DIY Projects: Toffee Apples

As it is feeling all autumnal outside I took the opportunity to indulge in a DIY project that I have wanted to try for a while, Toffee Apples.

The whole project was quiet easy to do, but do be sure to clear some room and have all your ingredients read along with some warm water and a cloth to clean away any sugar that splashes.

I was looking for rustic toffee apples, not your picture perfect coloured red candied apples that are often seen in Disney themed weddings.

Ingredients:

8 apples
400g caster sugar
1 tsp vinegar
4 tbsp golden syrup
Bowl and saucepan
Wooden skewer, lolly pop sticks
Baking tray and parchment paper
Sugar thermometer

Place the apples in a large bowl, then cover with just under boiling water so that all of the apples are submerged. This will remove the waxy coating and help the caramel to stick. Dry thoroughly and twist off any stalks. Push a wooden skewer or lolly stick into the stalk end of each apple.

Lay out a sheet of baking parchment and place the apples on this, close to your stovetop.

Tip the sugar into a pan along with 100ml water and set over a medium heat. Cook for 5 mins until the sugar dissolves, then stir in the vinegar and syrup. Set a sugar thermometer in the pan and boil to 150 or ‘hard crack’ stage as indicated on my sugar thermometer.

Working quickly and carefully, dip and twist each apple in the hot toffee until covered, let any excess drip away, then place on the baking parchment to harden. If the sugar starts to harden before you have finished all 8 then reheat.

I decided to have a play and tried out two different finishes, one the regular as it is and the second I sprayed the hardened apple with pearl edible lustre.