Apple Ghosts

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 10 -12 small green apples or 10 -12 small red apples
• 10 -12 caramel apple sticks
• 3 cups chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons solid shortening
• 2 pieces black licorice, cut crosswise into thin slices (6 in.) (optional)

Recipe

• 1 rinse apples, wipe dry, and firmly insert a stick into stem end of each fruit until secure.
• 2 in a 1-quart glass measure or small deep microwave-safe bowl, combine candy and shortening.
• 3 place in a microwave oven and heat at half power (50%) until chips are soft, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. stir until smooth.
• 4 if still lumpy, return to microwave and heat for 20-second intervals until candy is smooth.
• 5 quickly dip apples, 1 at a time, into coating to cover, letting excess drip back into bowl.
• 6 set apples, sticks up, in a 10- by 15-inch pan lined with waxed paper or cooking parchment.
• 7 if desired, make ghost faces by pressing licorice slices into soft coating. if coating on apple is too firm, use melted coating to glue licorice in place.
• 8 if coating gets too thick, reheat it briefly in the microwave at 50% power and stir.
• 9 let apples stand until coating is firm to touch, at least 30 minutes at room temperature or 10 minutes if chilled.