Homemade Caramel Apples

Next to pumpkin bread, I don't know what other food than caramel apples says fall to me. I bought some caramel apple wraps at the grocery store a couple of weeks ago, but they did just not taste as good as I remembered growing up. Strange.

So I searched for some recipes and modified them into one that is really good and so simple! Seriously, easy!!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Tablespoons butter

1 1/2 cup light brown sugar

6 Tablespoons water

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Popsicle sticks

About 6 small apples. (It depends on how thick you want the caramel)

Any toppings you want on your caramel apple: nuts, chocolate, etc.

Directions:
Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the brown sugar and water. Stir on medium high heat until it begins to boil. Simmer until liquid reaches "soft ball" stage on your candy thermometer (approx. 235 degrees). Take off heat and stir in vanilla. If you want a thin coating of caramel you can dip your apples while it is still hot. If you want a thicker coating of caramel let it cool for a few minutes so it will coat the apple thicker. Sprinkle any toppings on your dipped apple and let cool on wax paper.


I used red delicious apples and toasted some pecans in the oven to sprinkle on top. They were very good! Next time I will let my caramel cool a little longer so the nuts don't slide to the bottom of the apple.