Here’s how to make Colin the Caterpillar toffee apples ready for Halloween

The clocks have gone back, winter nights are drawing in, and we’ve got Halloween and Bonfire night to look forward to over the next couple of weeks.

Granted, we may not be marking these days in the ways that we’re usually used to amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic – with trick or treating sadly off the cards under Tier 3 restrictions, and many annual Bonfire celebrations cancelled across the region – but luckily, Marks & Spencer has revealed a Colin the Caterpillar Toffee Apple recipe ahead of Halloween this weekend.

And people are already getting stuck in.

2020 has actually been quite a year for the legendary Colin the Caterpillar as he celebrates his 30th birthday, with M&S launching lots of new Colin-themed products and some delicious recipes throughout the year to encourage the nation to celebrate three decades of the beloved caterpillar cake.

There’s been some well-received Colin-themed takes on classic recipes so far, but this Halloween/Bonfire recipe using just a chocolate sponge roll, toffee sauce, some chocolate and a pack of Colin faces shows you how to create sticky apples with a resemblance to the cake.

It couldn’t be an easier or more perfect treat to try out this autumn season.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• x 4 Large Apples
• x 1 Bottle Toffee Dessert sauce
• x 1 Chocolate Sponge Roll
• x 1 Jar Jazzie Sprinkles
• 300g Milk Chocolate & 100g White Chocolate (broken into small pieces)
• x 4 Mini Colin Chocolate Faces

Method

1. Place a lollipop stick in the centre of an upright apple and push firmly down into the core until secure.
2. Pour toffee dessert sauce into a deep bowl and roll the apple in the sauce.
3. Place upright on greaseproof paper on a large baking tray and chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.
4. On a large plate, break up the sponge roll until you have large, breadcrumb-like pieces, and then pour over ⅔ jar of jazzie sprinkles and use a spoon to mix together.
5. In a deep bowl, melt the milk chocolate in the microwave on a low heat, stirring occasionally to ensure that it doesn’t burn.
6. Remove the apples from the fridge. (Some of the toffee sauce may have pooled to the bottom of the apples, so use a spoon or knife to spread back over the apple).
7. Dip the apples in the milk chocolate to evenly coat.
8. Roll the apples in the cake crumb and jazzie sprinkle mixture.
9. Place upright back on the greaseproof paper and chill for 15 minutes. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave and then using a knife, drizzle the melted chocolate over the apples to create stripes and sprinkle with remaining jazzie sprinkles.
10. Using the leftover white chocolate, use your knife to carefully spread some on the back of a white chocolate Colin face and stick it on the front of your apple.

All you’ll need to do then is chill them for a minimum of two hours, and you’re done.

The perfect Halloween treat.