Caramel Apple Dipping Kit with Printable Tags

After the family and all our guests fell in love with our Apple Dipping Dessert Bar, click here if you missed that post.  I just had to make a 'to-go' kit!  I already had all the ingredients.

Fresh apples, a tub of caramel and little individual cups of toppings.
Mmmm!

--New neighbors just moved in down the street, this Caramel Apple Dippin' Kit was perfect to place on their doorstep.  I added a 'Welcome to the Neighborhood' tag and gave them a contact list of their new neighbors.

These kits don't have to be in a basket...why not package them up in a gift bag and hand deliver?

--We're dropping in on campus to visit a few college students next week and guess what I'm bringing them?  Yep, their own Apple Dippin' Kit.
--A friend of mine needed a 'pick-me-up' gift and this little kit was just the thing to take her mind off things.
--This could even work for a Christmas gift!
This is a perfect little gift for a neighbor, a teacher or a friend.  I'm a big fan of gifts that can be consumed and eaten.  No one needs junk lying around...especially teachers!
And I especially love 'handmade' gifts that are easy to create. 

Purchase supplies.
Assemble.
Print and tie on tags.
Package up and deliver.

Here's what I used to make a family kit (for our new neighbors).
(Affiliate links included to help you locate products.)
Fresh apples
1 Caramel tub
-tape
-jute or twine
-condiment cups with lids
-red checked tissue paper or food liners
-brown cardstock
-printed tags (scroll down to print your own.)

Toppings:  (use whatever you like)
-mini chocolate chips
-mini mallow bits
-crushed graham crackers
-chopped nuts
-shredded coconut
-Heath Bar bits
-Crunch Bar bits

The plastic condiment containers found in the grocery store work perfectly for the toppings.

I small piece of tape holds the twine in place to tie on the tags.

I printed my tags on brown kraft paper.  (Basically a light brown cardstock found in any craft store.  White cardstock will work as well.)

To print your own tags, click here.

I made some individual Dippin' Kits as well. 

Instead of using whole apples and a big caramel tub, I used apples slices and individual caramel tubs.  I also used just a few toppings.

I packaged all the items up in a little berry basket found at Michaels.
Such a fun little gift to make and give.

To see our Apple Dessert Bar, click here.

 

Here's some more college care package ideas for you:

Stick With It!                              

   

 College Blues

Orange Survival Study Sack                       
 

Brighten Up Your Semester!

SMART Gift Bag                                     
   

Caramel Apple Dippin' Kit



SNAP To It!                                                            

Bear Themed Care Package
  

Rockin' Care Package

Grocery Store College Pun Care Package

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Make Your Own Apple Slice Dipping Bar

Look what's on the blog today!  It's the perfect dessert!
An Apple Dippin' Bar. 
Apple sliceson a stick, dipped into warm and gooey caramel or dark chocolate, then sprinkled with all kinds of goodness!!  Mmmm!

Our friends ooohed and ahhed over this!  It's the perfect party dessert.  Bonus: it can all be set up ahead of time, guests can choose what they like, serve themselves...and it's fun!

Confession:  This dessert idea is so yummy, my family has continued having this treat for 7 days straight!  After I initially set it up for company, we just HAD to leave it all set up for us.  It's that's good! Trust me.

The key?  Apple slices.  Not whole apples, but slices--on a stick. Apple slices means much more dipping and sprinkling and pure goodness in every bite!  I love that guests can create their apple slices exactly they way they want them.  Whether that's loaded, lightly sprinkled or even (gasp!) plain. Yes, this dessert works for anyone, even those who don't 'do' dessert. (We recently had a guest that is avoiding processed sugar...no worries, they had a plate of fresh apple slices and didn't feel left out.)
Here's how to create you own Apple Dippin' Bar. 
Dipping or Dippin' you decide...either way works!

First, find a space and make a sign.
Clear off a table, counter, console table, dresser, etc. This bar idea takes up a little bit of room, but it's worth it, I promise!

Make a sign. You'll need to tell people what's going on.  A simple chalkboard sign works great.  I decided not to write out the step-by-step directions, but you easily could.

I chose to use the top of the dresser that we have in our dining room. I covered the top with some buffalo check fabric. I'm a big fan of red and black checked flannel!
I also crafted up a cute little banner using apple post-it notes, red cardstock circles, chalkboard clothespins and twine.

Other fun touches were using leaves, red votives, pinecones and whole apples to decorate the space.

I had two dipping choices for our apple bar.

Caramel and Dark Chocolate. 
(Another option would be a white chocolate. I only had two pots, so I stuck with two choices.)

To help you locate products I've included affiliate links.
I used this caramel and this chocolate, but any brand that melts easily could work.  (Yes, we buy an 11 pound brick of dark chocolate --it lasts us about a year.)
These Little Dipper Warmers work perfectly for this apple bar setup. You'll need to keep the dipping sauces warm, so make sure there is some heat source and an outlet nearby.  (These double crockpots with a warm setting work well,too.) 
I labeled each of the pots with these chalkboard tags and tied them on with twine. Do not put a paper tag on the pots--fire danger!

I elevated my pots on rustic tiers that I've had forever.
Toppings were limited to 6 choices, since I only had 6 little dishes.  I found these little soy sauce dishes at Daiso Japan.
Chalkboard paper tags on toothpicks worked well to mark each topping choice.  I simply taped the toothpick onto the inside edge of each dish.

 

My toppings included:
-Mini chocolate chips
-Graham cracker crumbs
-Mini Mallow Bits
-Chopped nuts
-Shredded coconut
-Heath Bar Bits

Feel free to change up the toppings and do what you have and love.
One guest requested sea salt to sprinkle over the caramel!  Mmm!

I have a set of these mini stainless spoons.  They get used all the time and they're perfect for this setup and the mini dishes.

Slice the apples right before serving. I like to use this apple slicer/corer to help slice the apples quickly.
(I've read that apples placed in Sprite don't brown as fast, but I never like to have my apples taste like something different.)
Make a tiny little x on the end of the apple slice and insert the lollipop stick.

Guests then dip their slices into the sauce of their choice.

...and then start sprinkling to their heart's desire!  So many fun combinations to create. Buffalo checked paper plates add to the fun!  

Well, what do you think?  Are you thinking an Apple Slice Dippin' Bar is in your near future?!
Yep, I thought so!

Click here to see the Caramel Apple Kit to give away.

 

A few more apple posts for you to enjoy.



Apple Pun Thank You Gift
Need some apple puns?  Check this out!

Whip up these Mini Apple Pies with 4 ingredients!




   

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Autumn Treat Mix with Printable Tag

Fall time is always a favorite around here!  The colors, the smells, wearing warm layers, walking in the leaves and dare I say pumpkin spice?  Just look what I found in the grocery store...

It was just what I needed to make a fun Autumn Treat Mix to give neighbors and friends!
Have you seen these Cheerios in your grocery stores? Here's an affiliate link to order a box online. 

This candy coated treat mix is a favorite in our house.  But it comes with a warning!  Do not make alone. You need an accountability partner...someone to make sure this treat gets delivered.
As soon as you make this, bag it up immediately with the cute tag tied on and physically walk...no run! it over to your neighbor's home.  Failure to do this will result in excessive eating and having to make another batch!  You think I'm joking?  I don't joke.

OK, warning has been issued.  If you're ready to accept this mission, gather up a few more 'fall' sweets and you're ready. 
Here's what I used:
8 cups popped popcorn
2 cups Fritos corn chips
2 cups Pumpkin Spice Cheerios
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup fall M&M's
1/2 cup candy corn

Mix together all these ingredients.

Melt one package of white Candiquik in the microwave.  This vanilla candy coating is the glue to all the ingredients...and the addictive formula that makes it impossible to stop eating!

 Can't find Candiquik in the stores?  Affiliate link- Click here

Pour melted vanilla candy into the mixed ingredients.  Stir to coat evenly.  Let dry.

Print out Autumn Treat Mix tags on cardstock.
Trim and hole punch. 

After the white candy coating has dried--give it 3-4 minutes.
Fill cellophane bags with the mixture.
Use a small piece of jute to tie on the tags.

Deliver to your friends and neighbors, NOW! 

Click here to download your own Autumn Treat Tags.

Need some more snack mixes to try?
Click here for 10 more!


Here's another version without the vanilla coating.
Have a Corny Halloween


And another version.
Candy Coated Popcorn


Happy FALL!

 

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