# 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:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/21 "2004-09-05T18:26:47Z")
I live about 10 miles from the best apple-growing area of California. We see both kinds down here, especially at the County Fairs. I’m not partial to either of them, actually. I’d rather have a frozen banana dipped in chocolate and rolled in chopped peanuts! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/22 "2004-09-05T18:31:18Z")
Born, raised, and living in Washington State, traveled to every state, lived in 6 of them. Never heard of Candy Apples. I’ve heard of the car color ‘Candy Apple Red’, but always figured that a Candy Apple was some weird kind of old-time sugar candy shaped or flavored like an apple. Mrs. danalan informs me that she has had Candy Apples, but found them too sweet for her taste. Must be pretty damn sickeningly sweet… ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/23 "2004-09-05T18:55:09Z")
Upon viewing the thread title the first thing that went through my mind was, “What are candy apples?” ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/24 "2004-09-05T19:04:33Z")
I’ve never had any trouble finding either in the produce department of the local grocery, here or back in Kentucky, although caramel apples seem to be more popular. My grandma used to make both around Halloween, along with popcorn balls and peanut butter cookies. ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/25 "2004-09-05T19:51:17Z")
Just to add to the weirdness, here in lovely Arkansas you see caramel apples more often, but in the stores, next to the produce displays, you find the candy apple coating mix more often. I hypothesize the reason for this is that we all by the caramel apple-making kits and leave the candy apple ones because we are unfamiliar with the concept. FB ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/26 "2004-09-05T21:03:39Z")
I guess I’ll be the dissenting voice from Ky. Where I grew up, in central Ky, the candy-type were more common which was kind of annoying as I prefer the caramel ones. ---
**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, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/27 "2004-09-05T21:31:32Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > 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? From what few times I’ve had candy apples, I thought they were _all_ hot cinnamon coated. However, from [the candy apples advertised in this site](http://www.candyandstuff.com/redcandyapples.html), it appears that they’re cherry-flavored red candy apples as well. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/28 "2004-09-05T23:40:54Z")
Around here we have caramel apples[by far the most popular] and something called candied apples, which is the same caramel coating dyed a suspicious red[and therefore totally bogus] Real candied apples, the kind with the hard, shiny coating[suggestive of lollipops] are nonexistent[perhaps their shelf-life is not as long as the caramel variety] unless you make them yourself. They used to sell a kit for making both kinds, but only the caramel-type is still around. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/29 "2004-09-06T00:04:36Z")
> [@thirdwarning](#): > > 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. Happy to oblige. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![smartini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@smartini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smartini)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2004, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/30 "2004-09-06T00:17:34Z")
Georgia reporting in 😃 When I was a kid back in the olden days we always got the cinnamon candy covered apples at fairs and such…the challenge was eating one and as a kid it was fun to have fruit covered in god-awful candy. I still see “kits” for them in the produce departments around Halloween, but mostly I see Caramel Apples for sell and in the stores as soon as the good apples start coming in…a horrible thing to do to a good apple but they are yummy! Now I see you can even get “Caramel Dip” for apple slices but I think that is cheating. :eek: any aged kid knows anything you eat on a stick is better ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2004, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/31 "2004-09-06T00:42:45Z")
Up here in NoCal, I’ve heard of candy apples, but never actually seen one. Caramel apples are far and away more common. And probably better tasting, just going by the fact that there is very little in the world that tastes better than a caramel apple. ---
**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 9, 2004, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/32 "2004-09-09T13:28:00Z")
> [@racinchikki](#): > > Which part of upstate NY? Orleans County, between Buffalo and Rochester. Sorry about the bump, but I lost track of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/33 "2004-09-09T14:12:52Z")
Candy apples are more common here in N.J. ---
**Author:** ![cichlidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f9b8f/32.png) [@cichlidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cichlidiot)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/34 "2004-09-09T16:59:35Z")
Another Washingtonian checking in. I’ve noticed candy apples are scarce here, too. I can think of a few places I could drive to relatively quickly and pick up a caramel apple, but the only place I see candy apples is at the Central Washington State Fair. I grew up in Detroit and saw candy apples as often as I did caramel (70s). ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/35 "2004-09-09T17:29:18Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > 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.) Neither I haven’t seen them here for years. And the lasttime, one was rolling around on the store floor. :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/36 "2004-09-09T18:10:02Z")
> [@Omega Glory](#): > > Orleans County, between Buffalo and Rochester. > > Sorry about the bump, but I lost track of the thread. Upper Hudson Valley. This might explain the disparity between our experiences. ---
**Author:** ![thursday\_next](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@thursday\_next](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thursday_next)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/37 "2004-09-09T18:43:59Z")
As others have said, I’ve been cheated before when I was younger by seeing a sign for candy apples and thinking they were caramel. So at least when I was little they had both at the Texas state fair. I prefer caramel apples, but unfortunately can’t eat them due to an allergy to apples (yes, I am allergic to everything). On a side note, my grandmother insists on making sliced candied apples every year at Thanksgiving and Christmas, simply because she thinks they look pretty on the table. Care to guess what her favourite colour is? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/38 "2004-09-09T19:08:39Z")
> [@mike1dog](#): > > So what did you think “Candy Apple Red” was referring to? Brown? While the name may have derived from the treat, “candy” in this case refers to a high gloss coating. There’s also Candy Yellow, Candy Orange, Candy Black Cherry, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2004, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candy-apples-and-caramel-apples-what-are-more-common-in-your-part-of-the-u-s/263163/39 "2004-09-09T20:14:23Z")
I grew up in Upstate NY too (Fredonia, (Buffalo-Jamestown area)), and always saw mainly candy apples at county fairs. I may have seen them at the Syracuse State Fair too, but I don’t remember. Which is ironic, because I remember the Syracuse area for its profusion of caramel _corn_, and when I heard of Kettle Corn being a long and nostalgic tradition, I was like 😕😕 [Previous 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=1)