How to Make Candy Apples Sliced with Red Hots

VERSION I - This is the easiest, less caloric, and less fat potent method to prepare this recipe.

Ingredients

5 Medium apples, any kind, washed, cored, sliced - about 16 slices (peeling apples is optional)

1 Medium box "Red Hot" candies

2 Tablespoons sugar

1/4 Cup water

See Preparation Slide Show Tutorial Below.

Cook on medium high heat until water comes to a boil.

During softening period, maneuver Red Hots around to make certain they all dissolve in water and juice seeping from apples. The water/apple juice broth will turn red.

At end of slow cooking period, all apples should be soft and all candy should be dissolved. Increase heat to medium high so all liquid will evaporate. This step requires close attention to cooking progress, especially as evaporation reaches bottom of apples. You should notice apples turning redder and redder as broth decreases. Continue flipping apples (gently) as needed to make certain all apples acquire more red candy coloring.

After apples are done...

Don't let your perfectly cooked apples burn! If you choose to reduce the heat once the apples are done, you may still need to stir apples every few minutes to make sure they don't burn. Reducing temperature at this point should not last for more than five to ten minutes.

IMPORTANT:  Red Hot Apples cooked according to this recipe are "very-very" hot when done. Let them cool a bit before attempting to put them in your mouth!

NOTES: For best serving sizes, I recommend cooking one apple per serving plus one extra apple per every four servings. So if you are making apples for four people, cook four apples plus one apple for a total of five apples. If you are preparing for eight people, cook eight apples plus two apples for a total of ten apples and so on. Allow a extra cooking time when doubling or tripling recipe.

It isn't necessary to use only one type of apple when preparing this recipe. In fact, mixing different colors of apples may lend for a more colorful finished dish.

 Red Sugar Sprinkles may be substituted for some of the cinnamon candies if you don't have enough candy. The main purpose of using red sprinkles, however, would be to help deepen red coloring in your cooked apples. The sprinkles will not give you the cinnamon taste.