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For a fresh twist on popular candy stations, try a candy apple bar at your wedding reception
The Goods
- Assortment of apples; estimate two apples per guest: one for slices, one for a favor
- Caramels (a 14-ounce bag will coat 6–8 apples)
- Toppings
- Wood skewers or popsicle sticks (available at craft stores)
- Cellophane bags or take-out boxes for favors (available at party supply stores)
- Napkins in your wedding colors
- Waxed paper
- Large pot for melting caramels
- Heat source (range or cooking station, available for rent from event supply vendors)
How-To
1. Pick apple varieties that are firm and slightly tart to sweet in taste, like Braeburn, Fuji, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith. Purchase from a local orchard; most have crates of apples (40–50 apples per box) ready to buy. Visit allaboutapples.com for local orchard listings.
2. Select toppings that will stick to a caramel base, like chocolate chips, chopped nuts, coconut flakes, crushed cookies, marshmallows and sprinkles.
3. Use a sturdy wood table as your candy apple station and line the surface with waxed paper. To dress up the station, use pinking shears on the edges of the paper, and place pretty paper or plastic tablecloths in your wedding colors underneath. Spread apples, toppings, wood sticks and to-go containers across the table, and be sure to have plenty of napkins on hand.
4. Set up your heat source next to the table. Melt caramels over low heat until they become a smooth liquid. If caramels solidify, reheat and add a touch of cream or milk to help liquefy.
5. Dip apples into the melted caramel, coat, follow with toppings, and place on waxed paper to cool before eating or packaging to go. Have a selection of pre-sliced apples for guests to enjoy at the reception (keep the slices from browning with a squirt of lemon juice), and whole apples for guests to take home as favors.
