As a child, candied apples were always major treats for our family. Every fall and into the holiday season, the highlight was going to the fifth grade teacher’s house and getting a delicious caramel apple that she made especially for her students. The following recipes are a different take on the caramel apples, using chocolate instead, and will delight any child, or, adult, and add to your holiday desserts.

Drizzled Chocolate Apples*

Prep: 30 minutes
Microwave: about 9 minutes
Ingredients 
4 small to medium Gala Apples
4 -6 inch wooden dowels
1 bag (12 oz.) semisweet chocolate morsels (such as Nestle or Ghirardelli)
3 tsp. canola oil
4 oz. Wilton orange candy melts (from a 12 oz. bag)
4 oz. Wilton yellow candy melts (from a 12 oz. bag)

Directions 

1. Remove stems from apples. Insert a dowel into each apple at the stem end.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine semisweet chocolate and 1 tsp. of the oil. Microwave at 50% power for 1 minute; stir. Continue microwaving at 50% power in 30- second intervals until melted. Dip apples in chocolate until evenly coated. Allow excess chocolate to drip back into bowl. Place apples on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet to partially dry.
3. In a separate microwave-safe bowl, combine orange candy melts and 1 tsp. of the oil. Melt according to package directions, then transfer to a piping bag or a small re-sealable bag with one small corner snipped off. Repeat with yellow candy melts and remaining 1 tsp. oil. Drizzle both colors over apples. Return apples to parchment-paper-lined baking sheet to dry. 

TRY THESE VARIATIONS:

Chocolate Apples with Sprinkles*
Prep: 30 minutes
Microwave: about 3 minutes

Ingredients
4 small to medium Gala Apples
4 -6 inch wooden dowels
1 bag (12 oz.) semisweet chocolate morsels (such as Nestle)
1 tsp. canola oil
1/3 cup orange nonpareils or sprinkles

Directions 

1. Remove stems from apples. Insert a dowel into each apple at the stem end.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine semisweet chocolate and oil. Microwave at 50% power for 1 minute; stir. Continue microwaving at 50% power in 30- second intervals until melted.
3. Dollop several spoonfuls of the chocolate on top of an apple around the dowel. Holding dowel, gently tap apple on a flat surface, creating drips. Sprinkle nonpareils over chocolate. Place apple on parchment-paper-lined baking sheet to dry. Repeat with each apple.

White Chocolate-Oreo Apples*
Ingredients
4 small to medium Gala Apples
4 -6 inch wooden dowels
1 bag (12 oz.) Wilton white candy melts
2 tsp. canola oil

(About 6) Oreo Cookies, chopped
Directions 

1. Remove stems from apples. Insert a dowel into each apple at the stem end.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine candy and the oil; melt according to package directions. Dip apples in candy until evenly coated, making sure some red peeks out. Allow excess candy to drip back into bowl. Sprinkle chopped Oreos around top of each candy-coated apple.
3. Place apples on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet to partially dry.

*Recipes reprinted from: Family Circle, Oct. 2013, pgs 150-151.