12 small red eating apples
12 wooden skewers

SYRUP:

3 cups sugar
3/4 cup light corn syrup (Karo)
1 cup water
few drops oil of cloves
12 red cinnamon candies (or red food coloring)

Wash apples in hot water and dry. Insert a skewer in blossom end of each apple. Set aside.

In a saucepan mix sugar, corn syrup, and water. Cook over direct heat, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Add oil of cloves and cinnamon candies or little coloring. Continue cooking, without stirring, until a small amount of mixture forms a hard piece that cracks when dropped into cold water (290°F on a candy thermometer).

Set pan over boiling water. Dip each apple into syrup, remove, and whirl apple until syrup covers it smoothly. Stand apples, skewer side up, on tray or plate to cool and harden.

Note: Use of a candy thermometer is recommended.

Makes 12 candy apples.

Submitted by: Julie Nunez