Mini Caramel Apples

These were highlighted in a RS activity and I just had to make them. I did modify it a bit from the original recipe. They are SO cute and the perfect little bite size (IF you are not in the mood for an ENTIRE carameled apple). I made these tonight and took them to a halloween party. They were perfect! Annalisa, I thought these were right up your ally. So if you end up making them, please feel free to take pictures and replace my lame ones! My favorite part about making these was using my new chocolate pro-melter. It melts chocolate without butning it and keeps it warm while you dip. ANother great secret is that you can buy logs of caramel at Orson Gygi and just cut off a piece to melt. PERFECT!





Ingredients:

tooth picks with rounded ends
melon baller (mine had little claws and it was perfect!)
Granny Smith apples (1 apple makes 8-12 balls)
melted chocolate
melter caramel
chopped nuts, sprinkles, shredded coconut, crushed oreos, crushed graham crackers with cinnamon. .. endless possibilities!
small paper cups

Directions:

Scoop little balls out of the apple and insert a toothpick. Each ball should have a little section of the apple peel. Pat the apple pieces dry (I skipped this step and was fine). Melt chips or chocolate bark, and caramel according to directions. Dip the apples in the chocolate. You cannot dip them in the caramel first because it will slide right off. Next, have your hot caramel in a ziplock bag or something similar. Cut a tiny hole in one corner, then swirl the caramel over the chocolate as desired. Then dip in which ever topping you choose and drop it in your mini paper cups. I let mine set up in the freezer for a few minutes.

The original recipe said to just use butterscotch or peanut butter chips, but it just didn't seem right to me to make caramel apples without the caramel!