The Secret Regency Origins of Candy Apples (Sort of...)

No sticks. No bright red shells. But oh, the sugar...

I’m part of the multi-author candy hop in which some of us Regency romance authors came together to share some fun with you! One lucky winner can get the grand prize worth $150! I’m sharing the instructions below (scroll down to the images).

Meanwhile, let’s set the scene:
A cool October evening. A glowing hearth. A footman enters with a silver tray—each apple glistening, lacquered in golden sugar.

It isn’t quite a candy apple.
But it’s close enough to make you wonder.

While the modern candy apple—with its blazing crimson shell and carnival-on-a-stick attitude—wasn’t invented until the early 1900s, its essence was alive and well in Regency England.

Back then, sugar was theater.

Confectioners were showmen, boiling sugar to hard crack stage and spinning it into flowers, ribbons—and yes, even glossy coatings for fruit. Glazed oranges, preserved cherries, candied plums—fruit was never safe from the reach of a sugar pot. Apples were no exception.

They might not have been skewered on sticks, but they were dipped, rolled, and displayed like edible jewels.

It was a seasonal luxury. Apples were abundant. Sugar was expensive. Together, they made a statement:
“I have wealth and I share it sweetly.”

A hostess might send guests home with a glazed apple wrapped in lace. A suitor might tuck one in a ribboned box for a lady’s maid to deliver.

It wasn’t a treat.
It was flirtation, ritual, indulgence.

What changed?
Industrialization. Sticks. Fairs. Red dye. And modern marketing.

But here’s the secret:
Every time you see a candy apple, you’re looking at an echo of a Regency delight. A forgotten flavor, remade in neon.

Which means this fall, when you bite into one... don’t just think Halloween.
Think silk gloves. Think candlelit card tables. Think sugar-dripped temptation under the chandeliers.

Because the candy apple may not be Regency.

But it’s definitely a descendant.

Here are the easy instructions:

1. Hop to each of the 30 author sites to find out their favorite candy. Links provided on 10/26 here. If an author doesn’t have their candy up yet, skip and come back to them. It’s tough for some in other time zones and countries.

3. If a Link doesn’t work or you can’t find a candy, just list that in your submission. This is supposed to be fun : ) No stress allowed!

4. Like/Follow/Subscribe (all optional) if you’d like to stay up-to-date on the author’s writing projects, sales, and events. Enjoy the games, tidbits, and individual giveaways.

5. Send the completed list of authors with matching candies to my e-mail at Heather@HeatherMcCollum.com with the subject line “Historical Romance Authors Sure Are Sweet”.

Check back on November 1st to see if you won the grand prize!

*Please invite your friends and family so we can support all these wonderful authors.*

PAID SUBSCRIBERS:
Unlock my Regency Confections Collection of 5 strange but real historical sweets served at autumn balls (including one recipe with molten sugar and... a pinecone).
Access below.