Caramel Apples

// The Sweetly Salted Caramel Apple
(Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate & Peanuts)

Sweet, salty and crunchy, who can say no? //

Halloween is days away and the weather is just now cooling down here in Los Angeles. With the weather finally acting its season, I decorated my apartment with pretty Fall paintings and flowers and whipped up a couple of Halloween treats-- including these Caramel Apples.

I searched the internet for some ideas. Mouthwatering and inspired I decided to come up with my own creations:

Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate & Peanuts

Caramel, White Chocolate Chip & Rainbow Sprinkles

and

Dark Chocolate, Cayenne & Cinnamon

(recipes are at the bottom of this post)

To work I went; tasting, testing, eating and enjoying. I have to say the The Sweet Heat Candy Apples are my fave with just the right amount of sweet and heat. Caramel Apples are really easy and fun to make. Give it a try and let me know what you come up with!

 

// The Party Time Caramel Apple

(Caramel, White Chocolate Chip & Rainbow Sprinkles)

Colorful and sweet, this treat is a party in your mouth //

 

  // The Sweet Heat Candy Apple

(Dark Chocolate, Cayenne & Cinnamon)

More on the savory side, this treat pack the right amount of sweet and heat //

In case none of these strike your fancy, here are some other awesomely delicious 

Caramel Apple recipes I found.

// The Apple Pie Caramel Apple  //

// Ghostly Coconut Covered Apples //

// The Reese's Caramel Apple //

// The Snickers Caramel Apple //

// Triple Dipped Smores //

// The Rocky Road Caramel Apple //

- - - - - - - - - - - R E C I P E S- - - - - - - - - - - 

Each of these Caramel Apples start out the same. You want to pick out proportionate, healthy looking (organic if possible) apples and wash them really well.

Cut out the stem of the apple and insert a candy apple stick, a cleaned stick from a tree or a chop stick (what I used).

Take a baking sheet and spray with cooking spray or wipe down with a little vegetable oil.

There are many options when it comes to how you want to make your caramel. You can make it from scratch, or, being new to this, I opted for ready-made caramel dip which you simply heat over the stove. Once the caramel is warm, tilt the pot and roll your apple, coating it in an even layer of caramel. Follow one of the recipes below from here or come up with your own creation!

The Sweetly Salted Caramel Apple

(Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate & Peanuts)

Sweet, salty and crunchy, who can say no?

Coat apples in melted caramel.

Put back on the baking sheet and let it cool in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.

Melt dark chocolate over medium to low heat, stirring constantly. This part can be kind of tricky. There's a thin line between melting and burning your chocolate. If it becomes doughy, you've burnt it and your going to have to start over. Once it starts to melt, keep stirring and lower the heat.

Take your caramel covered apple and dip it in the melted chocolate.

Transfer apple to a plate and sprinkle with coarse sea salt and peanuts (or any other kind of nut you want to use).

Put back in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, then enjoy! 

The Party Time Caramel Apple
(Caramel, White Chocolate Chip & Rainbow Sprinkles)
Colorful and sweet, this treat is a party in your mouth.

Coat apples in melted caramel.

Transfer caramel coated apple to a plate and sprinkle with white chocolate chips and rainbow sprinkles.

Put in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes and eat!



The Sweet Heat Candy Apple
(Dark Chocolate, Cayenne & Cinnamon)

More on the savory side, this treat pack the right amount of sweet and heat.

Melt dark chocolate over medium to low heat, stirring constantly. This part can be kind of tricky. There's a thin line between melting and burning your chocolate. If it becomes doughy, you've burnt it and your going to have to start over. Once it starts to melt, keep stirring and lower the heat.

Transfer chocolate coated apple to a plate and sprinkle with desired amount of cayenne pepper and cinnamon.

Put in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes and then it's ready to eat!

Toffee Bars

I saw these bad boys on Made Just Right and just had to give them a try. These Toffee Bars are really easy to make and only take 20 minutes to bake making them the perfect go-to dessert for when unexpected guests stop by or a delicious homemade treat to bring to a dinner party. 

Before we get to the recipe (below), here are a couple more treats for you to enjoy :)

♥ Food Porn at it's Finest: 

The teaser to Taste Explosions a new show on Tasted

♥ Awesome Blogging Tool!: 

Watch the Tutorial then find the app here ---> Olivia Tech

♥ Such a beautifully inspiring video: 

Each of us has a unique gift that we are here to share with the World, what's yours?

Don't forget to order your Halloween cards! It's almost Halloween! 

Toffee Bars

Prep Time: 15 min

Bake Time: 20-25 min

Ingredients to make approximately 9 Bars:

(
1/3) cup nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans)


(1/2) cup (1 whole stick) butter

(
1/2) cup light brown sugar


(2) tsp. vanilla extract


(1/4) tsp. salt


(1) cup unbleached all-purpose flour

(
6) ounces dark or semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F. 

Line a 8x8 baking pan or glass dish with foil. You want to make sure you have enough to come up on the sides forming a 'handle' in which you will pull the dessert out with later.

Spread nuts on a baking sheet. Bake 4 to 6 minutes, until lightly toasted. Cool, then chop and set aside.

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat and stir in sugar and vanilla, salt and flour. Make sure all ingredients are mixed together throughly.

Spread mixture evenly on the bottom of the pan.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown.

Once golden brown, remove pan from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips evenly across the shortbread. Put back in oven for 2 to 3 minutes to melt chocolate chips.

Remove from oven and using a spatula or back of a spoon; spread the chocolate evenly over the shortbread then sprinkle with toasted nuts.

Set your Toffee Bars aside to cool. 

Once they are completely cool, remove the dessert from the pan using the ends of the foil as handles to pull it out. Cut into squares or refrigerate for a cool treat.