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Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Making caramel topping to use as dip for apple slices


The apples on our early apple tree are ripening fast and furiously. I had been picking one or two at a time, directly from the tree. Then every morning, picking up and using all of the apples that had fallen in the night.

Over the weekend, the fallen apples had multiplied, significantly. I got out the taller ladder and began harvesting that tree, filling 2 drawers in the fridge with good, unbruised apples. I suspect we have enough apples for fresh, daily eating to carry us through the month of August. I can skip buying bananas or other fresh fruit, for the time being.


After some hard work, yesterday afternoon, I decided it was time for my dessert from lunch. I had thought to just make enough caramel topping to dip my own apple dessert. Remembering how much my other family members love apples and caramel dip, I decided to make a half-pint, to keep in the fridge. It really doesn't take much extra effort to make a half-pint over 2 tablespoons.

I didn't follow a recipe, but cooked some white sugar, molasses, water, corn syrup and salt in a small saucepan, until it was nearly sheeting off a spoon. Then turned the flame off, and swirled in vanilla extract and butter. (Those last 2 ingredients are what give the caramel topping it's old-time, candy store aroma.)


Anyways, a nice reward for all of the up and down on the ladder picking apples -- a plate of apple slices and some caramel dipping sauce.

For a little price comparison, 8 ounces of caramel topping costs about $1.25 to $1.50 at Wal-Mart. My 8 ounce batch of homemade caramel topping cost about 30 cents, and I got to lick the spoon!!

13 comments:

  1. That looks so good--fresh apples with caramel. I haven't made caramel since I was a kid. We used brown sugar which would be roughly equivalent to your white sugar and molasses.

    I could eat apples every day, all day. However, I was wondering if your family gets tired of them after a while.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi live and learn,
      I suppose some do tire of them. I don't think my hubby likes fresh fruit nearly as much as the kids and I do. He'll et it if I cut it up and put it in front of him, but won't grab an apple for a snack, as I will.

      But with all things, just as we do begin to become bored with the apples, they're all gone, and another fruit is available. (We'll have a few pears in a few days, and then September is the month the plums ripen.)

      Delete
  2. Delicious! I make my caramel as well, though I do follow a recipe. Lovely stuff! You have more self restraint than I do, though. Probably half that half-pint would have been gone had I made it. ;)

    Cat

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cat,
      Leftover caramel sauce is also good in tea and coffee. So, I don't think this half-pint will last all that long, here!

      Delete
  3. I haven't bought/eaten an apple yet this season. This looks so delicious. I am guilty of thinking caramel is something you need to buy readymade.

    Have a nice day!!

    YHF

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi YHF,
      Oh, caramel sauce, especially if you're just using it for dipping fruit or pouring over ice cream, is so easy to make. When I do follow a recipe, I use the one from Joy of Cooking. If you ever do ice cream sundaes when the grandkids are visiting, homemade caramel sauce and homemade chocolate sauce are a couple of easy to make toppings. It's the hard caramels (like the candy) that are difficult to get right, I think. I made caramel apples (candied apples, like what you buy at a fair) a few years ago that looked more like apples sitting in a pool of caramel sauce.

      Have a nice day, too, YHF! I'm struggling with a bad sinus headache this week, so I'm trying to find the positives in each day.

      Delete
    2. Oh no, sinus headaches are not fun, so hard to get rid of. I had a bad case of sinusitis when we were living in Portland. Finally had to see a doctor and was treated with antibiotics. Hope your own immunity can fight the infection. Hot teas and showers can help open the sinuses. Getting enough sleep too. Hope you feel better soon.

      Thanks for the idea of making our own ice cream toppings. That should be fun!

      YHF

      Delete
  4. Yum that looks soooo good. I may make some. I forgot about making caramel sauce.
    Thank you for the reminder.
    Patti

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Patti,
      Caramel dipping sauce does make eating apples a fun treat. If you make some, enjoy yours!

      Delete
  5. Caramel, yum! I make caramel and chocolate sauces for ice cream too. I will need to make and serve some with apples like you. My family would really enjoy that.
    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  6. Replies
    1. Thank you, Belinda! A great way to turn a piece of fruit into dessert!

      Delete

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