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Halloween: Jack-o'-Lantern Apples

Source of Recipe


Cooking with Paula Deen (September / October 2008)



List of Ingredients



• 10 to 12 small Fuji apples, stems removed
  
• 10 to 12 wooden craft sticks
  
• 2 cups sugar
  
• ¾ cup water
  
• ½ cup light corn syrup
  
• ¼ tsp orange food coloring
  
• 1 cup orange sanding sugar
  
• 2 licorice whips, cut into 1-inch pieces
  
• 36 licorice pieces, cut into small triangles
  
• 12 green gumdrops
  






Instructions



1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Insert one craft stick into the bottom end of each apple.
   
   
2. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, water, corn syrup, and food coloring. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook, without stirring, using a pastry brush to brush down sides of pan with warm water if sugar crystals begin to form, until mixture reaches 300° F on an instant-read thermometer. Remove pan from heat.
   
   
3. Working quickly, dip apples in hot syrup, allowing excess to drip from apple. Sprinkle with orange sugar. Quickly decorate apples with licorice to look like a jack-o'-lantern. Place apples on prepared baking sheet to set. Dip the flat end of gumdrops into hot syrup, and place on top of pumpkin to form a stem. Serve immediately.
   
   Makes about 10 to 12 apples.