Sunday, October 7, 2012

Chocolate Caramel Apple Bacon Bites

This week for my PIGskin Challenge I thought we'd try something sweet and who doesn't like candy coated apples at Halloween! I was aiming for a little more sophisticated version... 'cause we all know a blog with dancing pigs in the header is all about sophistication:@) I think these Chocolate Caramel Apple Bacon Bites would be great for a grown-up Halloween party! The fun toothpicks are from Michaels.
I started the PIGskin Challenge to try new recipes and give an honest review of them. Most of the things I've made have been pretty easy, but I can't say that about these little treats folks. They are tasty, they are indulgent, they are great... but they are not easy.
Things don't want to stick to the cut edges of the apple. Truthfully I wanted these to be just caramel and bacon but the caramel refused to play nice and just ran off the apple, even after I dried it with a paper towel. So Ma suggested melted chocolate and that worked better. Thanks Ma!

Chocolate Caramel Apple Bacon Bites
  1. Wash and cut an apple in half, then quarters and finally eighths.
  2. Cut the core out of all the pieces then cut each slice into 2 or 3 pieces depending on how big the apple is. You want bite sized pieces, it's best to get the whole thing into the mouth at once.
  3. Melt chocolate your favorite way (I used the microwave).
  4. Stick a sturdy toothpick into the peel side of the apple and dip in chocolate completely covering all cut edges. Place the pieces on a parchment, wax paper or silicone lined cookie sheet and place in the fridge to firm up. The longer the apple sits out before dipping the wetter it gets, I did dry them with a paper towel before dipping in chocolate.
  5. Very carefully and very gently peel/nudge the apples off of the baking sheet. You may find that the chocolate that's touching the paper/silicone wants to stick and break off of the apple. You really need to have a delicate touch for this part.
  6. Melt caramel per the instructions on the bag (I added a few drops of water and used the microwave). Let it cool a bit or it will melt the chocolate.
  7. Dip each piece into the caramel and then into finely chopped cooked bacon.
  8. A note about the bacon: I did try using my mini food chopper to dice up the bacon... yea, don't do that, I just ended up with a gummy mess. A chef's knife worked just fine. I used 4 slices for one apple.
  9. Place on a clean cookie sheet or platter and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  10. They may weep just a bit, but they are mighty tasty!

28 comments:

  1. They look very sophisticated. I would happily eat a couple. Have a great weekend Lynn.
    Sam

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  2. Is this my breakfast:) These sound scrumptious! Happy Sunday Lynn!

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  3. What a unique combination. They look delicious. Congrats on conquering this recipe.

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  4. so cute. what a great bite for a gathering of friends or fam. (:

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  5. Looks like a lot of work, but really yummy!

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  6. I never thought that I would be drooling over a combination of apple, chocolate, caramel and bacon.. but ohhh am I! They look delicious! geeeze, I hope that I am not pregnant!! lol.

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  7. The combo sounds really good, Lynn. I am not into sports :) but I would love to 'watch' a game at your house just for the snacks you put out!!!!! xo

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  8. Hi Lynn, that sounds great but looks really difficult. Thank you for sharing this idea.
    best greetings, Johanna

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  9. Oh, my, goodness that looks fabulous! Thanks for the recipe.

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  10. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm another bite of yummy bacon goodness in bite size form!!

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  11. Those look delicious!!! Love anything salty and chocolate together. YUM!

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  12. I am sure these were fantastic! Now since you said they weren't easy, here is what I would do...mix up melted chocolate/caramel/bacon bits. Take a spoonful with each bite of apple. No dignity here!
    Seriously, I'll bet they were SO good.

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  13. What an interesting combination - they actually sound very good!

    Hugs,
    Stephanie

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  14. Interesting combination there with the bacon - I would never have thought of that - the caramel looks to die for.

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  15. Oh my goodness, Lynn! What a decadent recipe! I don't think I could ever make it, as I'd just devour the whole thing myself! I can just imagine how amazing it tastes.....!

    Julie

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  16. Such a decadent, delicious treat! Chocolate and caramel and bacon? You've outdone yourself :)

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  17. Sweet, salty, gooey, smokey... what a treat!!! I must make these... I'll probably eat most of them myself!!! These are my kind of treats! Thanks for sharing them at ON THE MENU MONDAY!

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  18. These are very good looking, acutally my mouth is watering. I now have put my thinking cap on as to how to solve that slippery problem, although, who really cares as long as there is plenty of chocolate to take care of it...thanks Ma, for sure! xo

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  19. These look great. I love a sweet and salty mix.

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  20. A bit more work but a great idea and so much easier to eat than a whole caramel apple! Mmmm, that bacon sounds like a delicious addition.

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  21. Oh my goodness! Bacon goes on everything!! :) This looks amazing.

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  22. They are soooo pretty with your cute picks. I have been wanting to try bacon and chocolate. Sounds like a fun combination with all of the flavors. We found the same thing, that caramel can be slippery even on the apple skin. Clever idea to try the chocolate and of course it is going to taste even better.

    My dip was the one I had mentioned when you did your jalapeno dip a week or so ago. Thought I would wait just a little while so it wasn't right on top of yours. We are dip lovin' girls!

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  23. Sometimes a little effort really pays off. These looks delicious and would be wonderful to bring to a party.

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  24. Lynn,
    These are amazing, and I can't wait to try them. Hope you have a great week and thanks for sharing!
    Miz Helen

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  25. They look excellent! I love the combination.
    I know I have trouble with the caramel when I do the apples, so I do the choc first. Making me hungry!

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  26. Oh my....this have to be good!

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  27. Hi Lynn,
    I am so glad you brought these over today. Hope you are having a great weekend and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  28. I recently made some caramel apple bites and learned fast that caramel does not like wet apples! I love your chocolate dip method, brilliant. Of course bacon would be so much tastier than the nuts that I used, so I can't wait to try your recipe! I used a melon baller to make quick work of getting bite size pieces which made that part easy. Thanks for the recipe!

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