Candy-Coated Caramel Apples

Caramel-coated apples are just one of the many treats that make Halloween special. The crisp, juicy fruit and sweet, buttery caramel make for an irresistible pairing. We wanted to “gild the lily” and add an outer coating of crushed candy bars. Here’s what we discovered:

Test Kitchen Discoveries

• Candy bars with crunchy cookies, caramel, or toffee are the best match for the flavors of the apple and caramel.
• Choose smaller, tart apples for the best flavor and ratio of caramel to apple. Granny Smiths or McIntosh apples provide a tart bite that cuts through the richness of the caramel and candy.
• For the caramel coating, melt together soft caramel candies and a little heavy cream, which will enable the caramel to coat the apples smoothly.
• Coat the apples with caramel by spooning the hot caramel over the apples. It will flow smoothly around the apple to make a thin, uniform layer. Roll the freshly coated apples in the candy quickly so that the candy will stick fast.