continue heating until the mixture reaches 290° Fahrenheit (about 8-10 minutes).
  • Wash the apples and remove the stems. Dry with a paper towel, then push a wooden stick all the way down into the center of each apple.
    6 Granny Smith Apples
  • Once the candy coating reaches 290° Fahrenheit, remove it from the heat. Add the salt and vanilla extract and stir.
    ¾ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Dip each apple into the saucepan. Swirl a couple times to get a thick, dark black coating. Lift and let the excess drip off.
  • Place the apple on the parchment covered baking sheet then repeat with the rest of the apples and let them cool until hardened.

Notes

Work quickly when dipping the apples, as the candy coating hardens quickly. If it does start to harden, you can put it back on the heat and stir until it softens up.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 602kcal | Carbohydrates: 158g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 320mg | Potassium: 198mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 152g | Vitamin A: 98IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.3mg
The nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used.

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    4.80 from 5 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    4 Comments

    1. In addition to the above, core the apple, but do not go all the way threw the apple, place up to 3 gummy worms in the center. Then coat as directed.

      1. That’s a really fun idea! Thank you for sharing!

    2. Mary Wahsise says:

      Very excited to try out your recipes hope you send them to me thank you

      1. Hi Mary, if you use the search bar at the top, you should be able to find any recipe you need. You can also feel free to sign up for my email list to have different recipes sent to you each week. 🙂

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