The Best Ever Caramel Apples

Kristen Massad — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 03:06:12 +0000

The Best Ever Caramel Apples are tart and sweet, made with green granny smith apples dipped into the creamiest most decadent caramel. One bite of these is what fall is all about, you don't want to miss it.

Every year, these caramel apples make their way into our kitchen and become our favorite recipe all over again. Right around Halloween and all the way through Thanksgiving, caramel apples are exactly what we all need and we all crave; even if you don't know it. Once you take one bite of these tart, sweet and extra creamy caramel apples, you will definitely be in love.

If you make these for a special occasion like a Halloween party, make sure to pair them with Halloween Cookie Critters, Triple Chocolate Cocoa Puff Treats and Hocus Pocus Punch. Trust me, your guests won't be disappointed!

INGREDIENTS

Brown Sugar- the molasses in light brown sugar will give the caramel rich flavor
Unsalted Butter- to give the caramel its buttery flavor
Sweetened Condensed Milk- you can’t go wrong adding this thick, sweet milk
Corn syrup- to keep the sugar from crystallizing, so the caramel stays silky and smooth
Maple syrup- to thin all the thick ingredients and add another layer of sweetness
Vanilla- another great flavor to add
Salt- just a touch of salt deepens the flavor of this sweet caramel

DIRECTIONS

Choose your favorite apples to use, but keep in mind that if you love the combination of tart and sweet, granny smith apples are the way to go
Wash the apples, add a skewer to each apple and set on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper, set aside
Combine all ingredients for the caramel in a saucepan
Stir the mixture on medium heat until it reaches 238 degrees F on a candy thermometer
Remove from heat and pour the caramel into a large heat proof bowl, allow it to cool down to 200 degrees F
Once the caramel has cooled it will be a thicker consistency and ready to dip
Dip the apple ¾ of the way into the caramel and allow the caramel to dry for about 30 to 45 minutes before adding toppings, packaging, or eating

OPTIONAL TOPPINGS

Apples dipped in caramel might be enough for you, but take these caramel apples to the next level by adding some toppings that you and your family might love. Dip the caramel apple or drizzle melted dark or white chocolate over the apple for an extra sweet touch and a beautiful look or add chopped nuts or sprinkles for texture. Here are a few toppings that we love:

Dark Chocolate Melting Wafers (I love the Ghirardelli Melting Wafers)
White Chocolate Melting Wafers (I love the Ghirardelli Melting Wafers)
Chopped Nuts (almonds, pecans, hazelnuts)
Festive Sprinkles (orange and brown leaves for Fall or green and red for Christmas)
Mini M&Ms
Crushed Oreos
Sprinkle of Sea Salt

TIPS FOR THE BEST EVER CARAMEL APPLES

Making caramel apples takes some time, but making these homemade is well worth the wait. Take your time and you will have success.

Make sure that your apples are completely dry before dipping
Push the skewer all the way into the apple to ensure that the apple doesn't slip off into the caramel while dipping
Stir the caramel continuously until the sugar reaches 238 degrees F on a candy thermometer, if you don't stir the caramel it will burn on the bottom of the pan
Allow the caramel to cool to 200 degrees before dipping the apples so that the caramel is thick enough to stick on the apples
Once the caramel reaches 200 degrees F, start dipping and don't let the caramel cool to much more because it will start to get very thick
If the caramel gets very thick before you are don't dipping, you can reheat the caramel in the microwave for 30 seconds increments to make it easier to dip (don't do this more than 1 or 2 times)
Allow the excess caramel to drip off the apple before placing the caramel dipped apple on the parchment paper. If the caramel puddles, you can trim the caramel with a knife to create a clean edge around the apple.
Allow the caramel to cool completely before removing the apples from the parchment lined baking sheet
If you want to wrap the caramel apples for gifting, it is best to put one of the optional toppings over the caramel so that it doesn't stick to the cellophane bag. I like to dip mine in chocolate if I am going to bag them up
Caramel Apples can sit out at room temperature for 2-3 day or refrigerate to keep the apples fresh longer

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