Caramel Apples with Kids

A yearly tradition in our family is to make caramel apples. After doing it for so many years, I feel like it may be a more fun/therapeutic activity for the moms! There has been some years when I don't let my kids get involved at all because I want to make masterpieces with my apples! haha. This year I invited some of our favorite friends over, and we were good moms, and let our kids help us! (The top picture was the only apple I did myself! ha!)

Something to keep in mind when you are making caramel apples is that it gets worse before it gets better. There are so many steps involved, and by the time you are dipping the apple in the chocolate, the stick resembles something you could have just pulled out of the ground! So, take your time, and be patient, (and maybe switch the sticks out at the end). I found cute boxes and sticks to put them in! Presentation is everything, really. Here they are:

STICKS

BOXES

I also used these sticks for the first round of dipping, and then replaced them with the cute ones:
DIPPING STICKS

Here's our fun pictures!

Here's the table we setup for the kids, complete with toppings for them to choose from (Also we wrapped the extra caramel we made and put it in a bowl to snack on)

A fun group shot before the dipping!

During the dipping!

And the MASTERPIECE!

Some of the kids creations…Not to shabby!

And here's the recipe and "How To's" behind it all:

I must give credit where it is deserved and mention that this is a recipe I got from a friend many years ago. Not my creation! Just so good that it made the family cookbook!

FOR THE CARAMEL:

1.5 cups sugar

1.5 cups brown sugar

1.5 karo syrup (light corn syrup)

1.5 cups butter

1 14oz. can of Sweetened Condensed Milk

Mix all the ingredients over medium heat and boil until they hit softball stage, about 238-240 degrees F. Let the caramel cool just until it coats a wooden spoon and doesn't all run off. Have your apples washed and ready to go with sticks already in the top. I like to use HONEYCRISP APPLES. I find them at The Fresh Market store and they are HUGE! Seriously the best i've ever seen or tasted. I think it makes a really big difference in how your apple ends up tasting. Try not to buy tiny little apples from just anywhere. Spray a cookie sheet or other large, flat pan with cooking spray. Coat the apples and place on the pan. Let them set about 10-15 minutes, until the caramel is no longer sticky. If you have caramel that has dripped at the bottom, just fold it up at the base of the apple once its set up.

While waiting for the caramel to set melt your chocolate. I use GHIRADELLI DIPPING CHOCOLATE. They sell them at SAMS Club this time of year and are only out for a couple months. I stock up because they are seriously THE. BEST. you can find! Just be careful not to use the kind of chocolate that would go in a fountain because it doesn't set back up. 

Next, just get whatever else you want to go on top- nuts, candy bars, cookies, mini mallows (THESE work great), graham crackers- chopped and ready to cover. You also want to have small plates, like salad plates, sprayed with cooking spray and clear out plenty of space in your freezer. You will use these to put the apples on once they are dipped in the chocolate and coated.

Start putting on the chocolate! When putting on the chocolate, just use a big spoon and spread it with the back of the spoon until it covers. Then, put whatever toppings you'd like on it. Be careful not to put on anything that is to heavy. Once you have it covered with what you want put it immediately in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes or until chocolate is no longer tacky. Take it out, switch the sticks, and wrap up however you want! 

Have fun making Fall memories and eating!!