Candied apples are a fall treat that conjures up memories of Halloween for many people. The first step in making candied apples is to choose the right apples. For the best results, look for apples that are crisp and firm. Once you have found the perfect apples, wash them thoroughly and remove the stems. Next, insert a popsicle stick into the top of each apple. Then, it's time to make the candy coating. The coating is made by boiling sugar and water together until it reaches the hard crack stage. To test if the mixture has reached this stage, drop a small amount into a cup of cold water. If it forms hard, brittle threads, it is ready. If not, continue to boil the mixture and test again. Once the candy coating is ready, dip each apple into the mixture and set them on a sheet of wax paper to cool. As they cool, the candy coating will harden, creating a delicious fall treat.