Candy Apples!

After pigging out on cinnamon candied apples at Playland during the summer, and blowing my hard earned money on Rocky Mountain candied apples in Oregon, I decided that enough was enough. But of course, enough to me does not mean "stop caving into your sweet-tooth" rather, means... "no more spending money on a sweet treat that you can make at home". I LOVE SUGAR!!! If it were possible to live off of sugar then I would be in sweet-heaven *drool*. But of course, we all need balanced diets of carbs, fats, proteins etc... but once in a while you have to treat yourself to a little something special.

So, on with the recipe. It's pretty basic, and involves apples, candy, various sweet snacks, sugar and anything that goes with apples and sugar!

Joanna's Simple Caramel Apples
(Yield: 2 caramel apples, and some extra caramel sauce)

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup condensed milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 wooden sticks
2 medium apples (I used one gala and one granny smith)

Topping Ideas:
- Chocolate chip morsels
- Crushed Graham crackers tossed with sweetened desiccated coconut
- Crushed nuts (I didn't use these, since my sis is allergic... but crushed peanuts would probably taste divine with these caramel apples)

Method:
1. Prepare apples by washing them, removing the stems and driving a wooden stick down the center of each apple. Combine the topping mixtures and set them aside. Cut out squares of waxed paper (large enough to place the prepared apples on).
2. Combine the first four ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium-high heat. Let sugar melt, and allow for mixture to come to a rolling boil. Continue to stir over medium-high heat until the mixture becomes thick and reaches 280 degrees F.
3. Remove mixture from heat and stir in the vanilla.
4. While mixture is still warm, roll the apples in the caramel to coat. Allow the excess to drizzle off, then roll each apple in the toppings.
5. Placed finished apples on waxed paper squares and let harden at room temperature.

This recipe made enough caramel sauce to coat two apples and still left me with some caramel sauce to nibble on. I experimented with this last bit of drizzly candy by dipping in some sliced bananas and adding in some coconut flakes. The flavor somewhat resembled banana cream pie! Yummers!

I would now call myself a connoisseur of the candied/caramel apple. Having tried various different types and flavors. My favorite so far has got to be the Rocky Mountain Apple Pie Caramel Apple. I attempted to re-create that apple by using the graham cracker/desiccated coconut mixture... and you know, it actually worked! I simply love the amazing apple-pie flavor of the granny-smith covered in caramel, crackers and coconut... but seriously, who wouldn't?!