Jolly Rancher Glittery Candy Apples Recipe
Make Jolly Rancher Glittery Candy Apples Recipe for dazzling, crunchy party-ready treats in under an hour.
Ingredients
- 100-150 pieces Jolly Rancher candies (1.3 pound bag)
- 6 Granny Smith apples (small to medium)
- 1/4 tsp. edible glitter
Instructions
Step 1: Blanch and Dry the Apples
Bring a wide pot of water to a rolling boil and, one at a time, lower a single apple for a quick three-second blanch. Remove each apple to a clean towel and let it cool briefly; then use a second towel to thoroughly dry every apple until the skin is completely free of moisture and wax. This short blanching helps the candy adhere and gives the skin a slightly matte, tacky surface that lets the glaze cling.
Step 2: Skewer the Apples
Carefully push a wooden skewer into the top of each fully dry apple until it feels secure, so the apple sits balanced on the stick. The skewers should be set straight and centered — they'll act as the handling axis during dipping and will remain visible in the final presentation.
Step 3: Preheat and Prepare for Melting
Preheat the oven to 350˚F / 177˚C and set out a deep oven-proof saucepan or small deep pan on a heat-proof trivet on your counter. Arrange a silicone baking sheet or parchment-lined baking pan nearby for cooling dipped apples. Have an oven mitt and a small heat-proof spoon on hand for moving the hot pan and stirring.
Step 4: Sort and Unwrap the Candies
Sort the Jolly Rancher candies into color piles on small bowls or shallow ceramic dishes, removing all wrappers. Aim for about 50 candies per color batch (roughly 1 small/medium apple per 16–17 candies, so ~50 candies will coat three apples), combining similar tones if needed so each batch melts to a vivid, uniform color.
Step 5: Melt the Candies
Place a single color pile (about 50 unwrapped candies) into the oven-safe pan and slide it into the preheated oven until the candies fully melt into a glossy, viscous pool, watching for a smooth, even liquid with no solid crystals — this usually takes 10–12 minutes. Use the oven mitt to bring the hot pan out and set it on the heat-proof surface so the melted candy stays contained and viscous.
Step 6: Add Glitter and Re-melt
Sprinkle the measured edible glitter into the molten candy and stir briefly so the glitter disperses, then return the pan briefly to the oven just long enough to re-fluidize and smooth the surface. When the candy reads as a thick, glossy, pourable syrup with suspended sparkle, remove it and tilt the pan so the colored candy pools at the bottom and forms a reflective, viscous well.
Step 7: Dip and Twirl Each Apple
Hold an apple by its skewer and carefully lower it into the pool of melted candy, then slowly twirl and rotate the apple so the viscous coating wraps evenly around the curvature. Lift the apple straight up and let excess candy drip in long, glossy strings back into the pan; the twirling motion creates a glassy, streaked shell.
Step 8: Set on a Lined Tray to Cure
Gently place each freshly dipped apple onto the prepared silicone baking sheet or parchment-lined pan, spacing them so drips can set without fusing. The candy shell will cool and harden into a glossy, translucent coating with the glitter suspended just beneath the surface.
Step 9: Repeat for Remaining Colors
Repeat the melt, glitter, dip cycle for the remaining color batches, keeping tools consistent (same pan, same oven mitt, same heat-proof surface) so each apple gets a uniform, mirror-like candy shell in its chosen hue.
Step 10: Allow Candy to Firm Slightly
Let the coated apples rest at room temperature on the lined tray for a few minutes so the candy finishes cooking and firms to a crisp, glassy shell. They are best eaten soon after the coating sets, when the exterior is firm and the inside remains crisp and tart.
Step 11: Final Touches
If desired, inspect each apple for stray strings of cooled candy and, using a small knife or offset spatula resting on the tray, trim any excessive drips to tidy the base so the apples sit evenly on a serving plate.
Step 12: Plate and Serve
Arrange three glittery candy apples on a simple white plate, skewers up, each showcasing its vivid, glossy candy shell (red, turquoise-to-light-green gradient, and bright green). Serve immediately while the outer coating is brilliantly reflective and the edible glitter catches the light.
Notes
- Remove all candy wrappers before melting to avoid hazards.
- Dry apples thoroughly to ensure candy adheres and stays glossy.
- Use food-grade edible glitter labeled safe for consumption.
- Work in small candy batches to maintain a glossy melt consistency.
- Keep a heat-proof surface and oven mitt handy when handling hot pans.