Halloween Caramel Apples

No Halloween party is complete without that seasonal treat – caramel apples!  Apples are plentiful in Fall and this recipe is easy and delicious.  You can adjust the quantities depending on the number of guests.  You can make the apples in advance so you don’t have to worry about messing about in the kitchen while the party’s going on.

Ingredients

• 8 apples
• 1 cup of chopped nuts – pecans or peanuts work well, but choose any nut you like
• 1 cup of double cream
• 3/4 cup of light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup of butter
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (if available)

Method

Make sure the apples are totally clean and dry, then put a wooden stick into the top of each of them.

Sprinkle the chopped nuts onto a large baking tray or big plate.

Pour 3/4 cup of the cream into a saucepan and add the corn syrup, sugar and butter.  Heat this to 280 degrees Farenheit – use a candy thermometer – so the mixture is golden brown. When it has reached the required temperature, very carefully take your saucepan off the heat and gently stir in the rest of the cream and the vanilla extract (if using).  Take care at this stage as the caramel will be very hot.

Now you can dip each apple in turn into the melted caramel.  Try to cover them evenly.  Then roll the base of each apple in the chopped nuts and put the apples onto a non-stick cookie sheet and allow them to cool before eating.