Tahini Salted Caramel Apples

Every autumn I start to dream about caramel apples. I think it started when I was a little girl, window shopping with my mother in fancy department stores. There was always a display of the most decadent looking caramel apples, loaded with chocolate and nuts. But the prices were outrageous.

They're still outrageously expensive so I definitely go with homemade for my annual caramel apple obsession. And, over the years, I've learned a few tricks for making them both pretty and delicious.

One important factor for me, though, is to keep the sweetness level balanced because caramel can be overwhelming. My trick is to add tahini. Yup, sesame paste is my secret caramel weapon. If you've ever tasted halva, that delicious sesame candy, then you know that sweet tahini is amazing. The nutty taste of the sesame helps tame the sticky sweetness of the caramel and the flavor is awesome.

Fortunately, my kitchen is stocked with Ziyad Brand tahini at all times because I use that stuff on almost everything. They also make a wide range of spices, from the familiar to the exotic, and I keep them all around for recipe testing. This caramel just got a bit of cinnamon but a little cardamom wouldn't hurt either.

I made a dipping station with crushed peanuts, almonds, graham crackers and chocolate so I could dip away and make all my favorite flavor combos. This one is definitely a fun fall project. Enjoy!

Yield: 8 ServingsAuthor: Anita Schecter

Tahini Salted Caramel Apples

prep time: 15 minscook time: 15 minstotal time: 30 mins

Recipe for apples dipped in tahini salted caramel and decorated with nuts and chocolate.

ingredients:

8 Firm apples

1 Cup chopped peanuts

1 Cup Ziyad Brand slivered almonds

1 Cup crushed graham crackers

1 Cup milk chocolate chips, melted

1 Cup white chocolate chips, melted

Candy decorations, if desired

Tahini Caramel:

1 Cup sugar

1 Tablespoon water

1 Teaspoon Ziyad Brand vanilla

1 Cup heavy cream

2 Tablespoons Ziyad Brand tahini

1/2 Teaspoon Ziyad Brand ground cinnamon

Pinch of sea salt

instructions:

Wash your apples to get off the thin layer of wax. This will help the caramel to adhere. Dry thoroughly.

Remove the stems and insert a popsicle stick into each.

Add the sugar, water and vanilla to a heavy bottom pot and set the heat to medium. Allow the sugar to melt but do not stir. Once the sugar melts, continue cooking until it begins to turn a light golden brown. Do not step away because it can burn very quickly.

Pour in the heavy cream and note that the mixture will bubble up.

Continue cooking, stirring continuously until the mixture is smooth and begins to thicken.

Stir in the tahini and sea salt to taste and set aside.

Place each of your toppings in separate shallow bowls. Dip each apple in the caramel, allow the excess to drip off and then dip it in your desired topping. Drizzle with the chocolate if desired, decorate with candy eyes or other candy decorations and refrigerate on wax paper for a few minutes to set.

Created using The Recipes Generator

This recipe is sponsored by Ziyad. Thank you for supporting the products I love and use in my kitchen.