Candy apples are a classic fall treat that can be found at carnivals, fairs, and Halloween parties across the country. Their shiny, crisp coating and sweet, tart apple make them an irresistible snack. While candy apples may seem simple, making them requires some specific ingredients and techniques to achieve that perfect, hardened candy shell. One of the key ingredients is food coloring, which gives the candy coating its vibrant hue. But with so many food coloring options on the market, how do you know which one is best for candy apples?
What is Food Coloring?
Food coloring is a liquid, powder, or gel substance used to add color to food and drinks. The first synthetic food dyes were created in 1856 from coal tar. Today, artificial food dyes are made from petroleum products. The most commonly used dyes are Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, and Green No. 3.
Food coloring comes in various forms:
- Liquid food coloring – Made of dyes dissolved in water or glycerin. Provides the deepest, most vibrant colors.
- Gel food coloring – Contains dyes suspended in edible oils. Produces rich colors and easier to mix compared to liquid.
- Powdered food coloring – Dye powder needs to be dissolved in liquid before use. Most concentrated form of coloring.
- Paste food coloring – Features dyes mixed into a base of glycerin and oils. Deeper colors than liquid with more flexibility.
- Natural food coloring – Made from vegetable juices, spices, fruits, and other edible natural sources. Tend to have less vibrant hues.
For candy apples, liquid and gel food colorings are the most commonly used to get that bright, intense shade.
Key Factors in Choosing Food Coloring
When selecting food coloring for candy apples, there are a few key factors to consider:
1. Desired Color
The first decision is which color you want the candy apples to be. Red, green, yellow, orange, purple, black – the options are endless! Brighter, bolder candy apple colors will stand out the most. Keep in mind that food coloring can mix to create different hues, like red and yellow making orange.
2. Consistency
Candy apple coating is thick, so you need a food coloring that will easily incorporate into the hot sugar syrup. Liquid and gel food colorings are best for even distribution and avoiding streaks of color. Powdered and paste food colorings may make it harder to achieve a uniform color.
3. Concentration of Color
For rich, vibrant candy apple color, you want to use a highly concentrated food dye. Look for food colorings advertised as extra strength or super concentrated. More diluted food dyes may lead to a paler hue. Gel food colorings offer very concentrated color in just a small amount.
4. Amount Needed
Consider how much candy apple coating you are making and adjust the amount of food coloring accordingly. A standard guideline is to use about 1 teaspoon of liquid food coloring per cup of sugar syrup. Scale up or down as needed. You may also need more food coloring for darker colors.
5. Type of Candy Apple Coating
There are a few different ways to make the coating: a basic sugar syrup, a sugar syrup with corn syrup added, or melted caramels. The coating type impacts how much food coloring is needed. Adding corn syrup or caramel will dilute the color, so you’ll need more dye for the same brightness.
Recommended Food Colorings for Candy Apples
Based on the above factors, here are the best food colorings to use for candy apples:
1. Liquid Food Coloring
Liquid food dye allows for perfect mixing into the candy apple coating. Go with super concentrated, extra strength liquid colors. Popular brands like McCormick and Wilton work great.
2. Gel Food Coloring
Gel food colorings offer extreme intensity and vibrancy. A little goes a long way! Americolor and Chefmaster are reliable gel dye brands.
3. Food Coloring Paste
Paste food dyes provide concentrated color that incorporates well into candy coatings. Chefmaster, AmeriColor, and Wilton all make coloring pastes ideal for candy apples.
4. Natural Food Coloring
To avoid artificial dyes, use natural options made from fruits, veggies, spices. Just be aware the colors won’t be as bright.
5. Powdered Food Coloring
Powdered dyes work but dissolving the powder thoroughly into the coating can be tricky. Brands like Wilton sell fun rainbow candy apple powder.
6. Food Coloring Marker Pens
Add fine details and designs to candy apples with food coloring markers. Americolor offers variety color marker sets perfect for decorating.
Tips for Coloring Candy Apples
To get the best results when adding food coloring to candy apples, follow these helpful tips:
- Always add coloring when the sugar syrup is still hot to allow even mixing.
- When using gel or paste dyes, mix a small amount into hot water first to thin out before adding to coating.
- Start with less coloring first, you can always add more to reach the desired shade.
- Avoid boiling the coating once coloring is added to prevent fading.
- To mute bright colors, add a small amount of chocolate or cocoa powder to the coating.
- For speckled candy apples, sprinkle food coloring powder over coated apples.
- Wear gloves when handling dyed coating to prevent stained hands.
How Much Food Coloring Do You Need?
The amount of food coloring needed for candy apples depends on the:
- Type and intensity of dye (liquid, gel, paste, powder)
- Volume of coating being colored
- Desired shade
- Already added ingredients diluting the color like corn syrup or caramel
As a general guideline, here is how much food coloring you need for different quantities of candy apple coating:
| Coating Amount | Food Coloring Amount |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 1 teaspoon |
| 2 cups | 2 teaspoons |
| 4 cups (1 quart) | 1 tablespoon |
| 8 cups (2 quarts) | 2 tablespoons |
| 16 cups (4 quarts) | 1/4 cup |
Start with less coloring and add more as needed to achieve your preferred candy apple color.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common candy apple coloring questions:
What food coloring works best for red candy apples?
For classic bright red candy apples, use red gel or liquid food coloring. Super concentrated dyes produce the deepest red hue.
Can you use natural food coloring for candy apples?
Yes, you can use beet juice, paprika, turmeric, or berry juices for natural candy apple dyes. The colors just won’t be quite as vivid.
What food coloring makes black candy apples?
Mix blue, red, and green food dye to create a deep black candy apple coating. You can also use black gel food coloring.
How do you make multi-colored candy apples?
Use strips of wax paper to divide the apple and brush different food coloring dyes onto sections of the apple before coating in sugar syrup.
Can food coloring change the candy apple coating texture?
As long as you don’t exceed the recommended amounts, food dye should not alter the coating texture or consistency.
Conclusion
Vibrant, colorful candy apples are a classic seasonal delight. Choosing the right food dye is key to achieving beautiful, richly hued candy coatings. For best results, go with concentrated liquid or gel food colorings that incorporate evenly into the hot sugar syrup. Allow enough time for the dyes to fully distribute and the coating to harden properly before enjoying these sweet Halloween treats. With the proper preparation using quality coloring, your candy apples will have everyone’s mouths watering!