I live in the state of Washington where, as everyone knows, apples make up a big part of our economy. Yet, in this part of the country, caramel apples dominate to the point that I could count the number of times I’ve seen the hot-cinnamon candy apples sold on one hand. This made me wonder if cinnamon candy apples are more common the further you go east and caramel apples less common. So, I’m curious, which one of these coated apple treats do you see more often in your region?
(BTW, as for personal preference, I like both kinds.)
Caramel Apples aka Taffy Apples (or Affy Tapples) are common here (I live about 30 minutes outside Chicago).
I’ve never seen a cinnamon-candy-apple. I’ve never heard of a cinnamon-candy-apple; we always thought “candy apple” was another name for “caramel apple”, just like “taffy apple” was. At least “caramel” is a type of candy, so “candy apple” made more sense than “taffy apple” since there was no taffy involved.
I’m from upstate New York, a land full of apple orchards (in fact, there were two very nice ones just up the road from me). I’ve never in my life seen a “candy apple” as you describe it; in fact, I’ve always used “candy apple” and “caramel apple” interchangably. I truly believed up until the time I opened this thread that a candy apple was an apple dipped in candy, which could and usually did include caramel.
Indiana reporting that the cinnamon-candy apples have been seen, but not commonly. In the fall, one finds apples dipped in caramel and then rolled in chopped peanuts.
Aesiron, you are my hero! I haven’t seen a candy apple for ages, and when I went looking for a recipe a few years ago I couldn’t find one. The only thing they sell around here are caramel apples (Affy Tapples being the popular brand name) and I don’t like them nearly as well as candy apples. My kids have never seen anything but caramel apples. I’ll have to remedy that post-haste. Thank you.
At the Farmers markets around here, I’ve seen them covered in darn near all kinds of confections, not just caramel. I never hear anyone call them candy apples, though.
Strange, since I’ve lived in uspstate NY all my life and have had the opposite experience. I’ve gone to fairs every year since I was a toddler, but only saw a caramel apple for the first time four years ago at the age of eighteen.
The most common time I see either is when I go to the NC State fair. Most of the places selling them have both the candy apples (the teeth-breaking abominations) and the caramel kind.
Personally, I go for the caramel ones — even better if they’ve been rolled in mini m&m’s as well.
I see both candy and caramel apples here, especially now since the State Fair is running, and with Fall coming, they’ll be in the stores and at garden centers.
There’s a great cider mill near me that sells all kinds of apple products (apples crisp, pies, whatever) and fancy caramel apples are big sellers.
The caramel apples definitely outnumber the candy apples. I always see them with just plain caramel and with caramel and nuts, or with some fancy swirly caramel and chocolate coating.
When I was a kid, candy apples were much more common. I prefer caramel apples (rolled in chocolate chips or nuts. ) They are a lot easier to eat than the candy variety. The candy coating is just so hard…to bite and to chew.
Got them both here in NYC, although I believe the candy ones are more common. There used to be this place in Coney Island right under the train that sold candy apples, carmel apples and frozen chocolate covered bananas.
P.S. Candy apples have cinnamon in 'em? Or is there a third kind of coated apple we’re talking about here?
) They are a lot easier to eat than the candy variety. The candy coating is just so hard…to bite and to chew.