CARAMEL APPLES

Steps:

• Rinse and dry the apples. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Push one stick into the top of each apple, then place on the baking sheet with the stick standing straight up.
• Place the cookies in a large resealable plastic bag and roll with a rolling pin to crush. Set aside.
• In a large saucepan over low heat, combine the sugar, buttermilk, butter, baking soda, and vanilla and bring just to a boil, stirring constantly. Attach a candy thermometer to the pan, and continue to boil and stir until the mixture reaches 238 degrees F, 15 to 17 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Dip each apple, one at a time, immediately into the caramel, leaving a 1/4-inch ring of green by the stick, and return the apple to the baking sheet. If the caramel starts to solidify while you are dipping apples, stir in heavy cream, a few drops at a time, until the caramel reaches a spreadable consistency.
• After all the apples have been dipped, lightly sprinkle them with sea salt. Allow the caramel to set, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a microwave-safe bowl, microwave the white chocolate chips on high in 30-second intervals, stirring until melted. Dip each apple into the melted white chocolate, leaving a 1/4-inch ring of caramel exposed. Immediately dip the white chocolate-covered caramel apple in a layer of crushed cookie topping, leaving 1/4 inch of the white chocolate exposed.