How can I make caramel apples in my home without spending too much money?!
How can I make caramel apples in my home without spending too much money?
How can I make caramel apples in my home without spending too much money?
Before Christmas, I want to create sweets for my family. We're always buying cakes from bakeshops, and for a change I want to make caramel apples. How can I make homemade caramel without spending too much money? Help please ?
Thanks ! Advance Merry Christmas !
Answers: Well, the easiest way really is not too expensive. that would be to just buy some pink ladies or other small but tastey eating apple and a bag of Kraft caramels. You melt the caramel on the stove top and then just drip the caramel by the spoonful over the apple. The Kraft caramel bag even comes with the popsicle sticks to spear through the apple to provide a handle for holding the sticky confection both while making it and while eating it. Then you just place each completed apple on waxed paper.
However, if you want to make the caramel from scratch, I have a recipe for you. Then you would need to also buy the wooden sticks or wash and save popsickle sticks.
You can make a caramel sauce by simply combining 1 cup butter and 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar. Bring this mixture to a boil and cook for two minutes. Stir it and watch it carefully. The coating will be thin but good. Try looking in your local supermarket. Around this time of year they should have caramel apple making kits. Im sure you could find it here
http://www.tvfoodnetwork.com Buy the bags of Kraft Caramels, I think they work the best, they are only a few dollars for a bag of them. Then, if you have it hopefully, put them in a slow cooker/crockpot on low with a little butter, not to much maybe 3 tablespoons per bag, and let them melt down. Then dip away! Have fun! I've been wondering the same thing. I unfortunately don't have an answer, but I've starred your question because I'm interested in the answer for my wedding. :) here's a few cheap and pretty easy recipes. variety is always good! it is importnt to invest in a cany thermometer. you can get one at any kitchen/bath store or target/walmart, etc. usually about $5-10, depending, but look at it as an investment, not the cost of making the apples.
Caramel Apples
6 apples
Craft sticks
1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
2 tablespoons milk
Remove the stem from each apple and press a craft stick into the top. Butter a baking sheet. Place caramels and milk in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 2 minutes, stirring once. Allow to cool briefly. Roll each apple quickly in caramel sauce until well coated. Place on prepared sheet to set. They can be rolled in chopped nuts for an added touch of flavor!
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Red Cinnamon Apples
1 cup water
1/2 cup corn syrup
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon flavoring
1 teaspoon red coloring
1 dozen wooden craft sticks
1 dozen small firm apples
Boil water, syrup, and sugar together until a brown caramel color is reached (at about 250 degrees F on a candy thermometer). Remove from the heat and add cinnamon and red coloring. Cool slightly. Meanwhile force a stick into the core of each apple. Dip the apples 1 at a time into the heavy red syrup, drain well, and place on a buttered baking sheet to cool.
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Caramel and Three Chocolate Apples
6 large red apples
6 (6-inch) small wooden dowels
2 cups caramel sauce, warm
2 cups melted milk chocolate, warm
2 cups melted white chocolate, warm
2 cups melted semisweet chocolate, warm
2 cups pecan pieces, toasted
Wash and pat dry each apple. Place each skewer down the center of each apple. Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper. Dip each apple in the caramel sauce, coating completely. Place on the baking sheet and refrigerate until firm. Dip each caramel apple for a second time in the melted milk chocolate, coating completely. Place on the baking sheet and refrigerate until firm. Dip each apple a third time in the white chocolate, coating completely. Place on the baking sheet and refrigerate until firm. Dip each apple for a final time in the white chocolate, coating completely. Place on the baking sheet and sprinkle each apple with the pecans. Refrigerate until firm and serve.
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you can also make your own caramel............
1 cup heavy cream, divided
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fit a heavy-bottomed saucepan with a candy thermometer. Over high heat, cook 3/4 cup of the cream, the corn syrup, butter, and sugar to 280 degrees F (firm ball); at this point the syrup will be golden. Remove from the heat and carefully swirl in the remaining 1/4 cup of cream and the vanilla. Use caution; this is very hot and it may splatter. (While the caramel is hot, dip and turn the apples into the caramel to coat and let the excess drip off.)