Elevate your caramel apple-making game using our simple tips and tricks.
When you go into a specialty candy shop, do you go straight to the gorgeous caramel apples that are on display? I do! They always look SO good and the designs are just beautiful. The problem is, those apples often come with a hefty price tag. So for our family, caramel apples from a sweet shop are a very rare treat.
Thankfully, gourmet caramel apples are actually really easy and fun to make at home! It’s become one of my family’s most anticipated fall traditions. In this post, I’ll share directions and tips so you can learn to make this delicious treat, too.
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Major Components of a Gourmet Caramel Apple
Caramel
First, let’s talk caramel. This is obviously the main star of the show, so it’s important to use or make a good kind. There are about a thousand recipes out there for incredible caramel (have you tried my nephew’s super delicious 5-ingredient caramel dip??), and really the choice is up to you on what to use. You just need a caramel that is hard enough to stay on the apple, but soft enough to not break your teeth when you bite into your treat.
I have used several kinds of caramel over the years and have enjoyed many of them. The one that I keep going back to is…Marzetti Caramel Dip. I know, it’s store-bought. But hear me out: this caramel is delicious, it’s ready, it works really well, it goes a pretty long way, and it has a great consistency. So if you are kind of cooking challenged like me, or just need something foolproof and easy, I highly recommend that brand.
If caramel is not your thing, try coating your apples with chocolate. You’ll have to work fast to put your toppings on, but it would be a delicious alternative.
Apples
Which apples are the best to use? Red or Green? Big or small? Sliced or not sliced?
Color
In my experience, just about anything goes. Each kind of apple brings its own added sweetness and color to the end result.
Our go-to apples are usually a mix of Gala apples (cost-effective and not too sweet) and Granny Smith. Yellow apples and Honeycrisp are delicious as well, but some people find them to be too sweet once all the caramel and candies are added.
Size
If you’re going for that classic sweets shop-looking caramel apple, the bigger, the better!
BUT. Sometimes the big apples are just really hard to eat. There are alternatives that won’t compromise looks or flavor. Have you seen the mini apples from the brand Rockit (available at Walmart)? They are so cute and make great bites for younger kids, or anyone who just wants a smaller dose of sugar!!
Even though sliced apples won’t look the same as the classic ones on a stick, you can still create some really beautiful caramel apple “nachos” that are crowd-pleasing and easy to eat.
Toppings
Give boring caramel apples a makeover with colorful and delicious toppings. You can use ANY kind of candy or cookie, which is a great way to use up Halloween candy if you’re making these in November.
My personal favorite caramel apple toppings are:
- mini M&Ms
- finely crushed Oreos (a food processor makes this super speedy)
- sprinkles
- crushed Reese’s peanut butter cups
- Reese’s Pieces
- Heath Bar bits or other crushed toffee
- mini marshmallows (look at these cute candy corn marshmallows)
- mini chocolate chips
- chopped peanuts
- white chocolate chips
- pretzel bits
- gummi bears
- Pop Rocks for a fun kick
- chocolate and white chocolate drizzle
I imagine cheesecake bites and crushed chocolate chip cookies would be super tasty, too.
How to Make Gourmet Caramel Apples
Check out our simple step-by-step video on Instagram!
*Yield will vary, depending on how many apples you want to make and how much caramel you use. We made about 24 medium-large caramel apples using 2 packages of the Marzetti caramel dip.
You’ll Need:
- apples
- 1 treat stick per apple (you can use wooden ones, or add some fun with these bling sticks or spooky branch sticks)
- caramel of choice in a large bowl
- candy/cookie toppings of choice in separate bowls
- wax paper or parchment paper for putting the completed apples on
Directions
- Prepare your caramel recipe according to the recipe or package directions
- Gather and prep ingredients
- Wash and dry all apples thoroughly. Remove the stems.
- Put toppings in separate bowls with spoons (I prefer using disposable ones because they make for a quick cleanup).
- Set out a long strip of wax paper on your counter.
- Put a treat stick securely inside of the top center of each apple. DO NOT push the stick all the way through.
- Dunk an apple in the caramel (you decide if you want to do it only halfway or all the way)
- This is the fun part! Decorate your apple with any toppings of choice.
- Set the completed apple on the wax paper until ready to serve or package for a delivery.
Decorating Tips
- Play with patterns and colors to make a more visually interesting creation. Contrasting colors, like a white chocolate drizzle over an Oreo-crusted bottom, are really eye-catching.
- If you want an entire coating of a certain topping (ex: crushed Oreos), don’t be afraid to dunk the entire caramel-coated apple inside of the topping and give it a good swirl. For lighter additions of a topping, stick with just the serving spoons. Hand-place anything you want to be really precise.
- If you want to put a drizzle on your apple, do it last, and carefully TAKE THE STICK OUT before doing the drizzle. The stick will get in the way and break up the flow of the drizzle pattern, and the stick will get gross, too. Carefully reinsert the stick when you are done. If the stick keeps sliding out, try putting some chocolate coating in the middle of the apple before putting the stick back in. It should dry hard and prevent sliding.
- Use holiday-themed sprinkles for an added festive touch, like this Halloween mix!
Sharing the Love of Caramel Apples
If you’d like to share your caramel apples with friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, or trick-or-treaters, you’ll need a way to transport your goodies without gross stuff sticking to them.
My favorite way to do this is to put the bottom of a caramel apple inside of a cute cupcake liner and then carefully place the apple into a clear cellophane bag. This is easier with someone holding the bag open for you so the caramel doesn’t stick to the sides. Secure the top with a pretty ribbon or tulle. This caramel apple packaging kit from Amazon includes sticks, bags, and gold/silver ribbon for a great price.
If you want to dress up your treat even more for Halloween, you can print off some of our cute Halloween treats tags.
Happy Fall, everyone! Enjoy your beautiful apples!
-Mariah
Don’t miss other fall-favorite treats, like our ice cream witches, Dutch Apple pie, or candied sweet potatoes.
Sugared out? Try come warm comfort food like white chicken chili, or our mom’s famous Zuppa Toscana.