Delicious Caramel Apples with Toppings

Gather all necessary ingredients and materials beforehand.

Fill a large saucepan with water and bring it to a rolling boil. Submerge apples in the boiling water for a short period of time, using a slotted spoon to carefully remove them. Then, use paper towels to gently wipe away any wax residue from the apple peels. Set the apples aside to cool down completely, allowing them to sit for about 30 minutes.

Insert wooden sticks into the bottom of each cooled apple, making sure they are securely positioned through the core to serve as handles.

Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Combine brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, corn syrup, and butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir the mixture until it reaches a boil.

Continue to cook the mixture, stirring constantly and reducing heat to medium, until it reaches 248 degrees F (120 degrees C) according to a candy thermometer. Be cautious not to burn the mixture, and maintain constant stirring throughout the process, which should take about 25 to 30 minutes.

Once the mixture has reached the desired temperature, remove it from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Proceed with dipping each apple into the hot caramel mixture, coating it completely and about 1/2 inch of the wooden handle.

Add any desired toppings to the apples while they are still hot. Then, place them on the prepared baking sheet to cool down, allowing them to sit for about 1 hour. Be extremely cautious when handling the caramel apples as they will be very hot.