The Chocolate Caramel Apples Have Arrived

Many of you have already been buying these treats. I've been selling them at the Farmers' Market since October 1st. This is a delicious confection that starts with fruit and ends with nuts, and in between are layers of creamy caramel and dark chocolate. There is a certain excitement in the air when the caramel apples are available. Everyone knows the season won't last for long, only about 2 months. And it is just so exciting and satisfying to actually eat something so beautiful and big, knowing it is made out of really good stuff. Just so you know, making these wonderful apples is a three day process. The first day, the apples are hand washed and allowed to dry. The next day, the sticks are inserted right before the caramel is cooked. It takes about 90 minutes to boil a kettle of caramel. It is done when the color is right and the boiling temperature is 240F. The hot, bubbly caramel is taken off the heat, then it cools to 200F. Now the apples can be dipped in the golden liquid. The apples must be rotated by hand in a twirling motion, in mid-air, to set the caramel so it doesn't all slump off. Then it gets to rest overnight. The next day, pure dark chocolate is melted and tempered. When it is ready, the apples are dunked into the warm chocolate, being careful to leave some of the surface of the lovely caramel exposed. Before the chocolate is completely set, the apples are rolled through a bed of roasted, chopped almonds. These almonds add color and nutrient-dense crunch to the eating experience. These Chocolate-Almond-Caramel Apples are truly something special. I'm happy to have some customers who ask me to slice into them right when they buy them at the Market. The perfect snack.