Ingredients

• 8  McIntosh or Jonathan apples
• 8  craft sticks
• 2  cups sugar
• 1/2  cup light-colored corn syrup
• 3/4  cup water
• 1/8  tsp. ground cinnamon
• 10  drops red food coloring

Directions

1. Cover a baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside. Wash and dry apples; remove stems. Press a craft stick into the bottom of each apple; set aside.

2. In a heavy medium saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup, and water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat stirring to dissolve sugar. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan. Reduce heat to medium and cook, without stirring, until thermometer registers 295 degrees F to 300 degrees F (hard crack stage*), about 30 minutes.

3. Remove from heat; stir in cinnamon and red food coloring. Dip each apple in mixture and coat well; let excess drain off. Transfer to waxed paper lined baking sheet to cool.** Best served same day they are prepared. Makes 8.

4.*If you don't have a candy thermometer, spoon a few drops of the hot candy mixture into a cup of cold (but not icy) water. At hard crack stage, the candy separates into hard, brittle threads that snap easily and cannot be formed into a ball.

5. ** If desired, arrange a few lollipop sticks 4 inches apart on buttered baking sheet. Drop left over candy syrup onto tops of sticks to make 2-inch rounds. (Do not spread; mixture will flow out.) Cool completely. Wrap each lollipop in plastic wrap and store at room temperature up to 2 weeks. Makes 6 to 10 lollipops.