A Sweet Tradition
There is no doubt that I am an Autumn person. I love everything about Fall. I love scarecrows, hay bales, sunflowers, Halloween, Thanksgiving and all things pumpkin spice flavored. I’m not even squeamish about spiders; they set the mood and they eat the bugs!
October is also time for the annual REINS Country Hoedown. This year, we’re Making Old Fashioned Caramel Apples. They will be table gifts for the Presenting Sponsors, The Donegan-Burns Foundation and their guests. For more about the foundation, here’s a link to their website http://doneganburns.org/
The theme of this years annual hoedown is REINS 35th Anniversary, so, bling is in! It’s always a magical event, but this year is going to be truly special. This is their number 1 fund raiser for the year. Donations from this event keep this great program going year after year.
My friend Canece, is the REINS Event Coordinator. She envisioned caramel apples rolled in coconut, crushed pretzels and edible gold glitter. I was a little skeptical about that, but I was wrong. They were both beautiful and delicious. Wrapped in plastic, then tied up with glittering gold and green ribbons.
We’re only making 45 apples this year. Once, we made over 250 cookies for another event. That was something. Here’s a link to our Kentucky Derby Cookies: https://wp.me/p9KEfL-h1
About REINS
The mission of REINS Therapeutic Horsemanship Program is to support the physical, mental and emotional health of disabled children and adults with therapeutic equine-assisted activities. The benefits of this therapy are both mental and physical and include normalization of muscle tone, increased balance & coordination, developments of speech & language, and improvements in body awareness & self-esteem. To learn more about REINS, here’s a link to their website: http://reinsprogram.org
I am always in awe of this group of staff and volunteers. They put such heart and soul into the work they do for REINS. Along with all the other events, fund raisers and not to mention, the actual riding classes, every year they completely turn the barn into a magical hoedown. Full of fun games for kids, beautifully decorated grounds, barbecue dinner, dancing with a live band and of course, lots of acknowledgement to all the amazing kids and adults who benefit from this incredible program. It always starts out with a demonstration of riding by at least a few of the students with their instructors.
Old Fashioned Caramel Apples 🎃🍎
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and coat the paper with non-stick spray.
Into a small sauce pan, mix 2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup light corn syrup and 1/2 cup water together. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Cook, swirling the pan (do not stir), until the mixture is light amber and a candy thermometer registers 320º, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat; slowly whisk in 1/2 cup heavy cream and 2 tablespoons unsalted butter with 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
Return to low heat and whisk until smooth. Let cool until the caramel is thick enough to coat a spoon. Not that the color will start to darken as the butter and the creams cook through.
Insert sticks into the stem ends of 6 apples and dip the apples into the caramel, letting the excess drip off.
Roll in toppings, then let the apples cool on the prepared baking sheet. Here’s are some ideas for toppings: chocolate chips, chopped nuts, crushed pretzels, various candies of any type, edible glitter, marshmallows – the possibilities are endless!
Once cooled completely, wrap the Caramel Apples in clear plastic bags, tie with ribbon.
Hold onto your dentures and Enjoy!
Caramel Apples
Notes
Topping Ideas: miniature chocolate chips, marshmallows, crushed pretzels, peanut butter pieces candy, edible glitter, red hots, etc.
Ingredients
- 6 apples (I prefer MacIntosh or other red apples but any you like will work)
- non-stick cooking spray
- parchment paper
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 6 popsicle or candy sticks
Garnish:
- chopped nuts, candies or chips
To Wrap
- plastic wrappers
- ribbon
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then spray the paper well with non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
- Into a small sauce pan, mix 2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup light corn syrup and 1/2 cup water.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring just until the sugar dissolves.
- Cook, swirling the pan (do not stir), until the mixture is light amber and a candy thermometer registers 320 degrees, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove from the heat.
- Slowly whisk in 1/2 cup heavy cream, then 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/8 teaspoon of salt.
- Return to low heat and whisk until smooth.
- Let cool until the caramel is thick enough to coat a spoon.
- Insert sticks into the stem ends of 6 apples and dip the apples into the caramel, letting the excess drip off.
- Roll in toppings if desired
- Once completely cooled, wrap the apples in plastic wrappers and tie with decorative ribbon.
- Refrigerate apples up to 30 days.
Karen Harris https://www.bittersaltysoursweet.com
