Thread: Annual Taffee Apple Cookies

On Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:52:42 -0700, "gloria.p" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>On 12/16/2011 5:09 PM, JeanineAlyse wrote:
>> On Dec 16, 2:47 pm, Lou Decruss<LouDecr...@biteme.com> wrote:
>>> Snippers...time involved...to learn how to make soft chewy caramel
>>> because unwrapping the store bought ones is a pita. I tried using the
>>> recipe I use for caramel corn but it got too hard and isn't as good.
>> Lou, you may want to look into ordering your caramel by the block. It
>> comes in a 5-lb. block that is the same consistency/density as those
>> single-wrapped candies are. King Arthur Flour is where I get it for
>> $29.95 Item 1624 Merkins Block Caramel.
>> ...Picky
>
>
>How long does it keep before turning into a block of lead like the
>individually wrapped candies?

If you're going to heat it up would that matter?

Lou

On Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:20:35 -0800 (PST), John Kuthe
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On Dec 16, 7:52*pm, "gloria.p" <gpues...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> On 12/16/2011 5:09 PM, JeanineAlyse wrote:
>>
>> > On Dec 16, 2:47 pm, Lou Decruss<LouDecr...@biteme.com> *wrote:
>> >> Snippers...time involved...to learn how to make soft chewy caramel
>> >> because unwrapping the store bought ones is a pita. *I tried using the
>> >> recipe I use for caramel corn but it got too hard and isn't as good.
>> > Lou, you may want to look into ordering your caramel by the block. *It
>> > comes in a 5-lb. block that is the same consistency/density as those
>> > single-wrapped candies are. *King Arthur Flour is where I get it for
>> > $29.95 Item 1624 Merkins Block Caramel.
>> > ...Picky
>>
>> How long does it keep before turning into a block of lead like the
>> individually wrapped candies?
>>
>> gloria p
>
>Airtight and refrigerated, blocks of caramel last over a year and do
>not get hard because they do not get dried out.

You even talk about food? How have you used blocks of caramel?

Lou

On Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:06:17 -0800, [email protected] wrote:

>On Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:47:36 -0600, Lou Decruss
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>On Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:16:30 -0800 (PST), merryb <[email protected]>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>On Dec 16, 8:12*am, Lou Decruss <LouDecr...@biteme.com> wrote:
>>>> I think this is the third year I've posted pictures of these things.
>>>> This year Louise found the baby muffin papers made for Christmas so
>>>> they're really cute. *She also got some very cool boxes to pack them
>>>> up for the cookie exchange at work.
>>>>
>>>> Here's a tray of finished cookies so you can see the cups:
>>>>
>>>> http://i40.tinypic.com/2m64uf4.jpg
>>>>
>>>> Here's a batch boxed up with the cookies visible through the
>>>> cellophane:
>>>>
>>>> http://i41.tinypic.com/5upo8.jpg
>>>>
>>>> She modified the recipe a bit since last year and if anyone wants it
>>>> I'll post it.
>>>>
>>>> Lou
>>>
>>>Very nice! Please post the recipe!
>>
>>Thank you. I'll have her make the changes and I'll post it in a day or
>>so for those of you that want it. Even a baker like you will shudder
>>at the time involved. I need to learn how to make soft chewy caramel
>>because unwrapping the store bought ones is a pita. I tried using the
>>recipe I use for caramel corn but it got too hard and isn't as good.
>>
>>Lou
>
>I'm going to double check my notes from the chocolate candy making
>class Squeaks and I took, we learned how to make a caramel filling for
>the candies. I think we just melted sugar to the right "color" and
>added cream. I'm hoping this will help you.

Thanks Koko. I'll be looking for what you come up with. You're such
a sweetie!

Lou

On Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:39:11 -0900, [email protected] (Judy Haffner)
wrote:

>
>Lou wrote:
>
>>I think this is the third year I've posted
>> pictures of these things. This year
>> Louise found the baby muffin papers
>> made for Christmas so they're really
>> cute. She also got some very cool boxes
>> to pack them up for the cookie exchange
>> at work.
>
>As soon as I saw the picture, a lightbulb went off in my head, as seems
>I recall making something like this many years ago, so started
>searching, and bingo! I found a recipe called Taffy Treats, and this
>recipe won the Best Of The Bake-Off in the 11th Pillsbury Bake-Off
>cooking contest. I wrote above the recipe "really good, but sure time
>consuming!" I never made them again. I bake about 20 different kinds of
>cookies for the holidays, and just can't spend that much time on any one
>kind.
>
>The recipe is long and involved, so won't copy it all here, but let me
>know if the ingredients sounds familiar?
>
>1-1/3 cups ground walnuts
>1/3 cup granulated sugar
>1/3 cup evaporated milk
>1/2 cup butter
>1/4 cup brown sugar
>1/4 cup powdered sugar
>1/4 tsp. salt
>1 egg
>1 tsp. vanilla
>2 cups flour
>
>For the caramel coating, it calls for 1/2 lb. (about 36) light colored
>caramels and 2/3 cup milk
>
>So is the same ingredients your recipe calls for? They are cute in those
>little paper holders!
>
>Judy

I posted the recipe and it is different. The papers came from Target.
We've got a big supply of them but they're all white. This is the
first year for the Christmas ones.

Lou

On 12/17/2011 8:16 PM, Lou Decruss wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:52:42 -0700, "gloria.p"<[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> On 12/16/2011 5:09 PM, JeanineAlyse wrote:

>>> Lou, you may want to look into ordering your caramel by the block. It
>>> comes in a 5-lb. block that is the same consistency/density as those
>>> single-wrapped candies are. King Arthur Flour is where I get it for
>>> $29.95 Item 1624 Merkins Block Caramel.
>>> ...Picky
>>
>>
>> How long does it keep before turning into a block of lead like the
>> individually wrapped candies?
>
> If you're going to heat it up would that matter?
>
> Lou

It does if you want to cut off and heat part of it. A whole 5 lb. block
is a LOT of caramel.

gloria p

I havent bought them but in the chocolate chip section of the grocery
store Kraft now sells their caramels as unwrapped caramel chips.

"Lou Decruss" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..
> On Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:17:03 -0800 (PST), merryb <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>On Dec 16, 4:09 pm, JeanineAlyse <Picky...@msn.com> wrote:
>>> On Dec 16, 2:47 pm, Lou Decruss <LouDecr...@biteme.com> wrote:>
>>> Snippers...time involved...to learn how to make soft chewy caramel
>>> > because unwrapping the store bought ones is a pita. I tried using the
>>> > recipe I use for caramel corn but it got too hard and isn't as good.
>>>
>>> Lou, you may want to look into ordering your caramel by the block. It
>>> comes in a 5-lb. block that is the same consistency/density as those
>>> single-wrapped candies are. King Arthur Flour is where I get it for
>>> $29.95 Item 1624 Merkins Block Caramel.
>>> ...Picky
>>
>>No reason to do that- just make your own! Getting ready to go out for
>>the evening, so I'll get my poop in a group and post a recipe or 2
>>tomorrow if anyone wants....
>
> Me wants please!!!!
>
> Lou

Yes, me too.

Cheri

Here is an interesting idea. Apples, cut into chunks, threaded onto
shish kabob sticks-dip in melted caramel and then roll in nuts and then
push the stick thru further to center. You could even thread an unmelted
caramel inbetween the apple chunks. Go a step further and drizzle
chocolate as the final layer.

Another idea would be to use broken up dried apple slices with caramel
chips and nuts as a form of trail mix.

On Dec 17, 5:09*pm, Lou Decruss <LouDecr...@biteme.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:52:32 -0800 (PST), merryb <msg...@juno.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >On Dec 16, 2:47*pm, Lou Decruss <LouDecr...@biteme.com> wrote:
> >> On Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:16:30 -0800 (PST), merryb <msg...@juno.com>
> >> wrote:
> >> >On Dec 16, 8:12*am, Lou Decruss <LouDecr...@biteme.com> wrote:
> >> >> I think this is the third year I've posted pictures of these things..
> >> >> This year Louise found the baby muffin papers made for Christmas so
> >> >> they're really cute. *She also got some very cool boxes to pack them
> >> >> up for the cookie exchange at work.
>
> >> >> Here's a tray of finished cookies so you can see the cups:
>
> >> >>http://i40.tinypic.com/2m64uf4.jpg
>
> >> >> Here's a batch boxed up with the cookies visible through the
> >> >> cellophane:
>
> >> >>http://i41.tinypic.com/5upo8.jpg
>
> >> >> She modified the recipe a bit since last year and if anyone wants it
> >> >> I'll post it.
>
> >> >> Lou
>
> >> >Very nice! Please post the recipe!
>
> >> Thank you. I'll have her make the changes and I'll post it in a day or
> >> so for those of you that want it. *Even a baker like you will shudder
> >> at the time involved. *I need to learn how to make soft chewy caramel
> >> because unwrapping the store bought ones is a pita. *I tried using the
> >> recipe I use for caramel corn but it got too hard and isn't as good.
>
> >> Lou
>
> >Sometimes you just have to make the time, especially for something so
> >adorable!!
>
> We've gone through about 200 so far this year and she's just starting
> another batch. *Somehow she makes the time and has been making them
> for well over 20 years.
>
>
>
> >Did you try adding heavy cream to your caramel recipe? If
> >you'd like, I can look up a recipe for exact measurements...
>
> I don't remember what I did but I'll take any help I can get. * People
> have talked here about simmering sweetened condensed milk for a long
> time but I don't know if that's what I need. *I ain't real bright and
> am here to learn.
>
> Lou

Sorry, just checked here! I'll post something in the am- too late to
go on a goose chase tonight!

On Dec 17, 7:16*pm, Lou Decruss <LouDecr...@biteme.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:17:03 -0800 (PST), merryb <msg...@juno.com>
> wrote:
>
> >On Dec 16, 4:09*pm, JeanineAlyse <Picky...@msn.com> wrote:
> >> On Dec 16, 2:47*pm, Lou Decruss <LouDecr...@biteme.com> wrote:> Snippers...time involved...to learn how to make soft chewy caramel
> >> > because unwrapping the store bought ones is a pita. *I tried usingthe
> >> > recipe I use for caramel corn but it got too hard and isn't as good.
>
> >> Lou, you may want to look into ordering your caramel by the block. *It
> >> comes in a 5-lb. block that is the same consistency/density as those
> >> single-wrapped candies are. *King Arthur Flour is where I get it for
> >> $29.95 Item 1624 Merkins Block Caramel.
> >> ...Picky
>
> >No reason to do that- just make your own! Getting ready to go out for
> >the evening, so I'll get my poop in a group and post a recipe or 2
> >tomorrow if anyone wants....
>
> Me wants please!!!!
>
> Lou

Will do in the am!

On 12/16/2011 11:12 AM, Lou Decruss wrote:
>
> I think this is the third year I've posted pictures of these things.
> This year Louise found the baby muffin papers made for Christmas so
> they're really cute. She also got some very cool boxes to pack them
> up for the cookie exchange at work.
>
> Here's a tray of finished cookies so you can see the cups:
>
> http://i40.tinypic.com/2m64uf4.jpg
>
> Here's a batch boxed up with the cookies visible through the
> cellophane:
>
> http://i41.tinypic.com/5upo8.jpg
>
> She modified the recipe a bit since last year and if anyone wants it
> I'll post it.

Those are very festive! Thanks for the pictures.