Caramel apple
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2017) |
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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, sometimes nuts |
Caramel apples or toffee apples are whole apples covered in a layer of caramel. They are created by dipping or rolling apples-on-a-stick in hot caramel, sometimes then rolling them in nuts 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 a taffy apple.[1]
Production
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For high-volume production of caramel apples, a sheet of caramel 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 like corn syrup, brown sugar, butter, and vanilla. Homemade caramel generally results in a softer, creamier coating.
In recent years, it has become increasingly popular to decorate caramel apples for holidays like Halloween. Methods used to do this include applying sugar or salt to softened caramel, dipping cooled, hardened apples in white or milk chocolate, or painting designs onto finished caramel apples with white chocolate colored with food coloring.[2]
Classically, the preferred apples for use in caramel apples are tart-tasting apples with a crisp texture such as Granny Smith.
History
[edit]
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]
See also
[edit]
- Candy apple (also known as a "toffee apple" outside North America)
- Caramel Apple Pops
- List of apple dishes
References
[edit]- ^ "The History of Caramel and Candy Apples". Gold Medal Products Co. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ "How to Make Candy Apples Any Color". Rosebakes. 18 October 2022.
- ^ "Foods of England - Toffee Apples". 2022-02-15. Archived from the original on 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ Jones, Joann (14 February 2015). "Nearby History: Sweet memories of Hunter's Candy sugarcoat our nearby history". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ "Hunter's Candy Store. Moscow, Idaho". University of Idaho Library. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ "History of Affy Tapple". www.affytapple.com. Archived from the original on 2019-05-20. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
- ^ "The History of Caramel and Candy Apples". Gold Medal Products Co. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
External links
[edit]- "Caramel Apples Recipe". allrecipes.com.
