Itsy Bitsy Spider

Halloween is nearly upon us. I don't know about you, but we haven't decided on our costumes yet! Scratch that, we had, but couldn't find costumes small enough for the little ones in our family... so it's back to the drawing board with only a week left on the calendar!

Good thing the treats are already planned and taken care of. We'll be headed to the Tracy Aviary's Halloween Hoot and other festivities around our neighborhood. The goblins who stop by our house will get rewarded with full size candy bars!

Two years ago I shared with you my techniques for dipping caramel apples. Caramel apples are irresistible on their own, but delightfully creepy when decorated with a sprawling spider web. This recipe is simple and easy with a great payout for your efforts!

Spider Web Caramel Apples

Make caramel as directed in your favorite recipe - or melt handy store bought caramels!
Insert 12" wooden dowels into apples and wipe bottom of apples clean and dry
Dip apples into caramel and shake access off before transferring to greased foil
Allow caramel to set completely (2+ hours)

Melt chocolate and drizzle completely over apple
Shake off access chocolate allowing it to drip down sides of apple
When chocolate is nearly dry and tacky melt second batch of chocolate
Pour into piping bag with a very small hole cut out

Pipe 3-4 horizontal circles around the apple starting at the top 

With a toothpick draw vertical lines down the sides of your apple and through the chocolate starting at the top and moving downward, until you have covered the circumference of the apple (10-12 lines)

Apply sprinkles if desired, and allow to set and dry overnight
Package as fitting - I prefer a 7x10" clear plastic bag
Add two ring spiders to the ribbon to complete the look if desired