Yesterday, while Dan and the boys were on the deer hunt, Kori and I decided to get together and make caramel apples for some of our friends. My friend, Susan, who is the owner of Temptationz (wonderful and delicious candy company, email her at temptationz@q.com) gave us instructions and off we went. It was a learning experience but so much fun. We were pretty proud of our finished products, even though there were several boo boo's along the way. But the laughter at our boo boo's was half the fun!
Follow this progression of photos to see how it went. If you get far enough in the progression, you will see the gift tag I made using the Color Me Monday color combo from Jeanette Lynton's blog on 10-12-09. (Orange, Sunny Yellow, Citrus Leaf and Black, see color swatch below).
1. Here are the supplies we used: Non-stick Reynolds Wrap foil (must be non-stick--this is to set the apples on after dipping. I just found it at my local grocery store), Granny Smith apples (the tarter the apple, the yummier they are with the caramel and chocolate on top), caramel apple dowels (I found these 25 for $1.00 at the Bosch store), a large box of caramel (my friend, Susan makes her own but she told me this brand was awesome. You just melt it and it tastes homemade. I got it at the Bosch store, too), white chocolate discs (also got these at the Bosch store. Be sure to get good ones. The cheapos taste terrible!), cinnamon and sugar, and orange cupcake candies.
2. Daci came to help too! Once you wash your apples and dry them, carefully take out the stems and push your dowels in them (the ones I bought have one pointed end which made them so much easier to use). Then melt your caramel. We did it in the microwave. You want it to be so hot it is boiling. Let it sit and stir for about a minute then dip your apples.
3. When dipping, be sure to go straight down and lift straight up. We did a few where we kind of twisted and twirled and this made big bubbles in the caramel. If you go straight up and down it will be smooth.
4. After dipping apples, let cool on the foil. Then melt your white chocolate discs (again, we did this in the microwave) and let it cool about a minute or so. If you dip too soon this is what happens (see photo below). Kori was sad to see all of our chocolate come off the first few apples. After an emergency phone call to Susan we learned to let the chocolate cool just a bit before dipping.
5. After dipping each apple in the white chocolate, cover with the topping of your choice. We did some apples with cinnamon and sugar (2T. cinnamon per 1 C. of sugar) and some with cute little orange cupcake candies in honor of Halloween. You could do almost anything; crushed up Oreos, crushed up Butterfingers, nuts, etc. We just held the apple by the stick over a bowl of the topping and spooned it on as we twisted the apple.
6. Let this set up and then put some of your melted chocolate in a sandwich baggie and cut off the very tip of one of the corners, like a cake decorator bag. Drizzle this on the apples. Kori was a much bettter drizzler than me! Pretty!
7. At our local deli Kori found these cute little cups (I think they are for ice cream). They were .08 cents each. Not bad! Then we put them in clear cello bags, added some orange foo foo, tied with bows and added a tag (see next photo).
8. Finished product. Pretty stinkin' cute if I do say so myself. I think our friends will like them.
Close To My Heart products used on tag: Beware Stamp Set (D1381), Black Stamp Pad (Z2105), Citrus Leaf Stamp Pad (Z2112), Sunny Yellow Stamp Pad (Z2152), White Daisy Cardstock (1385), Orange Cardstock (1281), Sunny Yellow Cardstock (1225), Silhouette Level 2 Paper Pack (X7090B), Corner Rounder (Z578).
Click here to order from my website 24/7...even when eating a delicious caramel apple!
Happy Caramel Apple-ing!
