How to Make The Best Caramel Apples

Homemade Caramel apples are the perfect fall treat. While they seem difficult to make, the great thing is that making caramel apples is super easy once you know how. Follow these easy caramel apples directions to make homemade caramel apples at home with homemade caramel.

Homemade Caramel Apples Recipe

When the fall hits apples are everywhere and if you are like our house you go apple picking and then end up with a ton of apples and need to make things with them. One of our favorite fall treats is homemade caramel apples. I used to get them whenever we went to the local fairs during the summer but the best time to enjoy them is when you have lots of fresh apples.

We originally shared this recipe for making caramel apples at home a few years ago, but it was time to update the post with new pics and tips for making caramel apples.

After going apple picking with the kids we had a ton of apples to use up. We made apple banana bread, apple muffins, apple crisp, apple pie and applesauce.

We still had apples so i thought the best idea was making caramel apples. They are an awesome fll dessert that we all love, so it was time to create my own caramel apples recipe. My kids loved making caramel apples, but I think they enjoyed eating these easy caramel apples even more then making them. When we made them I left dipping the apples in toppings up to the kids, while dipped the apples in the homemade caramel.

I love enjoying a caramel apple that is made with homemade caramel and fresh picked apples. If you don’t have fresh-picked apples, you can totally use store-bought apples to make this easy caramel apple recipe.

There are many ways to make caramel apples, but I find the best way is to make homemade caramel sauce for apples. This is the best caramel apples recipe ever and you will make an easy caramel dipping sauce to dip them in. After dipping them you can add toppings if you want to, let them set and then you have the best caramel apples ever to enjoy.

How do you clean apples for homemade caramel apples

The wax that makes apples so pretty in the store is also something that will make dipping apples in caramel difficult. It is important to clean apples before you make caramel apples because bubbles are more likely to happen if not cleaned. Make sure you clean the apples thoroughly and remove every bit of wax on the apples before making this caramel apples recipe. Once you are done washing the apples make sure to dry them well.

To remove the wax from apples fill a bowl with hot water and place the apples in the water. Allow the apples to sit for 5 minutes and then remove them. Dry the apples with a towel and then put the apples into the fridge to chill.

If you have picked apples fresh from the trees when going apple picking, you will not have to do the hot water bath, you can just rinse them off.

Tips for Dipping Apples

Making caramel. Making your own caramel can be tricky, you want to make sure you don’t stir the sugar once it comes to a boil and keep it from going down the sides of your pan any time you see sugar building up on the sides. If your caramel becomes one big lump or gritty it’s best to start over again before you dip your apples in it.

Be sure to clean and dry apples before dipping them. It is important to clean and dry the apples before dipping them in the caramel. It is also helpful to have chilled apples before you dip them in the caramel.

Let caramel harden. It is important that you let the caramel harden fully before cutting the apples to eat them.

Use parchment paper. While the waxed paper is often used for keeping things from sticking, when you are making caramel apples it is best to use parchment paper, not waxed paper as the caramel will stick to wax paper.

What are the best apples to use for caramel apples

My favorite apples to use are firmer apples like granny smith or honey crisp, but if you do not have those you can use other apples instead.

What is the best stick to use for caramel apples?

Caramel apples are kind of on the heavy side so you want to use caramel apple sticks or popsicle sticks when making this easy caramel apples recipe.

How Far in Advance Can I make This Caramel Apples Recipe?

This Caramel apples recipe can be made and eaten within 3-4 days of making. After a couple of days, the caramel will soften and get a bit “wetter” as it sits next to the skin of the apple – you will only notice this when you cut into the caramel apple to eat them. It is perfectly fine to eat still.

How to Store Caramel apples

After your caramel apples have set, store them in an air tight container in the fridge. It is important that they are stored in the fridge. It is not recommended that caramel apples be frozen.

Toppings for Caramel Apples

If you are looking for different flavored caramel apples be sure to check out our other caramel apple recipes including, Chocolate caramel apples recipe, Caramel turtle apples, and my kid’s favorite, Frozen themed caramel apples.

Now the great thing about caramel apples is you can easily change things up and there are lots of topping ideas.

• mini M&Ms
• Reece’s Pieces
• Rainbow sprinkles
• Chocolate sprinkles
• Peanut
• Chopped almonds
• Crushed Oreo cookies
• Toasted coconut
• Chopped candy bars
• Crushed pretzels
• Sea salt
• Marshmallows
• Chocolate drizzle (If doing chocolate drizzle drizzle the chocolate after the caramel has set.)

How to dip Caramel Apples in toppings

When you are going to add toppings to the caramel apples it is best to pour the toppings into a shallow bowl or dish before getting started making caramel apples. As soon as you dip an apple in the caramel then roll the caramel dipped apple in the toppings and then set on parchment paper to set.

Why Do My Caramel Apples have bubbles?

If the apples are not cleaned enough to get the wax off the apple before making caramel apples then you will get bubbles in the caramel when making this easy caramel apples recipe.

Caramel apples will also get bubbles if you stir the caramel too quickly when you are making it, it is best to slowly stir and not fast stir the caramel as it is cooking.

You can also get bubbles when making caramel apples if you dip the apple into the caramel too fast, you want to slowly and steadily dip the apple into the caramel and pull the Apple slowly from the caramel after dipped.

Easy Caramel Apples Supplies

• Small sauce pan
• Medium sauce pan
• Candy thermometer – I like the instant read thermometers the best
• Whisk
• Sticks for the apples

Homemade Caramel Apples Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 water
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• 6 apples

How to Make Homemade Caramel Apples

Wash and dry your apples.

Place the sticks in the top of the apples going about halfway through the apple. If you are going to be adding toppings when making caramel apples, pour the toppings into bowls or a shallow dish.

Prepare a sheet pan with a greased parchment paper.

In a small saucepan melt the butter, salt, and cream over medium heat. Remove from the heat, but keep the pan close by.

In a medium sauce pan combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water.

Stir until the sugar is evenly moistened and forms a thick grainy paste.

Wipe down the sides of the pan with a damp pastry brush so there are no sugar crystals above the surface of the sugar mixture.

Clip the instant-read thermometer to the side of the pan so the tip is immersed in the sugar. It is important not to stir the sugar mixture anymore.

Cook the sugar mixture over medium heat. Don’t stir the mixture. Around 310°F, the syrup will darken slightly, then remove from the heat when it gets to 320°F.

Slowly pour the warm cream and butter mixture into the sugar syrup while whisking the sugar syrup gently. The sugar syrup will bubble up and triple in size.

Stop whisking once all the milk and butter mixture has been added. Return the pan to medium heat and let the caramel come to a boil without stirring.

Remove from heat when the caramel reaches 245°F to 250°F. Whisk the vanilla extract into the caramel mixture.

Let the mixture cool just until the mixture is just thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Angle the pot so all the caramel pools to one side of the pot or pour the caramel into a bowl. Twirl the apple in the caramel until the whole apple is coated.

If you are adding toppings to this easy caramel apples recipe, dip the apple into the toppings.

Place the apple on the parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Place apples in the fridge for 30 minutes – 1 hour.

Easy Apple Dessert Recipes

• Apple Nachos
• Baked Apples
• Homemade apple pie filling
• Apple Pie Rolls
• Apple Pie Granola