Homemade Caramel for dipping apples

I LOVE caramel and apples!!  The only thing that would have made this better is if I had a bowl of chopped pecans nearby to dip my apples in...after they were dipped in the caramel!

This caramel is delicious!!  It is easy, but does take a lot of time and patience.  It is SO worth it!!  I put some in half-pint bottles and sent them to school with the kids for their teachers with one red and one green apple to go with it. 

This would also be delicious on ice cream!  I slightly adapted the recipe from this one.

Homemade Caramel for dipping apples

Ingredients:

• 2 cup evaporated milk (NOT sweetened condensed) (you will be needing one regular can and one small can)
• 2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 stick of butter
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:  Place all ingredients(except vanilla) together in a 2-quart or larger pan, preferably a heavy-bottomed one, and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. Continue stirring and cooking over medium-low and later low heat until the mixture reaches soft-ball stage (that is, until it forms a soft ball when dripped into cold water). Do not give up on stirring or the caramel will curdle.  Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Pour into bowls, cool and serve with apple wedges for dipping. The caramel will thicken as it cools.  Store unused caramel in the refrigerator.

Makes 1 quart.