Easy Wormy Caramel Apples

Little ghouls will howl in delight! Wormy caramels apples that can be eaten? What a fright!

When I was in grade school I used to BEG my Mom to make us “dirt n’ worms.” That childhood favorite that circulated the third grade class rooms every time a classmate had a birthday. Basically it was chocolate pudding in a cup topped with crushed Oreo cookies and sour worm candies. My Mom would roll her eyes, (ok maybe I imagined that) and pack us a healthy snack. I never did have a cup of dirt n’ worms show up in my lunch box. Now as an adult I’ve decided that while a chocolate pudding cup may not be the healthiest of snacks, a nice crisp Granny Smith apple rolled in caramel and decorated with worms might just be the perfectly AWESOME solution to an after-school snack…especially close to Halloween.

To get started, I found gnarled twigs at the craft store which I used as my sticks. Of course if you don’t want to use these or you can’t find them, simply substitute popsicle or cake pop sticks. With a little help from store bough soft caramels, you can forgo the whole candy thermometer nonsense and get straight to the caramel apple eating! Nothing wrong with homemade caramel, I make it on occasion, but let’s be honest…this is way too easy not to try.

Once the caramel is properly melted, simply dip and swirl apples in the golden, buttery goodness. And never, ever dip your finger in that tempting melted caramel. You HAVE been warned.

Now, you could most certainly finish your caramel apples at this step, lovely and regal with a sophisticated air about them. Very “Charlize Theron” in Snow White and The Huntsman, don’t you think? Or you could take the fun, playful route and cover them with sour worm candies. Either way they are sure to be a rotten-good treat this Halloween! Enjoy.

photos by Leah Bergman

1. 5 medium Granny Smith apples, washed and well dried
2. 1 bag (11 oz.) soft caramels, I used KRAFT
3. 2 Tbsp. water

1. Using a small paring knife, cut a small hole in the top of each apple to remove stem.
2. Insert one wooden twig into hole of each apple, pushing down into the core. Cover plate or serving dish with waxed paper; spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
3. Place caramels in medium saucepan with water. Cook on medium-low heat 3 min. or until caramel bits are completely melted, stirring constantly.
4. Dip apples into melted caramel until evenly coated, spooning caramel over apples if necessary. Allow excess caramel to drip off. Scrape bottoms of apples; place on prepared plate.
5. Press sour worm candies into caramel while warm. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Remove from refrigerator 15 min. before serving. Store any leftover apples in refrigerator.