Last updated on September 21st, 2022 at 03:03 pm
These black candy apples will tickle your sense of whimsy. Whether you call them candy apples or toffee apples, these black beauties are ready to cast a sweet spell on All Hallow's Eve.
For something less dark and ghoulish, try my vegan pumpkin cupcakes.
This recipe was originally posted on October 16, 2017 and was updated on October 5, 2021 with process images, ingredient advice and recipe tips.
Why We Love These Black Candy Apples
Look at them! These apples are so shiny and dark and perfect for Halloween. What's not to love?!
They are also:
Surprisingly easy to make.
Cheap! - we're talking apples, sugar, vinegar, and a few other ingredients. Use food colouring for a cheaper option.
Naturally gluten-free
They can be made a day ahead - while they won't keep for a long time, it is an apple after-all, you can make candy apples a day or two ahead and store them wrapped in cellophane or in a sealed container.
What You'll Need | Ingredients & Equipment
To make these Halloween toffee apples you are going to need a candy thermometer, a clean pastry brush, a small bowl of water and a heavy based pot.
Apples: I learned a few things in the days standing over my cauldron testing these little treats. Granny Smith Apples work best for toffee apples; I've found the toffee puckers and bubbles with other varieties and while they taste fine, they don't look the part. We want smooth and devilishly inviting poison apples, don't we? Make sure to wash and dry the apples really well.
Sugar: Use either raw or regular caster sugar which is available in all supermarkets.
Cream of Tartare: Adding cream of tartare when making candy helps prevent sugar crystals forming.
Charcoal: I use activated charcoal made from coconut in this recipe.
Activated charcoal may render certain medications ineffective.
You can also use a half teaspoon of black food colouring.
White vinegar: Vinegar helps create a thinner, crisper candy shell.
How to Make Black Toffee Apples
You'll find full instructions and measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Warning: Please be careful when making toffee apples and working with boiling sugar. Needless to say, this is a not a kid friendly activity but they will love these scarily beautiful, dark Halloween candy apples after they are cooled.
These black beauties are ready in around thirty minutes and I think are the perfect amount of spooky. I foraged in our garden for sticks to complete the effect but you can use regular wooden popsicle sticks.
A few poisonous plant varieties you Do Not want to use for your twigs are Oleander, Laurel, Rhododendron, Horsechestnut, Buckeye, Yew, Azalea, Cherry, Elderberry and Black Locust. If you are not sure, stick with popsicle sticks.
Step 1: Clean and dry the apples really well before removing the stem and pushing in a food safe stick or popsicle stick.
I found a nifty video showing how to remove wax from apples from Art Is In Cakes.
Step 2: Combine the toffee ingredients in to a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat and, stirring occasionally, bring the mixture up to a boil.
Once boiling, pop the candy thermometer in to the pan (securely) and continue to boil until cracking point - 150°C or 300°F. During this process you'll also want to brush any crystals that form near the sides of the pot with a wet pastry brush. Reduce the heat to low or remove from the heat.
Step 3: Wait for the candy to stop bubbling. To dip the apples, carefully tip the pan to one side and dip one side of the apple into the mixture and rotate it until it is covered. Lift the apple over the pot to allow any excess to drip off before placing the it on the baking paper to cool and harden.
And that, my friends, is it. Ah, whimsy. I do love you. Enjoy, x.
Tips For Making Perfect Toffee Apples
- Buy organic or unwaxed apples if you can. Wax is a devil for causing bubbles in the finished candy coating.
- Wash and dry the apples really well. Water is another cause of bubbles in candy apples.
- Keep a close eye on the boiling sugar. Some stove tops heat faster than others. Always use the candy thermometer and watch it closely. Fight the temptation to check Facebook, Instagram or any other face numbing social media.
- Bring the lined baking tray as close to the pan as you can when dipping to reduce the risk of burning yourself.
- Wait for the candy to stop bubbling before dipping the apples to help prevent bubbles forming in your candy.
- I find the dipping process far easier with the heat under the toffee pan turned to low instead of turned off completely. You have to be super careful, but the heat keeps the toffee thin while if you remove it from the heat, the toffee begins to thicken making it hard work. The black toffee cracks perfectly revealing a juicy green Granny Smith that is wonderfully spooky like a witch's boot.
Recipe FAQ's
Yup! Toffee apples and candy apples are the same thing. Both candy and toffee apples have a thin, crisp candy coating while caramel apples are coating in, you guessed it, caramel.
You can use pretty much any apple for toffee apples but Granny Smith are a favourite universally. They are a robust apple with a great contrasting green colour.
The hard candy coating on the outside of the candy apples will last a good while, but the apple itself won't because air gets in where the stick is inserted.
Candy apples can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Alternatively, they can also be stored in the refrigerator wrapped and secured in cellophane.
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Black Candy Apples
Equipment
- candy thermometer
- a wet pastry brush
- popsicle sticks
Ingredients
- 8 Granny Smith Apples washed with a wet cloth and dried thoroughly
For the Toffee
- 2 cups raw caster sugar or regular caster sugar
- ½ cup boiling water
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon food grade activated charcoal powder or ½ teaspoon of black food colour
Instructions
- Line a baking tray with grease proof paper.
- Insert a stick in to each apple at the top (the part that was attached to the tree)
- Place all the toffee ingredients in a medium sized, heavy based saucepan and put over low to medium heat.
- While stirring, bring the toffee slowly to a boil allowing the sugar to melt completely.
- When the toffee comes to the boil, stop stirring and allow the mixture to bubble away until it reaches 150 degrees C (cracking point). This can take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes. Use the wet pastry brush to wipe away any crystallisation from the sides of the pan. If you don't have a candy thermometer, drop a small dollop of toffee in a cup of cold water. If the toffee is ready, it will harden and need to crack to be broken. Remove the thermometer for the next step.
- When the toffee is ready, turn the heat to low and very carefully tip the pot on an angle. Holding the apple by the stick, gently swirl the apple in the toffee. When it is coated, hold it above the toffee to drip before placing it back on the lined tray to harden.
- Repeat with the remaining apples.
- Leave the apples for around ten minutes to completely set before placing in cellophane bags or simply serve.
- Serve straight away or store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Buy organic or unwaxed apples if you can. Wax is a culprit for causing bubbles in the finished candy coating.
- Wash and dry the apples really well. Water is another cause of bubbles in candy apples.
- Keep a close eye on the boiling sugar. Some stove tops heat faster than others. Always use the candy thermometer and watch it closely. Fight the temptation to check Facebook, Instagram or any other face numbing social media.
- Bring the lined baking tray as close to the pan as you can when dipping to reduce the risk of burning yourself.
- Wait for the candy to stop bubbling before dipping the apples to help prevent bubbles forming in your candy.
- I find the dipping process far easier with the heat under the toffee pan turned to low instead of turned off completely. You have to be super careful, but the heat keeps the toffee thin while if you remove it from the heat, the toffee begins to thicken making it hard work. The black toffee cracks perfectly revealing a juicy green Granny Smith that is wonderfully spooky like a witch's boot.
Shilpi & Etienne says
Such a great recipe for Halloween! I don't think I have ever had toffee apples so will definitely be making these soon! Love that you skipped using artificial food colouring and instead have used activated charcoal!
Sylvie says
How gorgeous are they!? Love that you use activated charcoal instead of food colouring
Amanda says
Thanks so much Sylvie. I really enjoyed playing with the charcoal - I use it in my black brioche burgers buns too. So fun.
SARAH says
These are evoking all sorts of Snow White images for me! The kids will adore these for Halloween, so much fun!
Leatrix Turner says
made them per your recipe and they turned out perfect, thank you!
Amanda says
That's so great! I am so glad. Thanks for letting me know Leatrix (what a fantastic name, by the way). 🙂
Jules says
Can I use raw cane sugar? Never heard of caster sugar. Did you use regular branches as sticks?
Amanda says
Hi Jules,
Caster sugar is fine sugar but you could use a regular sugar (maybe not a chunky brown sugar though) it will just take a little longer for it to dissolve. The only thing to make sure with the twigs is that they are food-safe and they don't come from poisonous trees. A few poisonous plant varieties you DO NOT want to us are Oleander, Laurel, Rhododendron, Horsechestnut, Buckeye, Yew, Azalea, Cherry, Elderberry and Black Locust. I used branches from a large Lilly Pilly in my garden - we don't spray with any pesticides- but that is an Australian tree. If you are not sure, go with good old store-bought sticks and decorate them. 🙂 A.
Gloriana says
What brand of activated charcoal did you use? Thanks!
Amanda says
Hi Gloriana,
I used Pure Eden activated charcoal and it worked a treat! A.
Pete says
Wow. I made these and they turned out exactly the same as the pictures. Thank you!
Michelle | The Last Food Blog says
These are so devilishly beautiful! I love that they are so dark and glossy! Your daughter is obviously a genius, that is the perfect halloween costume. My daughter on the other hand really wants to go as slender man, so I'm starting to worry just a little bit 😉 x
Amanda says
Who or what is "slender man"?! xx 🙂