Making Toffee Apples in 3 Spooky Steps!

8 red or green apples
400g caster sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
4 tbsp golden syrup
 food colouring
glitter or sprinkles (optional)

8 lolly sticks
baking paper
a wooden board
large saucepan
mixing spoon

Insert the pointy end of each lolly sticks into the end of each apple, making sure it's nice and snug. Place a big sheet of baking parchment on a wooden board.

Pour the sugar into a large saucepan and mix in the lemon juice and 100ml of water. Let it simmer and stir until the sugar disappears. Give the pan a gentle swirl to shuffle the sugar around, but keep from stirring. Carefully bubble the golden syrup mixture until it hits 'hard crack' stage or reaches 150C on a sugar thermometer (watch out for boiling over). If you do not have a thermometer, test the toffee by dropping a small amount into cold water. It should harden instantly and, when removed, be brittle. If it's soft, continue to boil. When it's good to go, drip in a touch of food coloring and give it a swirly mix. Toss in some glitter or sprinkles, if you're feeling fancy, and turn off the heat.

Dip those apples in the toffee, fast! Tip the pan and coat all the apple skin! Lift out and allow any excess to drip off before putting on the baking parchment. Repeat with the remaining apples. Gently heat the toffee again if you need to. Devour while fresh!