Perfect Caramel Apples Food

CARAMEL APPLES

Steps:

• Wash and completely dry the apples. Insert a stick into the stem end of each.
• Line a 9-by-9-inch or 7-by-11-inch baking pan with foil. Place the chopped nuts into the lined pan.
• Fit a heavy-bottomed saucepan with a candy thermometer. Over high heat, cook 3/4 cup of the cream, the corn syrup, butter, and sugar to 280 degrees F (firm ball); at this point the syrup will be golden. Remove from the heat and carefully swirl in the remaining 1/4 cup of cream and the vanilla. Use caution; this is very hot and it may splatter.
• While the caramel is hot, dip and turn the apples into the caramel to coat and let the excess drip off. Dip the bottoms into the chopped nuts. Arrange the apples on a nonstick or waxed paper-lined cookie sheet and let cool.

PERFECT CARAMEL APPLES

Steps:

• Mix 2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup light corn syrup and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Cook, swirling the pan (do not stir), until the mixture is light amber and a candy thermometer registers 320 degrees, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat; slowly whisk in 1/2 cup heavy cream, then 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Return to low heat and whisk until smooth. Let cool until the caramel is thick enough to coat a spoon. Insert sticks into the stem ends of 6 apples and dip the apples into the caramel, letting the excess drip off. Roll in toppings if desired, then let cool on a parchment-lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray.

THE BEST CARAMEL APPLES

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Dip apples in boiling water for a few seconds, then dry with paper towels to remove any wax from the peels. Set apples aside; when completely cool, insert a wooden chopstick firmly into the bottom of each apple for a handle.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Stir butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk together in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and reduce heat to medium. Cook until a candy thermometer reads 248 degrees F (120 degrees C), 25 to 30 minutes; stir constantly to prevent burning. A teaspoon of the syrup, dropped in a glass of cold water, should form a firm ball. Remove caramel from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
• Working quickly, dip each apple into the hot caramel to completely coat the apple and about 1/2 inch of the wooden handle. Sprinkle apples with any desired toppings while still hot. Let caramel apples cool on the parchment paper. Use caution, caramel is very hot.

CARAMEL APPLE LUSH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Make and bake cookies as directed on pouch. Cool completely, at least 20 minutes.
• In food processor, process half of the cookies to coarse crumbs. Remove to medium bowl. Continue to process second half of remaining cookies to coarse crumbs; add to bowl. Stir in melted butter until well blended. In ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish, press cookie crumb mixture firmly in bottom. Set aside.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1/2 cup caramel sauce with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, scraping down side of bowl frequently. Beat in 2 cups of the whipped topping. Spread over cookie crust. Spoon and spread apple pie filling over cream cheese layer.
• In medium bowl, beat dry pudding mixes and milk with whisk about 2 minutes or until thick. Drop by spoonfuls all over apple layer; spread evenly. Drop remaining whipped topping by spoonfuls over pudding layer; spread evenly. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours.
• When ready to serve, drizzle remaining 2 tablespoons caramel sauce on top. Cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Cover and refrigerate any remaining pieces.

CARAMEL-DIPPED APPLES

Steps:

• Combine first 8 ingredients in heavy 2 1/2-quart saucepan (about 3 inches deep). Stir with wooden spatula or spoon over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves (no crystals are felt when caramel is rubbed between fingers), occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush, about 15 minutes.
• Attach clip-on candy thermometer to side of pan. Increase heat to medium-high; cook caramel at rolling boil until thermometer registers 236°F, stirring constantly but slowly with clean wooden spatula and occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush, about 12 minutes. Pour caramel into metal bowl (do not scrape pan). Submerge thermometer bulb in caramel; cool, without stirring, to 200°F, about 20 minutes.
• While caramel cools, line 2 baking sheets with foil; butter foil. Push 1 chopstick into stem end of each apple. Set up decorations and melted chocolates.
• Holding chopstick, dip 1 apple into 200°F caramel, submerging all but very top of apple. Lift apple out, allowing excess caramel to drip back into bowl. Turn apple caramel side up and hold for several seconds to help set caramel around apple. Place coated apple on prepared foil. Repeat with remaining apples and caramel, spacing apples apart (caramel will pool on foil). If caramel becomes too thick to dip into, add 1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream and briefly whisk caramel in bowl over low heat to thin.
• Chill apples on sheets until caramel is partially set, about 15 minutes. Lift 1 apple from foil. Using hand, press pooled caramel around apple; return to foil. Repeat with remaining apples.
• Firmly press decorations into caramel; return each apple to foil. Or dip caramel-coated apples into melted chocolate, allowing excess to drip off, then roll in nuts or candy. Or drizzle melted chocolate over caramel-coated apples and sprinkle with decorations. Chill until decorations are set, about 1 hour. Cover; chill up to 1 week.

MAPLE CARAMEL FOR APPLES

Steps:

• This will make 8 apples depending on size.
• Use the apples of your choice.
• Line a baking tray with waxed paper and thoroughly coat with butter. Once cooled, they can be moved to a more decorative tray.
• Pierce apples with Popsicle sticks, cleaned branch pieces or wooden chopsticks. If using wooden kebab sticks, make sure they are sturdy enough to hold apples and cut off any sharp ends. If using branch pieces, be sure they are very clean, organic and from a non-toxic tree source.
• Have any toppings placed out in bowls or on plates.
• Place first 4 ingredients in a saucepan and cook on medium heat for about 12-15 minutes, or until 250 on thermometer.
• Remove from heat and add 4 tablespoons butter. Mix well.
• If you like a salted caramel add the sea salt, otherwise omit. Personally, I suggest you omit and just sprinkle sea salt or kosher salt on the dipped apples of your choice. Not everyone may like salted caramel.
• Take your apple on stick and dip and roll around in caramel. Immediately place on coated wax paper, or roll in topping and place on wax paper.
• Suggested Toppings: Candied Ginger, Dried Cranberries, Toasted Walnuts, Crushed Cookies or Pretzels, Sprinkles. Be Creative!
• Sauce will keep for 2 days covered in fridge. To reuse, slowly reheat over low heat.
• Not recommended for canning.
• NOTE: If using Dark Brown Sugar or Dark Corn Syrup it will affect the color and flavor. I suggest not using and letting the maple flavor shine. Dark sweeteners can compete due to their strong taste.