Taffy Apple Tips
Turning out homemade caramel requires a precise candy thermometer
and bushels of patience and practice. So in the spirit of
Halloween fun, we're going to help you make great caramel apples without a lot of fuss.
First
off,
there's nothing wrong with using those individually wrapped caramel
kits, especially when you're working with a gaggle of young goblins. But to give
your apples a more gourmet touch (like the ones that sell for $18 a
piece!) we recommend visiting your local baking or candy supply shop for
an easy-to-melt caramel loaf.
Peter's (Creamy, Buttery Caramel from Peter's) makes a wonderful, high-quality caramel that
even the candy pros swear by. It comes in 1- and 5-lb. loaves and you'll get perfectly smooth results every time.
Next,
when it comes to the apples, we prefer crisp, tart, green Granny
Smiths. They offer the perfect flavor contrast to the soft, sweet
caramel topping. Firm, unbruised McIntosh and Red
Delicious apples work well too.
And now for some dipping tips:
- Wash and dry your apples thoroughly and completely. Caramel won't adhere to waxy or wet peels.
- Prepare a large tray or baking sheet with a foil or wax paper
lining. Grease the paper with butter to keep your dipped apples from
sticking.
- To coat apples with as much caramel as possible, dip each one at an angle and rotate.
- Pull each apple vertically straight out of your pan/bowl and let the excess
caramel fall. Then turn the apple right-side-up for a few seconds to
let the caramel set fully around it. Place the dipped apple
stick-side-up on your lined tray.
- Let your dipped apples stand until partially set (15 to 30 minutes)
and check. If the apples have pools of caramel around them or are
covered unevenly, this is your chance to repair them. Lightly dampen your fingers with water and quickly
work the caramel into shape over the thin spots.
- When it comes to toppings, get devilishly decadent. Try
coarsely chopped nuts (pecans, macadamias), Oreo cookies, chocolate bars, toffee and dried
fruits like apricots and cranberries. Kids love colorful sprinkles, shredded coconut, mini
M&Ms and mini marshmallows too. Check out this creative recipe for Caramel Apple Witches.
- For an extra enchanting look, drizzle your dipped apples with
melted dark, milk or white chocolate. You could even tint your white
chocolate a festive Halloween orange with a mixture of yellow and red food
coloring.
P.S. In case you prefer your
apples "off the stick," try dipping slices in a delicious caramel
dip, or indulge in a taffy apple-y incarnation like Moist
Caramel Apple Cake or Praline Taffy Apple Pie.