ULTIMATE CARAMEL APPLES  

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INGREDIENTS:  
1 cup water  
1 cup sugar  
1/2 cup heavy cream  
10-inch square piece of styrofoam  
6 popsicle sticks or small wooden dowels  
6 Red Delicious or Golden Delicious apples  
3 ounces white chocolate  
3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped  
1/4 cup chopped nuts  

DIRECTIONS:  
In heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine water and sugar. Over  
low heat, stir mixture gently until sugar is completely  
dissolved. Increase heat to medium low and cook, without  
stirring, until mixture is a dark amber color. Remove from  
heat and carefully stir in heavy cream (mixture will bubble  
up and spatter a bit, then subside.) Set aside to cool and  
thicken. Cover styrofoam with waxed paper to catch caramel  
drippings (this will be a stand for caramel apples). Insert  
popsicle sticks into bottom center of apples. Dip top half  
of each apple into thickened caramel. Insert bottom of popsicle  
sticks into styrofoam, allowing apples to stand upright so  
caramel runs down sides of each apple. Refrigerate to harden.  
Meanwhile, melt white chocolate in top of double boiler above  
gently simmering water; stir until smooth. Transfer melted  
chocolate to pastry bag fitted with small writing tip. Drizzle  
thin, random strips of white chocolate over each caramel apple.  
Repeat melting and drizzling with semi-sweet chocolate.  
Sprinkle with chopped nuts.  

YIELD:  6 Servings  
Categories: Apples, Desserts, Treats