Red Hot Cinnamon Apples – A Red Hot Apples Recipe
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Red Hot Candies are not just for eating. Instead, add them to an old fashioned classic stewed apples to create Red Hot Cinnamon Apples. Eat these as a snack or a dessert. Either way, kids love them!
Red Hot Cinnamon Apples Recipe
I love the spiced, cinnamon flavor of these old fashioned stewed apples, and so did my daughters since they begged for more and more and more. Using a cinnamon candy like Red Hots takes the guess-work out of the recipes. All you need is Cinnamon candies, sugar, water and apples.
This cinnamon stewed apple recipe was shared by our favorite farm stand, Harker Family Farms. You know that a recipe is going to be delicious when you get it from an apple orchard! The Harker Family is full of outstanding cooks, and over the years, they’ve shared several recipes with us including Peach Batter Cake and Skillet Mac and Cheese.
Ingredients Needed For Cinnamon Candied Apples
With just five simple ingredients you can pull these stewed apples flavored with cinnamon candies together for a delicious treat. Actually, this recipe really only has 4 required ingredients with one optional ingredient.
- Apples
- Sugar
- Water
- Red Hots (also known as Cinnamon Imperials)
- Red Food Coloring (optional)
Kitchen Utensils Needed for Cinnamon Stewed Apples
No special equipment is needed to make these red hot cinnamon apples. We bet you have all the equipment you need already in your kitchen cabinets and drawers.
- Medium to Large Saucepan
- Vegetable Peeler
- Paring Knife
- Cutting Board
- Large Spoon (nylon, silicone or wooden)
- Ladle
Check out our Amazon Store for our favorite kitchen and pantry essentials!
How to Make Red Hot Cinnamon Apples
Step by Step Instructions
- In a medium to large saucepan, heat water, sugar and Red Hot Candies until the mixture begins to boil and the candies begin melt; turn off heat.
- Peel and quarter apples.
- Add apples slices to the cinnamon mixture and turn heat to high, stirring often.
- Bring to a rapid boil, reduce heat and continue to cook and stir until apples are tender and red in color.
- Red food coloring can be added if a deeper red color is desired.
- Let cool. If desired, top with chopped pecans. Or, serve hot with vanilla ice cream.
Storage Instructions
Let apples cool completely. Store in an airtight container or mason jar in the fridge.
For the full recipe and ingredient list for red hot stewed apples, scroll to the bottom of this post.
Recipe FAQs
- Red Hots are also called Cinnamon Imperials. If you can’t find one, look for the other.
- Our recipe calls to peel the apples first, but you could omit this step and leave the skins on.
- If you want your cinnamon candied apples to have a vibrant red color, add red food coloring while they are stewing on the stove. This is completely optional.
- For a beautiful, homemade Christmas gift, put the cinnamon stewed apples in a mason jar and tie on a red bow or ribbon.
- Store your stewed cinnamon apples in the refrigerator.
- Try serving crushed pecans sprinkled over top!
- Have leftover Red Hots? Try Red Hot Fluff.
How do you quarter apples?
There’s two simple ways to do this.
- Option one: cut the apple in half, cutting through the core. Then cut each half in half again. Cut out the core individually of each quarter.
- Option two: Cut around the core of the apple in four separate pieces. When you’re done, the core should be intact in one piece that can be tossed.
What’s the best type of apples to use for stewing?
Jonathon apples or Granny Smith apples work well since they hold their shape when cooking. If these apples aren’t available, it’s fine to use whatever type of apple you can find.
What can I substitute for Red Hots in a recipe?
If you can’t find Red Hot candies, look for Cinnamon Imperials instead. Cinnamon Imperials are another name for Red Hots.
Where can you buy Red Hots?
Check the candy section of any grocery store or Dollar store. Another place that almost always carries Cinnamon Imperials is an old fashioned Amish or Bulk Grocery store.
Mason Jar Christmas Food Gift Ideas
The beautiful Christmas-red color of these hot stewed apples make it the perfect gift. Pour the cooled apples into the mason jar, seal tightly, label, and add a bow or ribbon.
For some more Christmas gift ideas in mason jars, try our Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce, Friendship Tea, and Homemade Martini Olives – three of our most popular recipes at These Old Cook Books.
Old Fashioned Apple Recipes
Grandma’s Sour Cream Apple Squares
Red Hot Cinnamon Apples – A Red Hot Apples Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 pounds apples (Jonathon apples work best)
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup Red Hot candies
- red food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium to large saucepan, heat water, sugar and Red Hot candies until it come to a boil and candies begin to melt. Turn off heat.
- Peel and quarter apples.
- Add apples to red syrup and turn heat to high, stirring often. Bring to a full boil until the syrup is almost boiling over; then lower heat to medium.
- Continue to cook and stir apples until they are tender and have absorbed the red color. For a more vibrant red, add red food coloring while they are cooking. Stir often.
- Gently ladle apples into a serving dish, and let cool. If desired, top with chopped pecans.
Notes
- Red Hots are also called Cinnamon Imperials. If you can’t find one, look for the other.
- Our recipe calls to peel the apples first, but you could omit this step and leave the skins on.
- If you want your cinnamon candied apples to have a vibrant red color, add red food coloring while they are stewing on the stove. This is completely optional.
- For a beautiful, homemade Christmas gift, put the cinnamon stewed apples in a mason jar and tie on a red bow or ribbon.
- Try serving crushed pecans sprinkled over top!
- Have leftover Red Hots? Try Red Hot Fluff.
- The nutritional information is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products used. It should not be used for specific dietary needs.
- The nutritional information is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products used. It should NOT be used for specific dietary needs.
Nutrition
Linking up to Meal Plan Monday.
My mom made these every fall. I made them for my daughter. Soon my grandson will be old enough to eat them. A great recipe
My grandmother Hortense found a recipe for cinnamon apples in the Knob Noster Gem newspaper when she was a teenager in the early 1910s. It has been a family tradition, served at Thanksgiving and Christmas, as long as I can remember and I’m now 68. The only difference in the recipe from this one is we would halve and core the apples instead of quartering them. Once cooked they would be placed on a sheet pan where each half would be topped in the center with half of a large or several small marshmallows and placed under the broiler long enough to slightly brown the marshmallows. They look lovely on a plate with all the other yummy things.
I’ve been making these for Christmas for almost 40 years. My Granny taught me how. We always added a couple of cinnamon sticks a couple of teaspoons of whole cloves and a whole anise star or five. It looks so festive and makes the house smell wonderful. It’s a great garnish next to ham.
These candied apples have been a standard in our family for over 75 years. The only Christmas that I didn’t make them was last Christmas. My brother passed away suddenly the Monday after Thanksgiving last year. I knew how much he loved them but couldn’t bring myself to make them. I will make them this year to honor him.
I’m so sorry for your loss but making these in honor of your brother is a lovely thing…hopefully you can remember all good memories while making and enjoying them this year.