Working Wives & Bachelorettes: Caramel Apples with Gourmet Flair

If you're anything like me, when the temperatures start to cool and fall is in the air one thing comes to mind: delicious caramel apples! I loved caramel apples as a kid, and now as an adult, why not add gourmet flair. I’m sure you’ve seen them at the grocery store, market, candy shop or fair with the makers charging anywhere from $5 to sometimes $20. With prices that high you'd think they are close to impossible to make at home yourself, but they're not! It's easy to make fancy looking gourmet apples. Although my attempts were nowhere as pretty as the picture, they tasted good (the girls here at work can attest) and my niece and I had a great time making them.

Here are instructions for making 10-12 gourmet candy apples:

Step 1: Assemble the ingredients.
-Caramel bits (i.e. Kraft’s Caramel Bits) or wrapped caramel candies (i.e. Brach’s Milk Maid creamy caramels). The caramel bits are the easiest because you don't have to unwrap them like the candies. But, the candies are easy too. Unwrap each piece, and you're ready to go.
- 1-2 bags of white baker’s chocolate
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon
- 2 packages of cinnamon graham crackers

Prepare cookie sheets with wax paper. Spray the wax paper with cooking spray so the apples don’t stick.

Step 2: Prepare the apples.
You need firm, crisp apples. If possible, buy apples that aren't waxed. If yours are waxed, wash them with baking soda or give them a quick dunk in boiling water to melt the wax off. Dry them thoroughly and remove the stems. Insert a stick into the stem end - about 3/4 of an inch so that they are in there firmly. Put the apples in your freezer. This will make the chocolate stick better.

Step 3: Prepare the coating:
Crush the graham crackers. In a bowl, mix cinnamon, brown sugar and crushed graham crackers. I did not include measurements because I sort of winged this. I would say that this is all dependent upon taste. Set this mixture aside for later use.

On a side note, the ones I made did not have enough of a cinnamon taste so when I make these again, I will definitely add a bit more cinnamon- maybe even some into the white chocolate.

Step 4: Melt the chocolate.
Put the chocolate in a glass or heat-safe bowl that fits on top of a sauce pan. Fill the saucepan halfway with water; make sure the bottom of the insert isn't touching the water. Simmer the water and stir frequently until the chips melt.

Step 5: Dip the apples in chocolate.
Once the chocolate is melted, dip your apples and place them onto the cookie sheet. The chocolate should harden rather quickly.

Step 6: Make the caramel.
Add water to the caramel bits (or candies if you're using them), 2 tablespoons of water per bag of caramel bits or candies. Zap it in the microwave for approx. 3 minutes. Stir after each minute, and stop heating it as soon as it's all melted.

Step 7: Dip the apples in caramel.
You can spoon some of the caramel on, too. Lift the apple out of the caramel and let the excess drip off.

Step 8: Play dress up!
Before the caramel gets too hard, dip the apples in the graham cracker, brown sugar, cinnamon mixture. Place them back on the cookie sheet. I put mine in the refrigerator so that they could harden.

After a half hour, I couldn’t wait any longer and had to cut one up, they are delicious! Now that I think I’ve worked out the kinks and shared the recipe with all of you, I’ll probably try again soon! These are great gifts for relatives during the holidays or a delicious after (or before) dinner treat.

There are many different candies to coat the apple and an endless variety of goodies to add to the outside. Add your own variations such as milk chocolate, mini M&M’s, shredded coconut, nuts, chopped Snickers, sprinkles, toffee bits, mini marshmallows or crushed Oreos.

I hope you enjoy making these as much as I did. If you use a delicious variation of your own, let us know so we can try it too!