Where to get your toffee apple fix

Crunchy apple, a hard coating of sweet toffee and a wooden stick - for many of us, the toffee apple is one of those treats that instantly brings back memories of Halloween, fairs and autumn evenings.

But while supermarket versions are easy enough to find at this time of year, tracking down something a little more handmade can take some effort.

The good news is that there are still independent confectioners, bakeries and producers putting their own spin on the classic combination of apple and caramel.

Here are a few worth knowing about.

If it’s a proper old-school toffee apple you are after, Aunt Sandra’s Candy Factory in East Belfast is a good place to start.

The family-run sweet factory has been making traditional confectionery for decades, and its handmade toffee apples return in the run-up to Halloween.

They’re a seasonal treat rather than something you can pick up all year round, and you’ll need to order them in advance and collect them from the shop.

Best for: A proper handmade toffee apple.

Few places embrace Halloween quite like Derry, so it’s hardly surprising that toffee apples have made an appearance among the city’s seasonal treats.

Derry Halloween’s Haunted Harvest Market has previously featured toffee apples alongside local produce and artisan food in the Cathedral Quarter.

The festival returns again this autumn, with food forming an important part of the celebrations. Traders and menus can change from year to year, so it’s worth checking the programme closer to the event.

Best for: The full Halloween experience.

If you’re happy to stray from the traditional apple on a stick, Dublin café Two Pups offers a more bakery-led interpretation of the classic flavours.

Its in-house baking has included a vegan Caramel Apple Cruffin, combining flaky laminated pastry with the familiar pairing of sweet caramel and apple.

Pastry selections can change regularly, so check what’s available before making a special journey.

Best for: A coffee-and-pastry take on toffee apple.

Folk Espresso & Boulangerie in Enniskillen has previously taken the idea of a toffee apple in a much more grown-up direction.

Its seasonal baking has included a toffee apple Danish made with Golden Delicious apple, cinnamon, caramel, vanilla crème pâtissière, malted streusel and pieces of fudge.

Like many independent bakeries, Folk changes its pastries with the seasons, so there’s no guarantee that a particular bake will be on the counter when you visit.

But its inventive approach makes it one to keep an eye on as autumn rolls around.

Best for: A foodie twist on the classic.

Ballycastle producer Devil’s Churn makes small-batch caramel sauces in Northern Ireland using local cream and butter, with flavours including smoked salted caramel and Irish whiskey caramel.

They’ve previously suggested warming its caramel and pairing it with crisp apples for a simple Halloween treat.

Add chopped nuts, chocolate or sprinkles if you fancy, or keep things straightforward and let the apple and caramel do the work.

It’s also a handy option if the thought of boiling sugar to make traditional hard toffee is enough to put you off making them from scratch.

Best for: An easy homemade version with a local twist.