Martha Henderson starts with an idea – frequently inspired from the produce aisles of her local market. Then come the oils – flavored ones. She ends with embellishments – wafers, marshmallows, nuts, candy, and whatever other confectionery she can find.
Her canvas? Apples, of course.
Head over to Costa Mesa’s Orange County Market Place on any weekend morning and you will catch her with her vibrant, sweet sculpture-like creations – 100-plus gourmet caramel apples that make up Henderson’s Sinfully Sweet Apple Co., and include Almond Roca (dipped in milk chocolate, rolled in crushed Almond Roca, drizzled in even more milk chocolate, then crowned with a piece of Almond Roca); Lemon Pie (dipped in lemon-flavored chocolate, covered in vanilla wafer crumbles, then drizzled with white and lemon chocolates); and the most recent addition, Volcano Apple (covered in milk chocolate, rolled in chocolate chips and drizzled with red and orange chocolate).
All of her apples, ultra crisp because they are only one day old, are freshly covered with a non-sticky caramel that lets you spend more time chewing and less time getting sweet goo off your face.
For those who need to watch their blood sugar or waistlines, Henderson also offers some sugar-free alternatives.
Sinfully Sweet Apple Co. can be found at the Orange County Market Place at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa every Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. with apples in the $3-$5 range. They can also be ordered for fundraising or special occasions at sinfullysweetgourmettreats.com. Get there early, though – her apples sell out by 2 p.m.
