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| Candy & Caramel Apple Bites |
I have been scouring Halloween editions of magazines and Pinterest for easy Halloween snacks to serve at O's first birthday party. Here are a couple I've practiced recently.
First, I attempted bite-sized caramel apples. I had seen this pin that involved a melon baller and drizzled caramel, and that sounded too complicated for me!
It was all going well until I got to the melting part. It is definitely not as easy as the directions on the bag make it seem! I burned the first 2 batches (melting in my microwave was NOT working & on the stove requires A LOT of attention). For my third attempt, I constantly stirred while I melted them in a double boiler until it was smooth. But when I took it off the heat, it immediately started thickening. I couldn't put it back on the heat & dip, because if I stopped stirring, it burned.
Since that wasn't the look I was going for, I picked up these mixes at the store hoping to simplify things.
Take 2!
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| The candy hardened nicely, and the pieces are much easier to eat than a whole candy apple. |
And even easier are the Mummy Dogs (another idea from a pin). You just cut hot dogs in half, wrap them in Pillsbury breadstick dough, and bake according to the breadstick directions. I sprinkled garlic salt & garlic powder on top before I baked them & finished them off with food coloring eyes.
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| Aren't they cute? |
Any other pins I should be trying out?
I am TOTALLY making those mummy dogs for my Halloween party - except I was trying to figure ouw where to buy tiny hot dogs, instead of just thinking CUT THEM IN HALF. It's amazing I don't forget to breath some days.
ReplyDeletelove the mummy dogs! ive always wanted to make those. this is my year, i swear.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to try the apple bites. If you still want to make the butterscotch ones, try adding a little shorting in. It keeps the sauce thin.
ReplyDeleteYou could try using whole cloves for eyes :-)
ReplyDeleteI did pretzel sticks dipped in white chocolate - dip about 2/3 in the white chocolate then add mini chips for the eyes - cool ghosts.
ReplyDeleteAlso - if your chocolate is not melting (I highly recommend the double boiler method over the microwave) add a teaspoon of shortening (1 at a time) until it reaches the right smooth consistency.
The candy apple bites looked like so much fun, so I decided to make them for a party. Everything was going so well--I was cutting up my Granny Smith's, the candy was boiling, and I was following the instructions exactly as they said on the box (I bought the $0.99 red ones you pictured above.) The kitchen smelled amazing.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I learned realllllly quickly that A) I must've done something horribly wrong or B) these candy apples were a bust.
As much as I don't want to choose B, I think that's the correct answer. First of all, I placed a few pieces on wax paper. I'm an anxious cook, so after letting them cool off, I tried peeling one off to try--they stuck to the wax paper. No problem, I transfered it to a greased baking sheet. When I made a few more pieces and let them cool down, I was so disappointed to discover they tasted AWFUL. :(
Perhaps if I did the caramel, I'd have been in better shape, but as pretty as they look, and as novel of an idea that it is, I certainly don't suggest making the red candy apple. The shell was hard as a rock and the exposed apple turned to mush. I was also trying to be a prepared host and made them the night before, but even then, it said I cannot refrigerate the mix.
Oh well, lesson learned. Or perhaps not. Because I'm still curious as to how the caramel ones turned out.
@AnonymousSorry they didn't work out for you. I didn't have any issues with sticking or taste, and I've made these twice. Maybe the candy burned? Or the box was old? Using cut up apples shouldn't affect the taste/stickiness of the candy.
ReplyDeleteWe make the mummy dogs as a whole hotdog, slice of cheese & wrap it in a croissant. Just before serving, we dot on mustard eyes! So yummy! Can't wait to try these apples tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteHi I found your blog through Pinterest and I thought I would share a recipe with you that I saw where they used melted butterscotch chips instead of caramel and for some reason it sticks better to cut up apples. And they said that it tastes just the same. Here is the link so check it out and see what you think. http://www.abc4.com/content/about_4/gtu/recipes/story/Caramel-Apple-Bites/a0GahzFGV0-atgD0gD3eWQ.cspx
ReplyDelete@CarolThanks so much, Carol! There is a great video at that link too! I tried the butterscotch chips but couldn't keep it from burning. This just motivated me to try again!
ReplyDeletedid anyone try the crockpot on low heat to melt the chips?
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if you could take caramel candy pieces and slightly melt til soft in microwave and then stick apple w/ toothpick in it. Also, you can make spiders by using chow mein noodles as legs on an open face Ritz cracker topped w/ peanut butter and either mini choc chips for eyes or raisins.
ReplyDeleteI melt carmel for another cookie recipe I make, and I have no trouble, but the trick is adding about a Tbls of water to the carmels. I peel a whole bag of Kraft or Brachs carmels, add a Tbls of water and then microwave. If anyone tries this recipe, you may want to give that a whirl
ReplyDeleteKraft makes caramel bits (tiny little balls) for baking. I'll bet they would be great for melting down for your bite-sized caramel apples!
ReplyDeletehttp://w3.kraftbrands.com/Caramels
When I make "buckeyes", I add a little parafin to the chocolate (or in this case butterscotch) chips. The consistancy works well and they set up with a nice shine.
ReplyDeleteWhy not just get a tub of caramel dip and use that? It's in the produce section, normally by the apples. I think the name is J. Marzetti's or something like that. It's a thick dip so if you're going to have the apples pieces on sticks, you could dip them in this dip & just place them on the tray. It tastes great & would definately be easier on you! Good luck.
ReplyDeletedo you think these would turn out if I made the caramel bite a day before a party? I am worried the apple won't be good, but I am wondering if somehow the caramel will protect it? Help!
ReplyDelete@SarahThey should be fine. After I made mine, I kept the leftovers in the fridge & nibbled on them for a couple days. They were still yummy :)
ReplyDeleteI tried the caramel apples, and if I make them again will MAKE SURE to dip all the way over the skin... my caramel stuck to the wax paper I had it cooling on, and then when I went to take them off, the apples slipped out of the caramel. good idea, but I won't use wax paper again, will make sure to dip them all the way in, and will make them day-of. the apples broke the caramel down so it was a little runny from the juices after refrigerating for a day or two. I used caramel from the local apple house (heated it in a double boiler)
ReplyDeleteCaramel dip won't work because that stuff doesn't "set".
ReplyDeleteI think the wilton candy melts peanut butter disks would work great!! Candy melts are super easy to work with too!
ReplyDeleteI think the wilton candy melts peanut butter disks would work great!! Candy melts are super easy to work with too!
ReplyDeleteHave you tried making your caramel from scratch instead of out of a bag.. Taste so much better!!!
ReplyDeleteIf you take Sweeten Condensed Milk and boil it about an hour it turns into a dipping caramel.
ReplyDelete