While both toffee apples and candy apples involve coating apples with sweet, hardened sugar mixtures, the key differences lie in the ingredients used, flavor, and appearance of the coating. Toffee apples have a buttery flavor and a darker coating, while candy apples have a sweeter, more colorful, and more crystalline coating. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, and the specific preparation may vary depending on regional preferences and recipes.