Caramel Apples

Fall time just screams caramel apples to me.  If you have never had a caramel apple made with homemade caramel sauce, you need to try it.   So good.   Using a fresh Michigan grown apple even will make it better.

CARAMEL APPLES

(serves 8)

Ingredients:
*8 -10 medium apples of your choice (I use Macintosh or Granny Smith)
*2 cups brown sugar
*1 cup light corn syrup
*5 tablespoons butter
*1 1/2 cup heavy cream

*1/4 teaspoon salt
*1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

*8-10 popsicle sticks (or heavy sucker sticks)

Directions:
~In a medium bowl of  hot water (not boiling)
~Remove stems from apples.
~Dip apples into water for 1 second or two (removes any wax or any pesticides).
~Dry apples with a towel

~Insert popsicle sticks into apple.
~Use a silicone mat or a parchment paper that is spayed with cooking spray.
~In a large heavy sauce pan, mix 5 tablespoons butter, 2 cups brown sugar, 1 cup corn syrup, 1 1/2 cups heavy cream and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

~Heat in a medium to large heavy bottom sauce pan, over medium-low heat.

~Stir until butter has melted.

~Once butter has melted stop stirring until mixture reaches 235-240 degrees (once in a while washing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to keep from crystals forming).

~Remove from heat, and stir in 1 tablespoon vanilla extract.

~Cool for about 10 minutes or until mixture reaches 190 degrees.

~Dip apple into the caramel, allowing excess caramel to drip off.

~(If using toppings nuts, sprinkles, mini m&m's, coconut) Dip into toppings and place on silicon mat or prepared parchment paper.

~Allow to cool completely.

~Drizzle melted chocolate on apples now if desired.  Allow chocolate to harden before eating.