New Orleans Caramel Apples

No caramels to unwrap and these are out of this world. From the New Orleans Crescent City Market. **Note, you need 12 wooden chopsticks for these apples but the ingredients list did not recognize them. I prefer the chopstick over the craft stick as they are sturdier**

• Ready In: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1  lb dark brown sugar
• 1  cup unsalted butter, at room temp
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 2⁄3 cup dark corn syrup
• 1⁄3 cup pure maple syrup
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1  teaspoon dark molasses
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 12  medium granny smith apples

Directions

1. Combine the first eight ingredients in a heavy (and I do mean heavy) 2 1/2 quart saucepan.
2. Stir with a wooden spatula over medium-low heat till sugar dissolves, about 15 minutes.
3. Attach a clip-on candy thermometer to side of pan.
4. Increase the heat to medium high, cooking caramel at a rolling boil until thermometer registers 236 degrees, stirring constantly with wooden (not rubber or silicone) spatula (about 12 minutes).
5. Pour caramel into metal bowl.
6. Submerge the thermometer bulb into the caramel, and cool without stirring to 200 degrees (about 20 minutes).
7. While caramel cools, line 2 baking sheets with buttered foil (or buttered parchment paper).
8. Push 1 chopstick into the stem end of each apple.
9. Holding the chopstick, dip 1 apple into 200 degree caramel, submerging all but the very top of the apple.
10. Lift apple out vertically letting excess coating drip into the bowl.
11. Place coated apple on prepared foil.
12. Chill apples on sheet until they are set.
13. They can be refrigerated up to one week but I've never had them last for more than 1 day at my house.