How To Make Caramel Apples

"Gooey, Sweet, Tart... Making Halloween Caramel Apples"

Ready to learn how to make caramel apples for tasty Halloween treats?

We have three easy homemade caramel apples recipes to choose from. One uses store bought caramels. The other two are recipes where you create your own caramel coating.

Caramel apples are not the same as candy apples, which have a hard, red candy coating. If you prefer to make these instead, check out our Halloween Candy Apples Recipe here.

Picking the Right Apples

The first thing you need to do before you begin is to choose the right apples.

The best apples to use are firm and sweetly-tart, like McIntosh, Fuji, Granny Smith's or Jonathan.

If possible, buy unwaxed apples since it helps the caramel coating stick better to the apples. If you can't get these at your local supermarket, try a farmer's market or go to a local orchard and pick them yourself. Nothing tastes better than fresh picked apples from the tree!

You can also try washing your apples thoroughly with a veggie wash (which you should do regardless, as many are sprayed with lots of pesticides). Another option is to quickly dip the apples in boiling water (only a second or two) then wipe off the wax coating.

Choose apples that are small, firm and unbruised and chill them in the refrigerator before dipping.

Equipment Needed

Here are some of the things you'll need, regardless of which caramel apples recipe you choose:

• Large, deep pot
• Wooden spoon
• Measuring cups
• Candy thermometer
• Popsicle Sticks
• 6 to 10 apples
• Cookie sheet covered in wax or parchment paper

Prepare your apples (wash and dry), remove stems and insert a Popsicle sick into each. Cover your cookie trays with the wax or parchment paper and set on the counter, close to the stove.

Each of the following recipes is good for coating 6 to 10 apples, depending on size and how thick a coating each gets.

If you want to add candied or chocolate sprinkles, nuts, etc. to the apples, sprinkle a layer of the desired food decoration on the wax papered cookie sheet, as well as adding some to a bowl. After you've dipped your apple, roll the apple in the nuts (or whatever you're using), then place it on the cookie sheet to cool.

General Directions on How to Make Caramel Apples

The following steps apply to all the caramel apple recipes that follow:

1. Prepare the coating as directed in the recipe below.

2. Once melted, remove from heat and begin dipping your apples, rolling them carefully around in the melted caramel to coat all edges. Use a spoon to help drizzle the coating on the apple near the stick, if needed.

3. Optional: Roll the apple into the sprinkles, nuts, etc. if you are using these.

4. Place the apple on the cookie sheet and let set. You may need to refrigerate the apples to help the coating stiffen.

Recipes On How To Make Caramel Apples For Halloween

Recipe for Caramel Apples Using Caramel Candies

This is probably the easiest of the three recipes, but not necessarily the speediest, as you have to unwrap all those caramels.

• 1 14oz. bag or caramels, unwrapped
• 2 Tbsp milk or cream

1. Put the unwrapped caramels and milk in a deep pot and melt over low heat, stirring constantly. Begin the dipping process as describe above.

Homemade Caramel Apples With Corn Syrup

Making your own caramel appeals to a lot of people, since you know exactly what ingredients are going into the recipe. Here's how to make caramel apples using corn syrup.

• 1 1/3 cups evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp butter or margarine
• 1 Tsp vanilla extract

1. Put milk, syrup and sugar into a deep pot. Heat over a medium-high heat, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar.

2. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches the soft ball stage (240F or 115C on a candy thermometer). You can test this by dropping a small drop of the mixture into cold water where it should form a soft ball. Remove from heat.

3. Stir in the butter and vanilla and begin dipping the apples. If the mixture begins to cool too much, just reheat.

Homemade Caramel Apples Recipe Without Corn Syrup

This one is made without the corn syrup, which helps to reduce the amount of sugar/sweetener used.

• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 6 Tbsp milk or cream
• 1 1/2 Tbsp butter
• 1/2 Tsp vanilla extract

1. Mix the brown sugar and milk in a pot. Heat over a medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.

2. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, until it reaches the soft ball stage (240F or 115C). Remove from heat.

3. Stir in the butter and vanilla and dip your apples.

More Halloween Treats To Try

So, that's how you make caramel apples! Why not try some of these other great easy Halloween recipes too!

Halloween Candy Apples: How to Make Candy Apples

Monster Party Halloween Recipes

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