Without a Woman: The Woman Behind a Fall Favorite

The Caramel Apple

Nothing says fall like that first bite into a crisp apple coated in golden, gooey caramel — the perfect mix of tart and sweet, nostalgia and comfort. Behind this timeless treat is an innovative business woman whose recipe is still enjoyed today!

A Legacy Dipped in Sweetness

The first Affy Tapple was created by the Kastrup family. According to Affy Tapple’s company's history, this was the first caramel apple created in the United States which is why the company’s tagline is “The Original Caramel Apple!” Today, they still use the same caramel recipe developed by Mrs. Edna Kastrup in 1948.

But this isn’t just the story of a sweet treat; it is the story of Edna Kastrup, a single mother from Chicago whose sharp business mind and sense of opportunity built an empire in Chicago.

Edna worked as a bookkeeper for a small confectionery business in downtown Chicago that was struggling. When the owner decided to sell, Edna didn’t back away, she took a chance. She took out a loan, purchased the business, and introduced her own caramel recipe.

To make her business stand out, Edna renamed the business Affy Tapple so it would appear first in the phone book, an early example of clever, strategic branding. And her marketing instincts were just as sweet. She began selling caramel apples to Six Flags, Wrigley Field, food distributors, and to schools for fundraisers. Edna's vision was long-term: if children grew up with her caramel apples, they would keep buying them for the rest of their lives.

Building an Empire, One Apple at a Time

As demand soared, Affy Tapple expanded, taking over half a city block and employing nearly 60 people. Business was booming so much that Edna bought the gas station next door just to give her employees a place to park their cars.

During the busy season, Edna and her daughter May even slept in the office above the factory to keep things running smoothly. Her family was deeply woven into the business. May managed the office, her son Bill ran production, and her grandson Daniel delivered apples during his summer breaks.

Eventually, as Edna grew older, she passed the company down to her children, who later sold it in 1995. But Edna’s spirit, recipe, resourcefulness, and resilience continues to flavor every caramel apple made today.

The Woman Behind the Sweet

Edna Kastrup didn’t just make candy; she made history. At a time when women — especially single mothers — were not encouraged to be entrepreneurs, she built a thriving company from the ground up. Edna created jobs, traditions, and joy that has lasted for generations.

So the next time you bite into that caramel-covered apple, remember: without a woman like Edna Kastrup, autumn just wouldn’t taste the same.

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