Caramel Apples: Halloween's Favorite Treats

Halloween is my favorite holiday. Why? You get to dress up, eat sweets, and carve pumpkins. I love making holiday treats, and caramel apples is one of my personal favorites. It is simple, straight-forward, and everyone LOVES the combination of caramel and apple together.

This recipe is basic and easy:

CARAMEL APPLES

Makes 6 delicious apples to enjoy

Ingredients:

• 6 granny smith apples (Love the "tart" and crunch!) 

• 1 14-oz package of caramels (Take it easy, and buy caramel instead of making homemade caramel, which can be difficult and messy.)

• 2 tablespoons milk

Directions:

1. Unwrap the caramels and place in a medium-size stainless steel bowl. Add the milk.
2. In a medium size pan, fill water half way and turn on to medium heat. Place the bowl of caramel-milk on top, to make a "water bath" or "bain marie." Using a heat-safe spatula, stir the caramel until melted. (Be careful of the steam, and use a kitchen towel to hold the bowl.)
3. Once the caramel has melted, remove from heat.
4. Wash the apples. De-stem. Place a wooden craft stick where the steam was. Now, dip the apples in the caramel. I like dipping half way up.
5. Place the apples on a foil-line sheet pan. Let the caramel set at room temp. Enjoy!

Yes, you can add varaitions to the caramel apples. Adding rainbow sprinkles, candy bits or chocolate to your caramel apples makes them unique and extra tasty. After dipping the apple in the caramel, add extra toppings. The caramel will act like glue. Especially with the toppings, chill in the fridge for about 15 minutes. Then store in an air-tight container.

Here are some variations to try:

• Rocky Road: Add mini marshmallows, chopped nuts, and mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.
• Salty and Sweet: Add chopped pretzels and mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.
• Peanut Butter Goodness: Add 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter to the caramel. Add chopped nuts and mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Making a homemade treat to share will always be better than store-bought candy. Don't be afraid to play around with different toppings and treats for your caramel apples.

Happy Halloween! -SC