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Easy Caramel Apples Recipe

My family loves to celebrate the Fall season with all the fun Autumn activities, but we especially love recreating our favorite treats from the local pumpkin patch, corn maze, and Fall festival food stands like Apple Fritter Rings , Corn Dogs, and definitely these easy caramel apples. This recipe is so easy to make with only 3 ingredients, but the dipped apples come out looking so impressive as a table centerpiece or as a gift, and of course they taste delicious! The caramel truly balances the tart juicy apples, and the toppings make the simple dessert so much fun. Check out the tutorial below, and scroll down for a few hints on how to make this recipe foolproof.

Caramel Apples Video

This homemade caramel apple recipe is the perfect dessert and snack. Coating fresh fruit in caramel feels just a little less guilty than a typical dessert. Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is to recreate this childhood favorite. If you enjoyed this video for Caramel Apples, please subscribe to our Youtube channel and click the bell icon so you can be the first to know when we post a new video.

Ingredients

You need only three ingredients to make Caramel Apples, so it couldn’t get any easier! See our tips below on using the best ingredients for great-tasting apples.

Apples – any variety will work but a crisp and tart apple has a nice flavor contrast to the sweet caramel coating. If you use store-bought, you’ll need to dip the apple in hot water for a moment and then dry to remove the wax. Caramels – there are two preferred brands of store-bought caramels (Werther’s chewy caramels and Kraft caramels) and you can use whichever one is available. You can also buy caramel bits and skip the unwrapping caramel step. Heavy whipping cream – use 4 Tbsp of heavy whipping cream when melting caramels for a rich and smooth consistency. Salt – add a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness.

What is the best apple for Caramel Apples?

Any variety will work in the recipe, but we especially like the tart varieties that offset the sweetness from the caramels. Here are some popular options:

Granny Smith apples Fuji apples Gala apples Honey Crisp apples

Tips for the Best Caramel Apples

It’s so easy to make caramel apples, in fact, it’s been one of my kids’ favorite Fall activities since they were young. Here are a few tips we’ve picked up over the years.

Crushed pretzels Finely chopped nuts Mini M&M’s Coconut flakes Sprinkles Chopped candy bars Crushed Oreos or other cookies Melted dark or milk chocolate Kosher salt (sprinkled on lightly)

Skewers – you can use candy apple skewers, popsicle sticks, or even chopsticks. You can even use tree twigs to look like a little branch. Remove Wax – if your apples are store-bought, you will need to remove the wax so the caramel sticks. Dip the apple in hot water for a few seconds and then thoroughly dry with a towel. You can also watch how to remove wax from apples with a knife. Dry Apples – make sure apples are completely dry before dipping. Chill Skewered Apples – Once apples are skewered, refrigerate while you melt the candies. Caramel will firm up quickly on a chilled apple, so the sauce doesn’t pool at the bottom. Have Toppings Ready – you’ll need to apply toppings as soon as the caramel is on the apple since it will firm up quickly, especially if you are working with cold apples. Refrigerate Coated Apples – Once dipped, pop in the fridge for at least 15 minutes to help the caramel set quickly without sagging. You’ll want to refrigerate before applying any melted chocolate topping.

How to Make Caramel Apples

Why won’t my caramel stick to my apples?

If the caramel sauce won’t stick to your apples, be sure the apple is completely dry before dipping. Also, if you are using store-bought apples, be sure to wash them in hot water and dry them before dipping to remove the wax coating. If the caramel is pooling on the plate, try refrigerating your apple before dipping, scraping off excess caramel drip from the bottom back into the bowl, and refrigerating to harden the caramel quickly.

More Apple Desserts

If you love this recipe for caramel apples, then you won’t want to miss these apple desserts:

To Refrigerate: once cooled, place in an airtight container or wrap individually in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to a week.

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