Easy, Peezy Caramel Apples

I LOVE LOVE LOVE September! The weather is cooling down, you can smell Autumn in the air, it's the month of my youngest daughter's birthday AND it marks the beginning of Apple season. My husband and I enjoy taking the girls to an apple orchard, picking our own apples then coming home and cooking up some goodies. Unfortunately, this September is a little different. Here in the Midwest, as in many other areas of the country, our farmer's crops have suffered greatly from this summers horrible drought. Since the apple crop is slim pickins, I decided to shop the orchard in my local produce aisle.  :)  After collecting a relatively nice bounty, we came home and decided to kick off the Fall season by making up a yummy batch of super easy caramel apples. These are very easy and require very little work but result in a scrumptuous outcome.

Ingredients:

5 Apples of your choice (Most recipes call for Granny Smith but I used Jonathan), stems removed
1 (14 oz) bag of caramels
2 Tablespoons of milk
5 Craft Sticks
Toppings of your choice. Ex: crushed peanuts, sprinkles, chocolate chips, walnuts etc. 

Directions:

Thoroughly wash off apples. You can also soak them in a solution of 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar. Let them soak for around 30 minutes. The vinegar kills bacteria and germs and removes preservatives sprayed onto the produce. While the apples are soaking, line a baking sheet with waxed paper.

When the apples are done soaking, remove them from solution and dry them completely. Next insert the craft stickes into the apple.

Next add the unwrapped caramels to a microwave safe container. Then add the milk. Microwave for 4 minutes. I watch them closely and after a couple of minutes I open the microwave and stir them up to keep them from burning. While these are melting, pour your toppings into seperate bowls. Once they have thoroughly melted, remove container from the microwave and dip the apples into the caramel. Cover the apples as much or as little as you like.

Then dip your apple into the topping of your choice. Next set your apples onto the waxed paper lined baking sheet to cook completely.

If you wish to drizzle yours with chocolate as I did, then melt chocolate chips in a zip loc baggie. You will want to microwave for 20 seconds, pull out the bag, knead the bag to mix the chocolate, then microwave again for another 20 seconds. Repeat until thoroughly melted. Next, snip the corner of your baggie and drizzle chocolate over your apples! You can refrigerate to speed up the process or let them sit out to set.

HINT:

Make sure to add the milk to your caramels when melting. If you forget the milk then once the caramel cools it will become as hard as a rock and your yummo-licious apple could potentially break a tooth.

ENJOY!!