HOW TO MAKE THE BEST CANDY APPLES RECIPES

Steps:

• Place the softened butter and sugar in a large bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer). With a hand mixer (or stand mixer with a paddle attachment) on medium speed, beat until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla and peppermint extract and mix well to combine. Add the flour 1 cup at a time, mixing on low to combine completely in between each addition. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed. Remove half of the dough from the bowl and form into a disc shape, about 1-inch thick. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour (or overnight). Place the red food coloring in the bowl with the remaining dough. Mix on low to incorporate the coloring into the dough fully (add more food coloring until you reach your desired shade of red). Remove the red dough from the bowl, knead it a few times on a clean surface to incorporate all of the coloring completely, and form into a disc shape, about 1-inch thick. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.  Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Unwrap both pieces of dough and pinch off 1/2-tablespoonful pieces of each color. With the palm of your hand, roll each dough ball on a clean surface into a 5-inch long rope. (It’s best to roll all of the white dough in one spot on your counter, and all of the red dough in another spot, so that the white pieces don’t pick up any red dough left on the surface.) Place the ropes side by side and twist, pinching the tops and bottoms to stick together. Carefully transfer to the sheet trays and form into a candy cane shape. Continue to roll, twist and form all of the cookies. (If the dough starts to get too sticky, or difficult to roll without breaking, re-wrap it in plastic wrap and pop it back in the fridge for 15 minutes to firm up again). Bakes the cookies 12 minutes, or just until the white dough looks lightly golden. If decorating with crushed candy canes, sprinkle as soon as they come out of the oven. Let cool completely on the baking sheets. Store in an air-tight container in a single layer, between sheets of parchment paper, for up to 1 week at room temperature.

Steps:

• Add the sugar, corn syrup and 1/2 cup water to a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir a few times before the sugar begins to boil to combine the ingredients. Attach a candy thermometer to the inside of the pan and bring the syrup to a boil. Cook until the syrup begins to turn an amber color, then swirl the syrup to even out the color. Continue to cook until the syrup is a deep amber and the thermometer reads between 375 and 380 degrees F, then remove from the heat. Carefully pour in the cream and gently whisk to combine. Stir in the butter, vanilla and a pinch of salt until smooth. Keep off the heat but keep the thermometer attached to the pan.
• Pierce the apples through the stem ends about halfway through with candy apple sticks. Line a baking sheet with parchment and lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray.   
• When the temperature of the caramel reads around 190 degrees F, dip an apple, using the stick as a handle and swirling to coat completely. Allow excess caramel to drip off the bottom and use a spatula to help remove any large amount of caramel, as it will pool around the apple when you set it down to cool on the lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining apples, gently heating the caramel on the stovetop over low heat, stirring, if it gets too thick for dipping. Allow the caramel to set and cool completely before serving or wrapping apples, about 1 hour. (See Cook's Note.)