Dora Butterscotch-Chocolate Candy Apples

Fall means apple-picking and apple-picking means lots of delicious apple treats to make! Why not try something new, like these a-DORA-ble candy apples that look just like your child's favorite explorer!

Catch Dora & friends every day on Nick & Nick Jr.

Ingredients

• 12 small apples, such as Macintosh
• 12 eight-inch wooden sticks or thick lollipop sticks (craft stores)
• 1 bag (14 oz.) butterscotch chips
• 1 bag (14 oz.) dark chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp. vegetable shortening
• 6 marshmallows
• 24 mini brown candy-coated chocolates (M&M's minis)
• 1 roll strawberry fruit leather

Supplies

• Cookie sheet
• Wax paper
• Scissors
• Polystyrene foam board (Styrofoam)
• 2 freezer-weight resealable bag

Directions

1. Step 1

   Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Wash and dry apples. Insert the wooden stick into the stem end of each apple and place on the cookie sheet. Refrigerate for about 15 minutes.

2. Step 2

   Using scissors, cut a 1/4-inch slice off each round end of the marshmallows to make 12 circles, discarding the center piece. Cut each marshmallow circle slice in half to make 24 semicircles for the eyes. Place the pieces, sticky side down on a sheet of wax paper. Cut the fruit leather into 12 curved 1-inch triangles for Dora's mouth. Add them to the wax paper with the marshmallows.

3. Step 3

   Place the chocolate and butterscotch chips into separate microwave-proof bowl. Add a tablespoon of the shortening to each bowl. Microwave the butterscotch chips, stirring every 5 seconds, until smooth. Dip a chilled apple into the melted candy to coat one side. Allow the excess candy to drain off. Return the apple, candy side up, onto the cookie sheet. Repeat with the remaining apples.

4. Step 4

   Reheat the butterscotch chips for about 5 seconds if it becomes too thick. Spoon any extra melted candy into a freezer-weight resealable bag. Refrigerate the apples until the candy is just set. Snip a small corner (1/8 inch) from the bag with the melted candy. Pipe a dot of the melted candy in the center of the marshmallow semicircles and attach a brown candy as her eye. Repeat with the remaining candies and refrigerate until set, about 5 minutes.

5. Step 5

   Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every 5 seconds, until smooth. Dip an apple into the chocolate, leaving a 3-inch area of butterscotch candy exposed as Dora's face. (Dip each side first and then the top to make her bangs.) Allow the excess chocolate to drip off and insert the wooden stick into the Styrofoam base to set. Spoon any excess chocolate into a freezer-weight resealable bag.

6. Step 6

   Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Reheat the melted chocolate in the resealable bag, for about 5 seconds if necessary. Snip a small (1/8 inch) corner from the bag. Pipe 12 to 15 (in case of breakage) 1 1/2-inch <i>V</i> shapes for the top of Dora's hair. Place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator until set, about 5 minutes. Carefully peel the <i>V</i>'s off of the wax paper. Pipe a dot of the remaining melted chocolate on top of the apples and attach the <i>V</i>. Let chocolate set. Pipe a small comma shape with the chocolate as her nose in the center of the butterscotch area. Repeat with the remaining apples.

7. Step 7

   Add the marshmallows eyes using a dot of melted candy. Add the fruit leather mouth with a dot of water. Arrange sticks in bucket or other container filled with Styrofoam and top with additional candy if desired.

Nurtition Facts

• Calories: 459
• Total Fat: 24g
• Saturated Fat: 13g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Cholesterol: 9mg
• Sodium: 46mg
• Total Carbs: 60g
• Fiber: 5g
• Sugar: 51g
• Protein: 4g