8 wooden sticks
8 med. apples
1 (14 oz.) pkg. vanilla caramels
2 tbsp. water
1/2 c. sunflower nuts, miniature semi-sweet chocolate pieces, or Grape Nuts cereal
Assorted candies and nuts

NOTE: Use shoestring licorice, fruit-flavored circle candies, candy corn, candy-coated milk chocolate pieces, gumdrop halves, cashews, and sliced almonds.

Push a wooden stick into the stem end of each apple; set aside. In a 4-cup liquid measuring cup combine caramels and water. Micro-cook, uncovered, on 100% power (high) for 2 minutes; stir with a rubber scraper. Micro-cook on high for 30 seconds to 1 minute and 30 seconds more or until melted. Stir until smooth.

Put sunflower nuts, chocolate pieces, or cereal onto waxed paper; set aside. Dip each apple into the hot caramel, using a spoon to spread the mixture evenly over apple. Hold the apple over the caramel to allow the excess to drip off into the measuring cup. Dip the bottom of apple into the sunflower nuts, chocolate pieces, or cereal. To hold the apple upright, turn 8 plastic foam cups upside down and push sticks through bottoms. (OR, place apples upside down on waxed paper.)