Candy apples: A locally-grown Halloween treat

Marleen Payne is a busy woman this month. She's the owner of Apples & Stix, a Windsor-based company that produces candy apples, caramel apples and chocolate caramel-dipped pretzel sticks.

While Payne says people buy candy and caramel apples all year round, the period around Thanksgiving and Halloween is her busiest. By the time Halloween is over, she'll have made at least 2,000 apples. Candy apples outsell caramel two to one.

"If you want to make a great candy apple, you have to [start with]a great apple.Then it is simply sugar, corn syrup and water and your flavouring and colouring."

As seen in the video above, the apples are dipped and coated in the heated candy syrup.

Payne'sstandard candy apple iscinnamon red, but she also offersblue raspberry, red cherry and purple grape flavours andthe possibilities don't end there. If she can source the colour and flavour, she'll incorporate them.

Every apple Payne uses is locally grown and sourced in Essex County.

"I go toSimpson Orchards [in Leamington]. They have the best apples and if I don't go to Simpson, I go to Nickels Farm. Both [sell]guaranteed delicious apples."

Not just any variety of apple will do.

"For the candied apples, it's empire. I personally love the empire because the outside coating is nice and smooth,so you get less bubbles. The inside is really white and kind of pinkish so when you bite into it, you get that crisp sweetness to go with your candy."

Each apple is individually selected by Payne to ensure that there are no blemishes or bruises. Once coated in candy, they only last 2-3 days. After that, candy will start to melt.It's why you won't find her apples in stores her business is based on individual orders and sales at craft shows.

Payne says she's seen people eat her apples in a variety of ways.

"I've seen people bite right into it 'crunch!' which I personally have no idea how they could do that with their teeth.[Others]lick itand enjoy it ... like a Tootsie pop, until they get down to the apple. And then I've seen people cut it or use an apple cutter."

No matter which way you choose it's a deliciously local way to celebrate Halloween.

Hear Jonathan's latest food adventure every Thursday at 8:10 a.m. on CBC Radio One - 97.5FM in Windsor, 91.9FM in Leamington, 88.1FM in Chatham & 90.3FM in Sarnia. Do you have a food, restaurant or dish that you think Jonathan should explore? Call (519) 255-3400, email windsormorning@cbc.ca or tweet him directly at @jonathan_pinto.