How do you measure the perfect caramel apple? For Susan and Jim Tumback, who are in that very business, it all amounts to happy customers who come back for more and sweet sales.
In 2018, the couple moved back to Sudbury from southern Ontario to be closer to aging parents.
“In all honesty, I was looking for something to occupy myself,” Susan said. “First I came across a lady dipping strawberries online. Then I discovered a woman in Texas dipping apples.
“I made a dozen traditional caramel apples in the fall of 2021 and put six on social media to sell to friends and family. All were sold in two seconds flat — I found my niche,” she said.
The duo make the perfectly decorated and sweet tasting apples in their home in Wahnipitae, near Kukagami Road.
From there, the Tumbacks have branched out into making adorable chocolate turtles with pecan arms and legs as well as chocolate covered pretzels.
Now customers can even buy little glass mason jars of caramel spread for dipping their fruits.
Each member of this team has its own list of jobs they are responsible for each week.
Jim is in charge of procuring the best Granny Smith apples that money can buy. He also takes pride in the cleaning and boxing of the apples, along with market sales.
“We look for Grade A apples because there is nothing worse than someone ordering a beautifully dressed up apple with a mushy interior,” Susan said.
Susan adds that they have tried other apples varities, including honey crisp, but many types of apples are far too sweet when blended with chocolate and/or caramel.
Speaking of caramel, Susan is in charge of that process in her certified kitchen. At this point, she is a professional, and can double batch her caramel, label orders and execute all the fancy but delicate apple decorating work.
Susan said it isn’t as easy as it may sound. Her first batches involved gritty sauce and then a runny sauce.
“It was frustrating until I met the guru of caramel apples” she said.
That guru turned out to be a woman in Houston, Texas who runs her own caramel apple business.
“She really changed my life,” Susan said.
For Easter, they did bunnies. With Mother’s Day this weekend (friendly reminder), celebrating moms is the order of the day this week.
In honour of Mother’s Day, “dressed-up” varieties feature fancy, edible flowers.
In terms of favourites, Susan said Skor apple is the all-time favourite, but there are 12 dressed-up versions that include the Turtle apple, Reese, M&M’s, an apple pie variety with white chocolate, Oreo cookies, Smarties and more.
Susan and Jim have spent time at the indoor Sudbury Market downtown this past winter, along with various craft shows.
Eager customers can also find the apples at local vendor shows, or by visiting the Real Canadian Superstore on Lasalle Boulevard.
With summer being the traditional wedding season, they have also been fulfilling orders that will replace the wedding cake with something sweet and a tad healthy too.
To learn more about Caramel Kitchen, visit them on social media at Facebook or Instagram.
Anastasia Rioux is a writer in Greater Sudbury. Let’s Eat! is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.
