Crock Pot Caramel Apple Dippers: A Super Easy Snack for Any Occasion

This is a sponsored post. The Indiana Soybean Alliance provided me with the crock pot, and Indiana Soybean Association gave me the idea, but my words and thoughts are my own. Affiliated links only go on products I use and enjoy.

Looking for a great after school snack?  A crisp treat to serve at tailgate gatherings, after ballgames, or at parties around the campfire?  Whether apples are in season or on display at your grocery store, these Crock Pot Caramel Apple Dippers are sure to be a star food on your table.

Because it is fall, apples seem to be on everyone's mind.  True, we can find them at the store pretty much whenever we want them; however, there is still something traditional, nostalgic, and just plain fun about going to an orchard and picking your own.  Maybe you are like me, and there is an apple tree or two in your own back yard.  With all the festivals and fairs popping up across smalltown America this time of year, you are bound to find a variety of ways to serve apples with caramels.

I personally, have always found eating a big apple covered in caramel and nuts and stuff quite challenging,  It all seems to somehow make on to many places other than landing in my mouth.  I love this idea of dipping wedges into the sauce and then dredging it through toppings of my choice. This way of eating caramel apples gives people at least a fighting chance of eating one without a huge mess........

See?

Ok, so about now I bet you are wondering where the crock pot comes in to play, right?  Great question!  I actually used TWO crock pots for this recipe, and I promise this is another easy-peasy recipe!

First, you need caramel.  There are several ways to go about this.  You can buy sauce already made and then heat it up in a small crock pot.  You can also grab a bag of caramels at the store, bring them home, and melt them down in a pan or in the microwave.  I chose a different route.  I sent Tall Guy a message to pick up three cans of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk from our local IGA.

Place these cans in a large crock pot, and fill the pot full of water.  Make sure the water completely covers the cans with some to spare.  I started the pot up at 10:30 last night on low, went to bed, and 8 hours later grabbed a set of tongs and removed the cans from the crock pot to cool to room temperature.  After that time, you can pop open the lids and *POOF* caramel sauce is made in a can! (The water was boiling when I turned it off so, as you can imagine, the paper peeled right off the cans.)

When it is time to eat the dippers, scoop out the caramel from one or all cans, and warm it up in a small crock pot.  While that is heating back up to a warm creamy consistency, time to work on your apples and toppings.  I have to admit that I cheated a little and used the good ol' apple corer/slicer *on my apple.   *I like the tool I linked to because it has a rubber cover that goes over the blades, and it has bigger handles so pushing down will not crunch fingers at the end.

This is the perfect tool to core and quarter the perfect apple.  Just remember that the Good Lord doesn't make all apples perfect, and for those you just have to grab a knife, and do it the old fashioned way.

Next, I put one cool little bamboo fork into each slice.  If your apples are going to set out a while, dip the apples in some 7-Up, Sprite, or other clear pop to prevent browning.  Lemon juice also works, but I don't like the taste of lemon on my apples.  Just sayin'

Ok, for the toppings, the sky is the limit, but tonight I just chose four: chopped peanuts, mini chocolate chips, mini marshmallows cut in half with blue sprinkles.....GO COLTS!!!... and Heath bar nuggets.  You can also try marshmallow cream, peanut butter, crushed graham cracker crumbs, mini M&Ms, coconut or any other chopped nut of your choosing.

Dip the apple slice in the caramel, and then dredge it through one, two, three, or even all four of the topping choices, and enjoy!

Do you have a great tailgate recipe?  The Indianapolis Colts are sponsoring The Colts Best Tailgate Contest.  Click HERE for more information.  Good Luck!

Printable Recipe

Caramel Sauce in a Can

Ingredients

• 2-4 cans Sweetened condensed milk

Cooking Directions

1. Place cans inside a crock post.
2. Cover cans completely with water, submerged about one inch.
3. Place a lid on the crock pot, turn on LOW, and let cook for 8 hours.
4. Remove from water and let cool, unopened.
5. Open at room temperature.

See this recipe and more at the link below

Until the next time Peeps, have a great day,

and make a positive difference

in someone else's life.