Sticky Delights

Baltimore's homegrown Wockenfuss, long known for its chocolates and other candies, also makes luscious caramel apples on a stick—from plain and milk-chocolate caramel to a monster almond caramel apple ($5.49-7.49). For the fifth year, the company will set up shop at the annual Darlington Apple Festival (Oct. 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.) in northeast Harford County to sell hundreds of caramel apples, says company president Paul Wockenfuss, a third-generation owner. Of course, you can get these treats all year long at its eight stores. The business, started by Wockenfuss's German grandfather in 1915 at city-market stalls, is poised for continued growth with a fourth and fifth generation of family members and a new production plant to handle the demand. "We always do well in a recession," Wockenfuss says. "People go to things that make them feel good."