Caramel-Honey Apples

Have you ever made caramel apples using honey? Yeah, me neither. Found this cool recipe but tweeked it to my liking. Supposedly these are seriously num-yum for the tum-tum {that is, if you're a honey fan}. Who knows...but they look gorge. C'mon now - at the end of the day it's all about looks anyways, right? So dress to impress either simple-sheek or fru fru fancy with toppings. I gave loverbuns some options to choose from so that he could do the official taste test slash stamp of approval. They got his stamp...

Word to the amateurs: if you're planning on being totally selfless and saving any defected ones for gifts - spray the cellophane bag with cooking spray beforehand so Mr. Apple Dandy will come out without a fight. Or yet again it could be funny to watch and record from a bedroom window the neighbor's attempts of getting it out w/o spray. Your call. But remember to CTWrong ...er I mean CTR (choose the right).

Ingredients:

3 medium sized honeycrisp apples

1/2 cup whipping cream

1/2 cup honey

1/4 t. salt

1 T butter

1/2 t. vanilla

optional: toppings {chopped peanuts with drizzled chocolate, health bar toffee pieces)

Directions:

Combine whipping cream, honey, salt, and butter into a medium-sized sauce pan. Bring to a roaring boil. Turn heat down to medium. Stir occasionally. Insert a candy thermometer to gauge the temp until it reaches 150-160 degrees (~15 min). In the meantime wash and dry the apples. Place them on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Insert popsicle sticks into the center and place in the fridge while the caramel continues to cook. Once the thermometer reaches 150-160, remove the pan from heat and scrape down the sides. Add the vanilla and stir with a spatula. Let cool for 5-10 minutes or until the caramel begins to thicken. Once semi-thickened roll the cold apples several times around to add a thick coat of caramel. Place back onto the lined cookie sheet and refridgerate for 20 minutes. At this point you can either eat the apples plain or add your toppings of choice. Once the toppings are added, return the apples back to the fridge until ready to serve.