Gourmet Caramel Apples

Submitted by gailanng

"A microwavable recipe from allrecipes. Great for 'favors', bake sales, gifts or Halloween. You can purchase stick from craft stores. Dress them with tags and curling ribbon. If they're to be wrapped in cellophane, do please coat in candy coating to keep from sticking to the wrap. The key to a good caramel 'set' is removing the wax from the apples."

 

• Ready In: 50mins
• Ingredients: 8
• Serves: 5

ingredients

• 5 granny smith apples
• 5 wooden craft sticks
• 1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
• 2 tablespoons water or 2 tablespoons milk
• 7 ounces chocolate candy bars, broken into pieces
• 2 tablespoons shortening, divided
• 1 cup candy coating, melts
• Skor English toffee bit, salted peanuts, mini chocolate chips, mini M&M, etc., chopped (optional)

directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Using a slotted spoon dip apples into boiling water briefly (about 3-5 seconds; no longer) to remove any wax that may be present. Wipe dry, and set aside to cool. Insert sticks into the apples through the cores. It's imperative the apples are dry.
2. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and coat with cooking spray. Silpat mats work great and need no prep. Place the unwrapped caramels into a microwave-safe medium bowl along with 2 tablespoons of water. Cook on high for 2 minutes, then stir and continue cooking and stirring at 1 minute intervals until caramel is melted and smooth.
3. Hold apples by the stick and dip into the caramel to coat. Wipe excess from bottom to prevent puddling. Set on waxed paper; refrigerate for about 15 minutes to set.
4. Heat the chocolate with 1 tablespoon of shortening in a microwave-safe bowl until melted and smooth. Dip apples into the chocolate to cover the layer of caramel. Return to the waxed paper to set.
5. Melt the candy melts in the microwave with the remaining 1 tablespoon shortening, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Using a fork or wooden stick, drizzle designs onto your apples for a finishing touch. Sprinkle with optional ingredients, if desired. Refrigerate until set or overnight.

Reviews

[weekend cooker]

These were indeed a nice treat for us last night.. I used milk as am option over water, used plain Hersheys candy as candy and topped them off with crushed salted peanuts. This is a very easy recipe to make. Have plenty of apples left so definately will make again later this week. Made for PRMR..