Making candied apples this season? This Jolly Rancher Apple recipe is a great way to make custom candied apples that will fit every season and every party you have. They look gorgeous on a tray, plus taste like childhood with their bold fruit flavor! We loved creating them and included colored melting chocolate to create a mermaid candied apples theme.
Scroll to bottom for a printable version of this hard candy apples recipe. 
Jolly Rancher Apple Recipe
- 12 apples (red or green apple)
- 2-3 bags Jolly Ranchers hard candies
- 1 cup blue candy melts
- 1 cup teal candy melts
- 1 cup purple candy melts
- 2-3 Tablespoons shortening
or coconut oil
- Mermaid sprinkle mix
Kitchen Tools to help you make Jolly Rancher Apples:
- Popsicle sticks
- Baking tray or cutting board with parchment paper
or silicone mat over top
- Microwave-safe bowls
How to make Jolly Rancher Apples
Insert a popsicle stick
Unwrap your jolly rancher hard candy and separate into 3 bowls to create your clear candy dip. I mixed half green apple jolly rancher and blue for a pretty teal candy mixture, and added some pink to the purple candies to lighten it up.
The final bowl was just blue jolly ranchers.
One at a time, place each bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds to one minute, until your jolly ranchers are slightly bubbling.
Carefully remove from the microwave and dip your apples into the mixture.
You may need to tip the bowl to swirl and coat fully.
Let the excess candy drip off before placing the candy apple on a silicone mat-lined baking tray to set.
Reheat for 20-30 seconds in between each apple.
Repeat with the same Jolly Rancher’s coating for 3 more apples, and then repeat through the entire process with the other colors of Jolly Rancher’s and the remaining apples.
You will end up with 4 apples coated with each of the three colors.
Let set for two hours or overnight.
Place the blue candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds.
Stir well and reheat as needed until fully melted. Stir in the shortening or coconut oil for a smooth and runny consistency.
Take each of the blue Jolly Rancher coated apples and dip into the blue candy coating.
Let the excess candy drip off and then immediately sprinkle on your mermaid sprinkle mixture.
Place back on the silicone mat and repeat with the remaining blue apples.
Repeat this entire process with each color of candy melt and apples.
Let jolly rancher apples sit for 1 hour or overnight before serving.
Mermaid Desserts
Need additional mermaid desserts? Try Mermaid Rice Krispie Treats or Mermaid Bark, both magical choices!
- 12 apples
- 2-3 bags Jolly Ranchers hard candies
- 1 cup blue candy melts
- 1 cup teal candy melts
- 1 cup purple candy melts
- 2-3 Tablespoons shortening or coconut oil
- Mermaid sprinkle mix
- Kitchen Tools:
- Popsicle sticks
- Baking tray or cutting board with parchment paper or silicone mat overtop
- Microwave-safe bowls
-
Insert a popsicle stick or candy stick into the top stem area of each apple and set aside.
-
Unwrap your candies and separate into 3 bowls to create your clear candy dip. I mixed half green and blue for a pretty teal, and added some pink to the purple candies to lighten it up. The final bowl was just blue candies.
-
One at a time, place each bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds to one minute, until slightly bubbling.
-
Carefully remove from the microwave and dip your apples into the mixture. You may need to tip the bowl to swirl and coat fully. Let the excess candy drip off before placing the candy apple on a silcione mat-lined baking tray to set.
-
Reheat for 20-30 seconds in between each apple. Repeat with the same Jolly Rancher's coating for 3 more apples, and then repeat through the entire process with the other colors of Jolly Rancher's and the remaining apples.
-
You will end up with 4 apples coated with each of the three colors.
-
Let set for two hours or overnight.
-
Place the blue candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds. Stir well and reheat as needed until fully melted. Stir in the shortening or coconut oil for a smooth and runny consistency.
-
Take each of the blue Jolly Rancher coated apples and dip into the blue candy coating. Let the excess candy drip off and then immediately sprinkle on your mermaid sprinkle mixture.
-
Place back on the silicone mat and repeat with the remaining blue apples.
-
Repeat this entire process with each color of candy melt and apples.
-
Let set for 1 hour or overnight before serving.
