Here's how!

You'll need:

6 apples (your favorite variety)
1 14-ounce package of caramels (the individually wrapped kind)
2 Tablespoons of butter
2 Tablespoons milk
6 wooden skewers or craft "popsicle" sticks

What to do
Use the butter to grease a baking tray (or coat a sheet of waxed paper on a baking tray) to prevent the apples from sticking to the surface.

Wash all of the apples thoroughly, and dry them. Twist the stems off to remove, then push a craft stick into the place where the stem was.

Unwrap the caramels and place them into a microwave-safe bowl. Add the milk. Microwave for 1 minute, then remove to stir the mixture. Microwave again at 30-45 second intervals, stirring each time as you check to see if all caramels have been melted and that the mixture is smooth.

Dip each apple into the caramel mixture while it is hot. Roll it to coat all of the sides, using a spoon to pour caramel into any dry spots. Roll the candy-covered apple in your choice of coating (optional -- see below) then place on the baking sheet until you have completed the set. Don't squish the apples too close together on the tray as they can easily stick together.

Refrigerate on the tray for at least 1 hour. Remove them from the fridge and let stand at room temperature 10-15 minutes before serving.

If not eaten the same day, put the caramel apples in the fridge to keep them fresh!

Yummy add-ons

If you would like to get creative, here are some ideas for fun and tasty caramel apple coatings -- use one or more, in eye-catching layers or decadently one on top of another:

• Finely-chopped nuts
• Chocolate chips -- or butterscotch, white chocolate, peanut butter or striped chips
• Candy corn
• Colored sprinkles
• Cookie crumbs (chocolate chip or Oreos)
• Toasted coconut
• Drizzled melted chocolate
• m&ms candies (regular or miniature)
• Crumbled candy bar, such as a Butterfinger or Heath Bar
• Graham cracker crumbs
• Gummy worms (perfect on an apple!)
• Small brownie or fudge chunks
• Red hots candies
• Crushed peppermints
• Mini-marshmallows
• Cereal (like Cocoa Krispies or Lucky Charms)
• Tie gummy worms around the top of the stick (see top photo)