Caramel Apples

Total Time: 25 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 6 apples, stemmed & washed
• 2 cups whipping cream
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup dark corn syrup
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• chopped nuts, if desired

Recipe

• 1 equipment needed: 3 qt heavy bottomed pan; ice, a couple pounds; candy thermometer; wooden sticks/dowels 1/4 inch, 7-8 inches long (good quality wooden chopsticks); greased baking dish or pan; a dry day (not humid); potholders; and food grade cellophane wrap.
• 2 fill the bottom of your sink or a large bowl with ice cubes.
• 3 put everything else (except nuts) into a heavy 3 qt pan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
• 4 stir frequently (almost constantly) for approximately 12 minutes until the candy thermometer reads 245 f.
• 5 (don't clip the candy thermometer to the side of the pan, just hold it in place to check every few minutes without allowing it to touch the bottom of the pan).
• 6 you will notice the syrup becoming thicker.
• 7 remove from heat and set the pan down on top of the ice to stop it from further cooking.
• 8 remove from the ice and immediately begin dipping your apples, rolling them around the pan to cover the sides.
• 9 the tops can be left partially uncovered, or dip a spoon into the caramel and cover the tops.
• 10 the caramel will be thickening quickly as it cools so you must work very fast place on greased pan to completely cool.
• 11 no need to dip into the nuts immediately, finish dipping all 6 apples first before the caramel gets too stiff, sprinkle nuts on after you're done dipping.
• 12 eat within 2 days.
• 13 can be refrigerated to further set the caramel.
• 14 if you need more than 6 apples, make the recipe twice or double the recipe in a larger, deeper pot- at least 6 quarts- but not a wider pot as it makes the caramel cook faster and is harder to control.
• 15 (it has to do with the evaporation rate of the caramel and having enough depth to insert the thermometer) wrap in cellophane and tie ribbon around the sticks.
• 16 caramel may not set up if you make it on a humid day.