Wash and dry apples thoroughly. Insert a wooden stick into the top of each apple.

Prep a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper and lightly greasing it with cooking spray.

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine sugar, water, corn syrup, and red food coloring.

Bring to a boil without stirring. Continue boiling until the mixture reaches 300°F (hard crack stage), about 20 minutes. Use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature.

Once the candy mixture reaches 300°F, remove from heat. Dip each apple into the candy mixture by holding the stick and rotating it to coat evenly. Allow excess candy to drip off before placing on the prepared baking sheet.

Allow the candy apples to cool and harden on the baking sheet at room temperature. This may take about 20-30 minutes.