Shining Sugar Apples

These are a great addition for a table display around the holidays and are very easy to make. Put 2 ½ cups of white sugar in a small pan and turn the heat on high. After about 2-3 minutes the sugar will begin to melt. Keep the heat high until the sugar is completely melted and begins to bubble slightly, slowly stirring. Once it's done cooking, pour the mixture into a plastic container that you can throw away. I recommend cutting the bottom half off an old milk carton. Immediately put the sugar pan in the sink with hot water to clean, otherwise the mixture is very hard to clean up.

Set out a sheet of newspaper, a sheet of wax paper and fill a large bowl with sugar. Let your sugar liquid cool down just a bit before you begin dipping the apples in it, to keep from getting burnt. Now take a stick and push it into one end of the apple and dip the apple into the sugar mixture, then roll it around in the dry sugar. When you are done you can set it on the sheet of wax paper to dry. When they are dry, they are ready to be added to your table setting. I recommend putting the apples around candelabras or votive candles as the light reflects beautifully off the sugar. Another option is keeping the sticks in the bottom of some of the apples so that you can add them to flower arrangements in the table setting or around the house.