Caramel Apples

Well, peak apple season is well over, and next up for fall recipes include the use of pumpkins and butternut squashes! YUM!  But until those recipes roll around, try this caramel apple recipe to make yourself a treat that is both fun to make and fun to eat!  Enjoy!

Caramel Apples

Ingredients
Wooden caramel apple sticks 
6 medium Golden Delicious apples
1/2 cup of butter
1 cup of brown sugar
1/3 cup of corn syrup
1/4 cup of maple syrup
1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract
1/7 tablespoon of salt
14 oz. of sweetened condensed milk

Optional Confections:

• chocolate
• pretzels
• sea salt
• nuts
• candy, etc.

Directions

1.  Insert a wooden stick into the core of each apple, and then place the apples on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

2.  To cook the caramel with out burning it, we must cook it in a double boiler.  If you do not have one, don't fret because its simple to make with items you already have in your kitchen.  All you need is a saucepan, half filled with water and brought to a simmer, with a stainless steel bowl placed to fit snugly atop of the pan.  Once you have created your double boiler and the water is brought to a boil, combine the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt and condensed milk in the stainless steel bowl.  Stir the mixture constantly for about a 30 to 45 minutes.  Or, if you want to get technical and have a candy thermometer on hand, stir the caramel until it has reached about 230 degrees Fahrenheit.  Then take the pot off the burner and move the bowl of caramel to your dipping work space. 

3.  Taking each apple by its stick, dip them into the caramel to coat evenly and then try to swirl off any excess caramel.  Either just leave it at that, or create yourself a gourmet caramel apple by dipping the caramel apples in other confections.  Once done coating and dipping the apples, place them on the lined baking sheet and let them harden in the refrigerator for about 2 hours before serving them.