We have always made caramel apples by melting those little square caramel candies. This year we were determined to make our caramel from scratch! Sounds tricky? I think it was actually easier!
I found our recipe in Taste of Home and we didn't even have a candy thermometer! If you don't have a thermometer, check out this Science of Candy article.
Carnival Caramel Apples
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, cubed
- 2 cups packed brown sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- Dash salt
- 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 10 to 12 Popsicle sticks
- 10 to 12 medium tart apples, washed and dried
Directions
- In a large heavy saucepan, melt butter; add the brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil, about 10-12 minutes. Stir in milk. Cook and stir until a candy thermometer reads 248° (firm-ball stage). Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla.
- Insert Popsicle sticks into apples. Dip each apple into hot caramel mixture; turn to coat. Dip bottom of apples into peanuts, chocolate chips, crushed candies... Place on greased waxed paper until set. Yield: 10-12 apples.
You are a good mom! My caramel apples from scratch just involved melting Kraft caramels with a little water. Hmmm - so I guess mine really ARE NOT from scratch! :)
ReplyDeleteYUM!
ReplyDelete<3 Dana @ This Silly Girl's Life
The perfect fall treat! They're considered healthy right?
ReplyDeleteI saw that you can put the canned milk in your crock pot and cook it and it will turn into caramel. I've never tried it though.
ReplyDeleteI want to do this too!!!! Maybe tomorrow when the kids are home....
ReplyDelete