Dessert

    Caramel Apples

                                         

Ingredients

• Apples -- 6
• Popsicle sticks, craft sticks or chopsticks -- 6
• Heavy cream -- 2 cups
• Brown sugar -- 2 cups
• Unsalted butter -- 4 tablespoons
• Dark corn syrup -- 1/2 cup

Method

1. Wash and stem the apples. Insert sticks into the stem end of each apple to form a handle. Grease a baking sheet with butter or line it with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Add the cream, sugar, butter and corn syrup to a heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Insert a candy thermometer into the mixture and continue to boil, stirring frequently, until the temperature reaches 245°F, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the saucepan from heat and set aside to cool somewhat, continuing to stir.
3. Dip each apple into the caramel, twirling it and using a spoon to cover all sides. As you finish each apple, set them on the greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. When finished with all apples, chill them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to set the caramel.

Variations

• After dipping the apples in the caramel, they can be rolled in chopped peanuts, chopped walnuts, crushed toffee or little cinnamon candies. Melted white chocolate is often dripped over the finished apples
• For maple-flavored caramel, use 1/4 cup dark corn syrup and 1/4 cup maple syrup.