# Candy Apples and Caramel Apples: What Are More Common in Your Part of the U.S.? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 5, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163 "2004-09-05T00:38:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/1 "2004-09-05T00:38:05Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_27th\_Evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ebca7d/32.png) [@The\_27th\_Evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_27th_Evil)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/2 "2004-09-05T00:50:33Z")
I see the candy ones more often in Pennsylvania, which angers me because I adore caramel apples and hate candy ones. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/3 "2004-09-05T00:54:26Z")
I can’t really recall seeing either commonly. I do like the caramel ones better. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/4 "2004-09-05T01:03:14Z")
Growing up in Tennessee, caramel apples were more common but candy ones weren’t uncommon either. I’d say it was a 70/30 split. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/5 "2004-09-05T01:05:42Z")
Caramel Apples aka Taffy Apples (or [Affy Tapples](http://www.affytapple.com/)) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/6 "2004-09-05T01:08:49Z")
You can see both kinds here in Kansas, especially at fairs, but I think caramel are way more common. I prefer them. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/7 "2004-09-05T01:13:28Z")
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. Now I’m confused. I’ve never heard of Affy Taffles, though. ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/8 "2004-09-05T01:45:12Z")
We don’t have cinnamon candy apples here in West Virginia, and I never saw them while growing up in Kentucky either. Hot cinnamon candy apples sounds like a food abomination if ya ask me. Probably something only Yankees eat … ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/9 "2004-09-05T01:54:37Z")
[Candy Apple](http://www.ljcfyi.com/ljcsProjects/cooking/candyApple_oneDone.jpg) They’re kind of hard shelled but crunchy, chewy, and sticky too. I like them about as much as I like caramel apples. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/10 "2004-09-05T02:00:58Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > [Candy Apple](http://www.ljcfyi.com/ljcsProjects/cooking/candyApple_oneDone.jpg) > > They’re kind of hard shelled but crunchy, chewy, and sticky too. I like them about as much as I like caramel apples. [Recipe](http://www.recipeladies.com/files/candyapples.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/11 "2004-09-05T02:55:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/12 "2004-09-05T04:33:08Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/13 "2004-09-05T06:38:45Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![mike1dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@mike1dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mike1dog)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/14 "2004-09-05T08:20:56Z")
> [@](#): > > 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. So what did you think “Candy Apple Red” was referring to? Brown? ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/15 "2004-09-05T12:22:25Z")
> [@racinchikki](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![YWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/6f9a4e/32.png) [@YWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YWalker)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/16 "2004-09-05T12:51:46Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/17 "2004-09-05T13:36:03Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/18 "2004-09-05T13:52:38Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/19 "2004-09-05T14:14:11Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/20 "2004-09-05T18:19:26Z")
> [@Omega Glory](#): > > 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. Which part of upstate NY? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163.md?page=2)