Thanksgiving Turkey Gourmet Apple

Many years ago, I realized we were not going to have money to purchase Christmas present for our children. Instead of curling up into a ball and feeling sorry for myself, I rolled up my sleeves and looked for ways to boost our income.

One of the items I chose to create, the Thanksgiving Turkey Gourmet Apple, became so popular that I eventually created other holiday designs.

People were purchasing several of the apples at a time to use with name cards of their Thanksgiving table as well as hostess gifts or desserts to place on the child’s table.

While the Turkey Gourmet Apples take a little time to create, they are relatively easy and can be made from ingredients easily found in the baking section and candy aisle of any supermarket.

Needs:
Nutter Butter Cookies
Twizzlers Pull & Peel Strawberry (or Cherry) Twists
Candy Corn (6 to 11 pieces for each)
White Chocolate, melted & Milk Chocolate Chips OR Royal Icing
Eyeballs

Making the base of your Gourmet Apple

Step 1

Wash the apples well and dry. Push craft sticks into the apple at least one full inch for stability.

Step 2

Microwave the contents of the entire bag of caramels (unwrapped) with two tablespoons of water on HIGH for one minute. Stir well and repeat in 30-60 second increments. The caramels will continue to melt from residual heat as you stir between heating so make sure you are stirring very well. Do not overheat! You can get about 4 or 5 small apples from one 11-ounce bag of caramel.

Step 3

Spoon the caramel over the entire apple and then scrape the bottom two inches off. Place on waxed or parchment paper sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and allow the caramel to slide down the apple. (I normally microwave my chocolate at this point.)

Step 4

Roll the bottom half of the apple in FINELY chopped nuts, pressing the nuts into the caramel if needed. Place apples in the refrigerator to allow the caramel to set. If the caramel slides, just reshape the apples before dipping chocolate.

Step 5 (Optional)

To give the apples more of a Snickers taste, I used to add a layer of white chocolate before the milk chocolate. You can find white chocolate morsels in the baking aisle or purchase Ghirardelli Chocolate White Chocolate Flavored Candy Making and Dipping Bar at your local Sam’s Club or Amazon.com.

Step 6

For the milk chocolate, I use Ghirardelli chocolate or half milk chocolate morsels and half chocolate-flavored almond bark/candy coating. The bark helps the chocolate dry faster and smoother. The chocolate can be melted in the microwave like the caramel, but make sure your tools are all BONE DRY. Just a small driblet of water will make your chocolate seize up. Same thing will happen if you overheat it. So stir it well at 30-second increments and let it melt as you stir.

Step 7

Allow the chocolate to cool for about two minutes. Then, spoon the chocolate over the apples. Shake the apples gently to allow the excess chocolate to dip back into the bowl. (Some nuts make fall into the chocolate.)

If this is the only coat for the apple, you can place it on a cupcake liner. Refrigerate until completely set. Then, wrap in cellophane and secure with a ribbon.

How to make Turkey Gourmet Apple

Make sure the chocolate is completely chilled before decorating.

To make the turkey’s head, cut the last section (yellow or brown) from a piece of candy corn. Place the Nutter Butter cookie on a flat surface and using melted white chocolate, apply a string of Twizzlers candy as the waddle and then the cut piece of candy corn for the beak.

For the eye, place melted white chocolate into a zip-top freezer bag. Cut off a tiny piece from the corner. Squeeze the melted chocolate onto the Nutter Butter cookie in an oval shape. Before the chocolate sets, press a milk chocolate chip into the lower portion of the oval. Allow these to set completely. Once they are dry, you can attach the Nutter Butter cookie to the apple with melted white chocolate.

To form the tail, dip a piece of candy corn in melted chocolate and then press it into the back side of the apple in an arch formation. I use about seven pieces of candy corn in the tail.

These Turkey Gourmet Apples are so impressive and sure to please anyone… even if the recipient is you!

Happy Thanksgiving!