Sure, you’ve had a candy apple or two in your day, but for
your next party, why not set up this DIY caramel apple candy bar? Guests will
get a kick out of dippin’ and rollin’ a just-for-them treat with all their fave
toppings.
Choose Your Apples
The fall apple harvest has the produce section at your local
supermarket packed with different varieties of this quintessential autumn
fruit. For a caramel apple, you’ll want to find just the right balance between
sweet and tart. For something more on the sweet side, choose Fuji, Golden
Delicious or Jonagold. For a mix of sweet and tart flavors, try Braeburn,
Jonathan or Pink Lady. For super-tart apples, grab some Golden Delicious.
A note on picking: Snag the smaller apples of the bunch as
they’ll be easier to munch.
Gather Your Supplies
You’ll need:
Wooden skewers or popsicle sticks
Apples
A large pot filled with water and a bowl that fits snugly
inside it to create a double boiler
Potholders or oven mitts
A bag of caramel candies
2 tbsp. milk, water or cream
Cookie sheet or baking tray covered in wax paper
Assorted toppings in bowls or on plates
What You’ll Do
Before your guests arrive, you should prepare the apples.
Wash and dry them, then remove the stems and insert the skewers or popsicle
sticks. Now set out plates or bowls of candy toppings. Crushed M&Ms, graham
crackers, Butterfingers and toffee as well as peanuts, mini chocolate chips and
mini marshmallows are a tasty array, but you can offer up whatever suits your
taste buds.
Guests on your doorstep? Start melting your caramel in the
bowl of the double boiler over medium heat. The water in the pot beneath the
bowl will boil, causing the bowl to heat up but without allowing your candies
to burn. Stir in the milk (or water or cream, depending on what you decided to
use) and allow to melt fully.
Now comes the fun part! With an adult standing by, arm your
guests with potholders and oven mitts—the bowl and the caramel will be hot—and let them each take an apple. One by one,
have your buds dip their apples into the melted caramel. Use a spoon to drizzle
the caramel over the fruit so that the entire apple is covered.
Before the caramel dries, have your friends quickly roll
their apples in their favorite candy toppings. Mix ‘n’ match to your hearts’
content.
When you’re satisfied with your work of art, place the
dipped and rolled apples bottom-side down on the wax paper-covered tray. Put
the tray in the refrigerator to cool, then take ‘em out and eat ‘em up.
Not in the mood to chow down now? These’ll keep for about
three days in the fridge.