Description
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 8 minutes
- Chilling time: 24 to 48 hours
- Total time: 24 hours 23 minutes (minimum)
- Servings: 8
- Calories: Approximately 145 per serving
- Course: Side dish or snack
- Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
Scale
Red Hot Cinnamon Sugar Pickled Apples
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 8 minutes
- Chilling time: 24 to 48 hours
- Total time: 24 hours 23 minutes (minimum)
- Servings: 8
- Calories: Approximately 145 per serving
- Course: Side dish or snack
- Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
For the apples:
- 4 medium firm apples, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp
- 2 cups cold water
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
For the Red Hot cinnamon brine:
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar (5% acidity)
- 1 cup water
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup Red Hots cinnamon candies
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- Red food coloring, optional
Instructions
- Core and slice the apples into 1/4-inch rings or wedges, and soak them in the cold water and lemon juice.
- Combine the vinegar, water, sugars, Red Hots, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ground cinnamon, and salt in a saucepan.
- Heat over medium, stirring until the sugars and candies dissolve, then simmer gently for 3 to 4 minutes. Add food coloring if desired.
- Drain and pat the apples dry, then pack them into clean glass jars with the cinnamon sticks and cloves.
- Pour the warm brine over the apples until completely covered, leaving a little headspace.
- Cool briefly, cover, and refrigerate promptly.
- Chill for at least 24 hours, or 48 hours for deeper color and flavor.
- Serve chilled.