Candied Apples

8 apples

8 wooden craft sticks

3 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

8 cinnamon red hot candies

1 teaspoon red food coloring

Directions

Carefully remove the stem from each apple. Insert a wooden craft stick in top of apple (where stem was).

Butter a baking sheet.

In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/2 cup water over MEDUIM heat. Using a candy thermometer, allow temperature to get to 275 - 290 degrees.

DO NOT STIR CANDY MIXTURE.

Test for doneness by dropping a small amount of syrup mixture into a cup of cold water. If syrup is hard, but can still be pulled into threads, it is done.

Remove syrup from heat and stir in red hot candies and food coloring, until just blended.

Dip each apple into syrup mixture and twirl quickly to coat. You can tilt the pan to make it easier to cover apples. Keep turning apple as you lift it out of the pan.

Set apples onto the baking sheet and let them cool completely.