2018-11-01_The_Simple_Things

SALTED

CARAMEL

TOFFEE

APPLES

Makes 10

10 apples (Granny Smiths work well)

Toffee apple sticks*

300g light brown sugar

3 tbsp maple syrup

6 tbsp golden syrup

220g unsalted butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 heaped tsp flaked salt

Cook’s noteUnlike traditional toffee apples,

getting a caramel sauce to stick to the apples

is a little more tricky. You need a sugar

thermometer and to work really quickly when

dipping. It may require a little more effort but

the result is worth it. The apples will keep in

cellophane bags for 2–3 days.

1 Wash apples, dry thoroughly, remove stalks

and replace with sticks. Place the fruit in the

fridge (washing and chilling helps the sauce

to stick).

2 Line a baking tray with baking parchment.

Into a large pan, add the sugar, maple syrup,

golden syrup, butter and vanilla, and stir over

a medium heat until the sugar has dissolved –

around 15 mins.

3 Add the thermometer, increase the heat,

bringing the mixture to a rolling boil, stirring

slowly but constantly until the temperature

reaches 113C (around 10 mins).

4 Carefully pour the caramel into a glass bowl,

stir in the salt. Add the thermometer and

This modern take on toffee apples is a

sticky,sugaryheavenforchildren–and
asalt-lacedcarameltreatforgrown-ups

allow the caramel to cool to99C (this

should take around 10–15 mins).

5 Have your apples and baking tray ready

and, working really quickly, submerge each

apple into the caramel, twist, ensuring all

but the top is covered and place on your

baking tray.

6 Continue until all the apples are done. You

can then go back and tidy up the bottom of

each apple: either press into shape or scrape

off excess caramel if you so wish.

7 If the temperature cools too much the

caramel will slide straight off, so you may

need to reheat and recool the remaining

caramel to finish coating your fruit.

8 If you’re making these ahead and want to

package them, allow the coated apples to set

first (around 2–3 hours); store in the fridge.

* Toffee apple sticks are a seasonal supermarket buy, or look online for confectionary or lolly sticks; skewers work, too.

FRESH (^) | TRADITIONS
PHOTOGRAPHY & STYLING: CATHERINE FRAWLEY. RECIPE & FOOD PREPARATION: MARINA AKONAS