Caramel Apples Recipes

Chocolate and Caramel Apples

6 medium tart green apples, washed and dried
6 wooden skewers or ice cream sticks
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons water
1 (14-ounce) package caramel candies

1. Insert skewer in stem end of apple. Place nuts into a small shallow bowl. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Set aside.
2. In heavy, 2-quart saucepan melt chocolate chips, water and caramels over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth.
3. Dip each apple into caramel mixture, spooning over apple until completely coated. (If caramel mixture hardens while coating apples, reheat over low heat.)
4. Dip top of each caramel-coated apple into nuts; sprinkle a few loose nuts around the skewer. Place on prepared baking sheet and refrigerate until firm.

For Caramel Apples: Follow directions above, except omit nuts and chocolate chips. Dip each apple into caramel mixture, spooning mixture over apple until about 3/4 coated.

Note: You can also substitute miniature semisweet chocolate chips, chocolate or colored cake sprinkles, toasted coconut or any combination of goodies for the chopped nuts. For gift giving, wrap in pretty cellophane and tie with bright, shiny curling ribbon.

Caramel Nut Apples

6 apples
1 (14-ounce) package soft caramel candies
1 cup finely chopped nuts (toast nuts before chopping, if desired)

1. Rinse and dry apples. Place a thick wooden skewer or 2 popsicle sticks through the stem of each apple.
2. In the top of a double boiler melt caramel over low heat. Stir until caramel has melted and is smooth.
3. Dunk the apples in the warm caramel. Using a spatula, spread the caramel over the apples.
4. Once the apples are completely covered in caramel, sprinkle with chopped nuts. Place apples on a piece of wax paper to harden.
Makes 6.

Choco-Peanut Butter Apples

10 wooden popsicle sticks
10 medium tart apples, stems removed
1 (10-ounce) package peanut butter chips
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup powdered sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
Chopped dry roasted peanuts

1. Insert wooden stick into each washed and thoroughly dried apple.
2. Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper.
3. Stir together peanut butter chips and oil in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH 1 1/2 minutes or until chips are softened. Stir until melted. If necessary, microwave at HIGH an additional 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, just until chips are melted when stirred.
4. In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar and cocoa and then gradually add dry mixture to melted chip mixture, stirring until smooth. Microwave at HIGH 1 minute or until very warm.
5. Dip apples in mixture; twirl to remove excess coating. (If coating becomes too thick, return to microwave for a few seconds.)
6. Roll lower half of coated apple in chopped peanuts, if desired.
7. Allow to cool on prepared cookie sheet. Store in refrigerator.
Makes 10 apples.

Source - cooksrecipes.com