Chocolate-Toffee Apples

Ingredients

• 12 small Honeycrisp or other firm red apples
• 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

Preparation

1. 1. Rinse apples; dry well to remove waxy residue. Insert a craft stick into stem end of each apple. Place pecans in a shallow dish.
2. 2. Combine sugars and the next 4 ingredients (through butter) in a small, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring just until sugar dissolves, and bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reaches 325° or until syrup begins to caramelize. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and salt.
3. 3. Working quickly with 1 apple at a time and holding apple by its stick, dip in caramel mixture, tilting pan and turning apple to mostly coat apple; allow excess to drip off. Quickly dip apple in pecans. Place apple, stick side up, on a cooling rack; let stand until set. Place chocolate in a microwave-safe dish; microwave at HIGH 1 minute or until melted, stirring every 20 seconds until smooth. Drizzle chocolate over apples. Let stand until set.