Red Hot Cinnamon Apples are one of my favorite side dishes for any dinner. They go great with poultry, beef or pork. My grandmother made these all the time and all my brothers and sisters loved them. This Red Hot Cinnamon Apples recipe has been around for ever in my family!
When I was a child, my mom canned all summer long. Unlike today, strawberries were only available April through June. Then cherries and raspberries were ready to pick in June and July. In August it was time for peaches and pears. Then September and October were filled with applesauce, apple juice, apple pie filling and apple butter.
During apple season we always made Red Hot Cinnamon Apples. Now that you can get apples year round, I love making them anytime. Red Hot Cinnamon Apples are a wonderful side dish for any dinner, but they create traditions on special dinners, like Thanksgiving.
How to Make Red Hot Cinnamon Apples
1. Buy a 12 oz. package of red hots. During the holidays, it is easy to find them. They are available year round, but they might be harder to find. I like to buy several bags and keep them in my pantry when I find them in a grocery store. Like most hard candy, they have a long shelf life.
2. Peel, core and quarter 6-7 apples. Any kind of apples will do, but a sour apple is what I choose. When peeling and slicing the apples, I like my apples in chunks, but you can slice them any way. The Red Hot Cinnamon Apples my grandmother made were thinly sliced. Personally, I like mine in chunks. Any way you slice the apples, you will have a delicious side dish.
3. Place the apples, candy and sugar in a saucepan. The recipe calls for 3 tablespoons of water, but you do not need it. It is only in the recipe for those who are afraid the candy will start to burn on the bottom of the pan. The apples will begin to release liquid as soon as the they begin to heat up.
4. Stirring occasionally, bring the mixture to a boil. Once it begins to boil, turn down the heat. The candy will melt and mix with the liquid from the apples and create a thick syrup. Continue to stir as the apples cook. If the temperature is too high, the sugary syrup will boil over and you will have a mess.
5. Simmer the apples and candy for 10-12 minutes or until apples are tender. As the apples cook, you might find a lump of candy. Don’t worry, it will melt. Continue to stir every 2 – 3 minutes. There is a lot of candy syrup when the apples are done cooking. The apples are sweet enough without the syrup. I use a slotted spoon to take the apples out of the syrup and then serve.
6. Serve warm or cold.
Here are a few of my favorite products when making Red Hot Cinnamon Apples.
Red Hot Cinnamon Apples are so good with any meal, but they create traditions on Thanksgiving.
Let me know on Instagram or Pinterest if you make this.
Post a picture and tag me @dinasdiner. I want to know how it turns out.
Red Hot Cinnamon Apple Side Dish
Ingredients
- 6-7 Apples Any variety will work
- 1/2 Cup Sugar
- 3 Tbsp. Water
- 12 oz. Red Hot Cinnamon Candies
Instructions
- Peel, core and slice the apples.
- Place the apples, sugar and cinnamon candies in a saucepan.
- Bring everything to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- When the mixture begins to boil, turn the heat down to a simmer.
- Stirring often, cook for 10 – 12 minutes until apples are tender.
- Use a slotted spoon to take the apples out of the pan.
- Serve warm or cold.
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