October is just so pretty! The leaves finally start changing colours and the weather is still warm enough for just a comfy sweater and a cute scarf. And let’s not forget that October is home to the funnest holiday of the year… Halloween! I love baking fun treats this time of the year because let’s be real, Halloween is really all about the candy and dessert. This year I decided to make some good old-fashioned caramel apples!
But, what is Halloween without a little bit of dress-up? You can make these caramel apples as is, or decorate them, obviously! I played around with milk chocolate, white chocolate and crushed walnuts. I also added some orange food colouring to the white chocolate to make some of them orange… you know, in line with the Halloween theme.
But there are soo many other possibilities! You can also use m & m’s, marshmallows and sprinkles to decorate. The list is pretty much endless, so go wild!
How to tell when Caramel is done
- Temperature check: The caramel will be done when your candy thermometer reads 235 °F.
- Soft Ball method: You can also test the caramel to see if it forms a “soft ball”. This means that if you drop the caramel into cold water and then remove it from the water and roll into a ball, the caramel should keep its shape.
Now all that is missing to this perfect Halloween is my costume! This year I am a little stuck on what to be especially because my hubby and I want to do a couples costume and we are stumped on ideas. Help, please! 🙂
Caramel Apples
Prep Time: 10 mins- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 55 minutes
Yield: 8-10
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
Nothing says Halloween better than a classic and traditional fall treat. Learn how to make your own homemade caramel apples today!
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups packed brown sugar
- 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 cup maple syrup (or light corn syrup)
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 medium apples, stems removed (I recommend Granny Smith apples)
- 8 hard lollipop sticks or popsicle sticks
Toppings (optional):
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- food colouring
- crushed walnuts
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat.
- Whisk in the sugars, syrup, condensed milk and vanilla. Stir regularly and cook until the mixture beings to boil.
- Increase heat to medium heat and cook caramel for about 15 minutes, stirring constantly but slowly, until the caramel thickens and the temperature on a candy thermometer reads 235 °F. You can also test the caramel to see if it forms a “soft ball”. This means that if you drop the caramel into cold water and then remove it from the water and roll into a ball, the caramel should keep its shape.
- Remove saucepan from the heat. Let the caramel cool for a few minutes.
- Wash and dry the apples and insert sticks.
- Dip the apples into the hot caramel and twirl to fully coat and to let any excess drip off. Place onto greased parchment paper (or greased aluminum foil) and let caramel set for 15 minutes.
- The caramel will have pooled on the foil. Lift the apple and using your hand, shape the pooled caramel around the apple. Place apples back on parchment paper and leave it for another 30 minutes to allow it to fully set.
- Once fully set, you can start decorating your apples!!
Decorate (optional):
- Melt the milk chocolate. Dip the caramel apples into the chocolate. Sprinkle on some crushed walnuts. Set aside to cool.
- Repeat with the white chocolate. If you want different colours, add food colouring. Note that if you are using liquid food colouring, you may need to add some oil to regain a smooth consistency.
- Using a piping bag and round tip to drizzle some chocolate on top.
- Set aside to let toppings harden fully.
Tips:
- I used Wilton’s bamboo lollipop sticks for my candy apples. They are sturdier than regular lollipop sticks and definitely sturdier than cake pop sticks. I highly recommend them.
- Click here for instructions on how to melt chocolate. You will have to scroll down in the post until you see the “How to Melt Chocolate” heading.
These look so good! I used to always get the caramel apples at the local fall fair in SC; feeling nostalgic for them now.
These look so delicious! I must try it. Thank you for the lovely post.
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These look so good. I love caramel apples and you have raised the bar on regular apples.
They look soooo good! Thanks for sharing.
I made caramel apples a few years ago. They did not look at pretty as yours though.
Oh yum! Caramel apples are my favorite!
They are so tempting. I will definitely try those caramel apples. My son loves anything made with apples. He will love this.Thank you Sam 🙂
Beautiful and delicious fall treat!
I love caramel apples especially with fancy toppings like chocolate chips. I bet these homemade apples are so much better than the grocery store variety.
What a fun treat! And thanks for the tips on how to know when caramel is done!
These are so sweet, I can’t wait to make them with the kids! What a cool weekend activity (and snack!)
I love apples and I think this would be a great project for me to do with my niece. She loves all things sweet just like me.
One time I made caramel apples and they turned out hard as a rock! How do you keep the caramel and chocolate soft after it cools? Thanks.
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The caramel will harden once cool, however, if it is taken out at the right temperature (230-235 F), it will stay at a chewy consistency once cooled. If you let the temperature get any higher than that, then you risk having super hard, jaw-breaking caramel! The chocolate will also harden once it cools, but it is only a thin layer so it works well with the chewy caramel.
Oh my goodness, these look so delicious!
I’ve never made caramel apples before, but these are fabulous and so inviting! Bookmarking it!!
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OMG…these look super delicious! You can’t go wrong with chocolate and caramel.
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They look so good, I have to try them. I add the ingredients to my grocery list 🙂
Oh my goodness, how perfect do these apples look? Very fancy, would love one to eat on Halloween!
http://victoriaspongepeasepudding.com/
The last time I made these, I did NOT do it right. I either cooked the caramel too long or not enough because it didn’t stick to the apples and i had caramel soup at the base of each apple lol! Thanks for this!
The pictures are a wow! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
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These are gorgeous! I have never thought of subbing maple syrup for corn syrup but it sounds really good!
Caramel apples have to be my favourite Halloween dessert! These recipes are amazing as well, I need to try them
Caramel apples are one of my favorite dessert! I’ll try it, sounds really easy.
I love a good caramel apple, but I love and appreciate the way some people can get so CREATIVE! Like these are both pretty and they look so tasty. I’d probably not want to eat them because they look so nice…. but i’d get over that quickly!
Danielle | http://www.FollowMyGut.com <3
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Yum! I always end up sharing the apple with someone because it becomes too much for me lol.
Alix | http://www.apintsizedlife.com
October really is beautiful. I love caramel apples they taste divine and I would love some right now x
My daughter would love to make caramel apples and your recipe looks so easy + yummy. Super cute blog too!
These look so good! I oftentimes wish I didn’t have braces so that I can enjoy candy apples. Hopefully next year gets here faster than normal.
Shatreka
ChicStylez360.com
These look so good! We really need to make some.
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Oh wow, these are absolutely gorgeous! So perfect for fall 🙂
Perfect fall treats for Holloween! They look amazing and will have to try making them with my mom and grandson!
My boys tasted their first caramel apple the other day and loved it. It is a great way to get them to eat fruit.
I haven’t had these in ages! they look delicious, will try to make them for my brother.
I’m so hungry now! I feel like Xmas now
These are gorgeous! I need to make them for Halloween!
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These look so delicious. Beautiful photography!
These looks so delicious! I love apples.
These look yummy!!!! Can’t wait to try them!
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Even more special and fun when we make that classic homemade!
These are stunning! We always had caramel apples for Halloween, so these bring back memories!
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these are gorgeous – kidpleaser for sure!
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Oh these are just about the prettiest caramel apples I have seen this season!! I have never actually made them myself, but they sound delicious!
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Thanks, Donna!