Several CCers have asked me about making caramel apples. I guess the original posts were lost in the crash a while ago. I hope this helps.

Begin with a crisp, tart apple like Granny Smith. Apples must be room temperature. Wash and completely dry the apples. All wax must be removed from the apple or the caramel will slide off the apple. A great way to remove all the wax is to submerge the apple into a pot of boiling water. I usually do this one at a time, because you only want the apple in the hot water for a split second. Be sure to roll the apple around so that the boiling water covers the entire surface of the apple.

In a glass bowl, heat Peterâs caramel in microwave, stirring about every 45 seconds. I usually add about a tsp. of water per lb. of caramel. You may add a little more if you like a thinner caramel.

For heavily coated gourmet apples, I let the melted caramel cool down to a very thick consistency and spread the caramel with a wooden spatula like peanut butter. If using this consistency, you can immediately coat it with toppings. If I am dipping it in chocolate, I like to set the caramel apple in the fridge for about 15 minutes first. Once you take it out of the fridge, dip it in the chocolate. Let the chocolate barely set, then add toppings and drizzle with a different color chocolate.

I like to set my apple on a Styrofoam tray in the fridge to set. The Styrofoam does not stick to the chocolate or the caramel.

If you want a thinner coating of caramel, dip the apple into the bowl of 150 degree caramel. Let the excess drip back into the bowl. Let the caramel cool just slightly and roll the apple in other toppings.

A 5 lb. block of Peterâs caramel can cover 15-20 apples depending on the size of the apple and the thickness of the caramel that you apply.

Another recipe, which I canât find at the moment, is to make chocolate caramel. If I use chocolate caramel, then I donât dip the apples in chocolate, just in various toppings.

Caramel apples last in the refrigerator for several days. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Depending on the size and toppings these apples sale for $6 - $15 in my area.

Here some other fundraising ideas: http://www.anoccasionalchocolate.com/fundraising-activity.html

good tips !

i LOVE caramel apples, i am excited to start making them again soon.

i have a great scratch recipe for caramel if anyone is interested. i find its cheaper than buying the premade caramel and tastes oh so yummy!

I would love to try that recipe.my hubby loves carmel!

oh, I would love the recipe.

oops, double post

Thanks for the great tips! Melysa I'd love your recipe could you please post it?

Thanks,
Kelley

Thanks for sharing. I love the website ideas.

I would love your recipe too, please!! I was going to make some of these for our fall fest and think they would be a big hit!!!

Do you ever use any other types of apples?? I have seen some suggestions for other types and was wondering what you thought.

i love to use crisp gala apples. thats my personal favorite.

here is the recipe i use. it was given to me some time last year here on cc:

dip 16 small apples in boiling water one at a time for a few seconds to romove wax. wipe dry, add sticks and set aside. Combine 2 cups packed brown sugar, 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup corn syrup and 1/2 cup butter in sauce pan & bring to boil, stirring constantly. Cook over med heat 25 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat & stir in 1 teas. vanilla. allow to cool just a moment and dip apples . place on parchment lined trays and roll in crushed walnuts and drizzle with chocolate. chill.

i like to tie a pretty ribbon to the stick. other ideas are to dip in mini baking chocolate chips, or crushed cookies/graham crackers. mini m &m's....

here is an old thread on caramel apples. this may be the one the original poster was referring to as i saw some posts by her on there.

http://forum.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=508423&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=caramel&&start=0

here are the last batch of apples I made.

http://imgsrc.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1270723&done=1

What about gourmet candy apples? Like the ones covered in chocolate, m&m's, coconut....do you make any of those?

We are making the gourmet apples as favors for my son's costume birthday party in a few weeks. I've been looking at caramel recipes for weeks, and I think I'll try the one you posted Melysa! Thanks!

I will als be trying this caramel recipe as well. I will be making some apples for my sisters baby shower on the 18th. I will be trying to make the apples look like blue teddy bears. I've been able to make them look like brides maid dresses for a bridal shower so I am hoping to pull this one off for my sister. Thanks for the recipe!

I tried the link to see your candy apples and it says that the photo does not exist.

Would love to see them!

I am making some gourmet apples, caramel apples and other things for a fundraiser to purchase Halloween costumes and candy bags to take them to the kids in shelters. How much would you normally charge for your Caramel Apples?

i hope those of you who try the recipe love it as much as i do

i have no idea why the picture isnt showing. the odd thing is i had it uploaded last year. i noticed the other day when i made this posting that it had dissapeared. strange, but not a big deal. so i reloaded it. it showed for a few minutes then said it didnt exist anymore. oooooooooooooh spooky, haha.

(they're pretty though!)

here they are

I posted this on the holiday treats thread. These are my favorite caramel apples. I've never heard of Peter's caramel. Where do you buy it? The thing I love about caramel apples is that you can coat them in pretty much anything you want

Apple Pie Caramel Apple

6 granny smith apples
1 box of nilla wafers, or any vanilla cookie you like. Crushed
2 tsps of apple pie spice, or add till you like the taste
caramel, homemade or kraft caramels (about 2 bags)
white chocolate, melted
Stick to put in the apples. I've used popsicle sticks, chopsticks, cinnamon sticks(these work well with the apple pie apples). Use whatever works for you

Mix cookies and apple pie spice together. Dip the apples in the caramel and make sure to let the excess drip off. Set the dipped apples on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Place in the fridge for 15 minutes. Dip apples in chocolate, let excess drip off. Pat the cookie mixture on the apples 9 or how ever you like to get it on the apple) and let dry.

I've added brown sugar and bakers sugar to the cookie mix. You can really come up with any combination you like.

After they are dry I put them in cello bags and put ribbon around them. My DD loves these so much, for her 10th birthday we had a "Make your own Caramel Apple" table. It was a HUGE hit! Also very messy

here is a great link for making caramel apples, I wish I would've seen this before my first attempt at them(I made a gigantic mess )

http://dyannbakes.com/index.php?post_id=271377

PS....I love dyannbakes.com


Edited to add......melysa you apples are GORGEOUS (that doesn't sound right )

Nickshalfpint, this is similar to a recipe that I tried from Food Network called caramel apple pie on a stick. The apple pie apple is delicious!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/george-duran/caramel-apple-pie-on-a-stick-recipe/index.html

Someone asked where to buy Peter's caramel. I buy mine in 5 lb blocks at my local cake supply store. Search the net. A 5lb block will cost $15-$20. I like using it because it's quick, easy, smooth, creamy and delicious.

I wish I would have seen that recipe on food network before I drove myself crzy trying to figure it out There is a place in San Diego that sells these and my DH and I would get them once a week and it drove me crazy trying to figure it out. I tried ghrahm crackers and crumbled sugar cookies and I actually had desert at a restaurant that had an apple tart with crushed nilla wafers and apple pie spice and both my DH and I looked at each other like "That's it". Every time we go to San Diego we stop there and get an apple That place is sooooo good.