According to one source, American William W. Kolb invented the red candy apple.
Kolb, a veteran Newark candy-maker, produced his first batch of candied apples in 1908. While experimenting in his candy shop with red cinnamon candy for the Christmas trade, he dipped some apples into the mixture and put them in the windows for display. He sold the whole first batch for 5 cents each and later sold thousands yearly. Soon candied apples were being sold along the Jersey Shore, at the circus and in candy shops across the country, according to the Newark News in 1948.[2]
However, toffee apples had previously been recorded as being sold in London in the 1890s.[3]
Ingredients and method
Candy apples are made by coating an apple with a layer of sugar that has been heated to hard crack stage.[4][unreliable source?] The most common sugar coating is made from sugar (white or brown), corn syrup, water, cinnamon and red food coloring. Humid weather can prevent the sugar from hardening.[5]
Regional traditions
Australia – the Granny Smith variety of apple is considered ideal for toffee apples.[6]
Brazil – candy apples (named as in other Lusophone countries maçã do amor, as in the Frenchpommes d'amour, meaning "apples of love") are common in the festivities in honor of John the Apostle.
Mainland China – a similar treat called Tanghulu is made by coating small fruits, traditionally hawthorns with hard sugar syrup.
South Africa - toffee apples are mostly available at supermarkets such as Checkers and Spar. They are also very popular throughout apple season. Mostly dipped in red or green coloured sugar syrup.
^ThisisSouthDevon (October 9, 2008). "Apples galore as event grows". Torquay Herald Express. Torquay, Devon, UK: localworld.co.uk. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
^Newark Sunday News, November 28, 1948, pg.16. The first candy apples brand was named after Kolb's wife Chelle's. Nowadays, Chelle's Candy Apples is known candy apples, hard candy and other sweet treats. Newark Evening News, June 8, 1964, pg. 32
^"Toffee Apples". The Foods of England Project. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
^Flickety; et al. "How to make Toffee Apples". WikiHow. Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
^"Caramel Apples vs. Candy Apples. Tart Green Granny Smith apples work very well for making candy apples". St. Petersburg Times. October 24, 2001. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
^"Designer Toffee Apples". Designer Toffee Apples. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
^Celeste Heiter; Things Asian Press (November 1, 2009). To Japan with Love: A Travel Guide for the Connoisseur. ThingsAsian Press. pp. 127–. ISBN 978-1-934159-05-7. Retrieved November 11, 2011.