As a child, going to the carnival or county fair was always a treat. While most kids went for the thrill of carny rides like Tilt-A-Whirl, Enterprise, Ferris Wheel, or Bumper Boats, I went for the interesting foods at these seasonal events. Here in the Midwest, you would always find cinnamon candied apples at the autumn festivals.
The ruby glass-like coating always amazed me, more like a big “Red Hot” with a tart apple filling! Always almost impossible to eat, with the heat of the cinnamon, you would have to treat it like a big sucker, licking and twirling it like a top in your fingers, until you found a “safe bite” into the cool refreshing apple center… and by that time bees, hornets, and wasps were targeting you as willing prey!
Cinnamon candied apples are more of a confection. Since this is a time-honored recipe you will need a candy thermometer. Always be careful when dipping the apples in hot syrup. Also, for serving, I recommend cutting the apples into small portions with a knife, not biting into one directly.