Gourmet Caramel Apples Recipe

These gourmet caramel apples are a wonderful treat for holiday occasions

Ingredients

1 – 14 ounce bag of caramels, unwrap each little square
5- medium size apples Gala and Granny Smith are good choices
wooden sticks
2 to 3 cups of Your choice of chopped nuts AND crushed candies, coconut, sprinkles, crushed cookies etc.
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter chips
wax paper or parchment paper
non stick spray
quart size freezer bags to use as piping bags
clear small plastic bags to package each apple in

Directions

Assemble all of the ingredients before you melt the caramels.

Line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper that has been sprayed with non stick spray.

Place the chopped nuts (or candies etc.) in a shallow container.

Remove stems from apples, wash and thoroughly dry them. Insert wooden sticks.

Melt the caramels.

Stove top method; place caramels and 2 tablespoons water in a large saucepan, cook on medium-low heat until caramels are completely melted, stir constantly.

Microwave method; combine caramels with 1 tablespoon water in a large microwave safe bowl on high for 2 1/2 – 3 minutes, or until caramels are completely melted, stirring after each minute.

You will need to keep the caramel warm so it stays soft and melted

Working quickly dip each apple in the melted caramel, spooning caramel over the apple to cover it completely, let the excess drip off, scrape off the extra on the bottom of the apple.

Roll in nuts or candies if desired and place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with all apples.

Refrigerate until caramel is set.

Place a quart size freezer bag with one corner down in a short glass, draping the top of the bag over the sides of the glass. This will become your decorating bag.

Melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips (white or peanut butter chips) at a time in a microwave safe dish

15 – 20 seconds at a time, stirring in between until melted.

Let the melted chocolate cool slightly before transferring it, so it won’t melt the plastic bag. Twist the top of the bag down to the melted chocolate, snip a tiny piece off the corner of the bag. Apply a little pressure and drizzle melted chocolate over the apples to decorate.

Use your imagination to create combinations of colors and flavors with the chips and crushed nuts, sprinkles etc.

Chill apples in the refrigerator to set the chocolate. Repeat with white and peanut butter chocolate if desired and let chocolate set in the refrigerator.

If you want to wrap the apples, cut a small circle out of parchment or wax paper and set it at the bottom of your small clear plastic bag and set the gourmet apple on it, just twist and tie the bags shut with a little piece of ribbon.