Wonderland Food & Equipment - Blog

What Kind of Apple is Best for Candy Apples?

Ah, candy apples. Nature’s favourite way of tricking kids into eating fruit. Keeping this carnival classic in stock will make parents love you, however, using the wrong types of apples could result in something closer to candy apple sauce.

More than just ensuring structural integrity, candy apples need to be made with apple types that can flourish through the layers of candy, caramel and nuts with its own tartness or sweetness. With that in mind, here’s how to make candy apples with the right types of apples.

Best Candy Apple Types: Granny Smith, Fuji, Jazz, Gala

The gold standard of candy apple types, Granny Smiths combine firmness with the perfect level of tartness. Plus, they hold up very well under heavy toppings that are unwieldy to eat, but perfect for Instagram posts.

If you prefer to use red candy apples for that gorgeous red crimson sheen underneath the candy coating, you can’t go wrong with Fuji apples, which are also suitably firm and tart.

To capture that unparalleled crunch factor, Jazz apples are perfect for biting into. For a sweeter taste rather than tart, try Gala apples. Its taste will stay strong under the candy layer and toppings.

Best Caramel Apple Types: Jonagold, Pippins, Honeycrisps

Caramel apples are a bit of a different beast when it comes to apple types. Granny Smiths still work great, particularly for holding up under heavy toppings, but there are many other types of apples suitable for reimagining into delicious caramel apples.

For instance, Jonagold apples have the perfect balance between sweetness and sourness to accentuate the caramel topping. Pippin apples also work well for their crispness. The Honeycrisp apple, however, is a great all-rounder with sweetness, tartness, and firmness in good quantity. Plus, they store very well without losing their taste.

A good rule of thumb for making a good caramel apple is that if they work well for an apple pie, they’ll work well for a caramel apple.


If you’re still wondering how to make candy apples that’ll make your customers gush, check out our selection of candy and caramel apple supplies, including Mom’s Old Fashioned Caramel Apple Dip.