how not to make candy apples, or: those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it

Many of you have, by now, read about our candy-apple making foray in the past. Some of you may have only clicked and wet yourself reading about it last week. Suffice to say, in one way or another, Middle and I seem to screw up some part of this relatively easy process each time we attempt it.

I was very careful this year. I chose apples that were medium sized so that they would be easier to bite into, I washed and dried them thoroughly, I set out all of the necessary ingredients long before they were needed and I put a Silpat down on the counter in readiness.

I read the recipe. We deliberated several different pot/bowl/boiler combinations in search of the perfect contraption for boiling the sugar. We had additional boiling water standing by in the event that the water under the double boiler boiled off. We even had enough sticks to ensure that each member of the household would have an apple.

And, lo, the process did begin.
Sugar and corn syrup were combined and placed in the top of the double boiler.
It was stirred gently to combine as the water underneath it came slowly up to boiling.
290 degrees was the temperature we sought for the sugar mixture.
290 was very very slow in arriving.
We laughed.
I cleaned the kitchen.
He filmed the process.
What seemed like hours (but was really about 45 minutes) passed. I had already switched out the bottom pot for a smaller one for better contact between boiling water below and sugar above.
We waited longer.
And then it occurred to me that, perhaps, we could just put the sugar mixture pot directly onto the fire. A novel idea!
I double-checked the recipe. Was a double boiler called for?
NO.
We were supposed to place the pan of sugar directly over the heat!
And, so, with this new configuration of sugar and fire? We were done in about 8 minutes.
I did a very professional job dipping the apples in the molten sugar...I placed them gently on the Silpat. They did not stick and cooled quickly AND THEY TASTE PRETTY DAMN GOOD.




I have made a notation in the cookbook.