Happy Caramel Apple Day!

by Alexa Weibel, Posted Oct 21st 2010 @ 1:15PM

Salted honey-caramel apples. Photo: You Can Count On Me, Flickr

Happy Caramel Apple Day!

Although Kraft Foods claim their sales representative Dan Walker invented caramel apples in the 1950s -- boosting sales of Kraft caramels, no doubt -- the sweet treat actually dates back to the late 1800s, with the arrival of inexpensive caramel. Once a sought-after Halloween treat, its popularity coinciding with the autumnal harvest, caramel apples have all but disappeared on the trick-or-treat trail, as kids in recent years have been sworn to stick to prepackaged, sealed treats.

Nonetheless, caramel apples remain a Halloween staple, even if they may represent a bygone era. Martha Stewart's Classic Caramel Apple recipe is pretty kid-friendly, or if you'd prefer an adult version, try these directions for a festive Caramel Apple Martini. In sticking to the traditional recipe, the classic Red Delicious apple is often favored, but crisp and tart-flavored types like Granny Smith or McIntosh work well too -- just make sure to avoid overly sweet apples, so can you can aptly capture the proper sweet-tart balance of the dessert.

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Filed Under: Holidays, Food History
Tags: caramel apple, caramel apple day