I have been searching for a good homemade caramel apple recipe. I must say that the method of making them using those pre-wrapped caramels just doesn’t do it for me. I wanted to find a good caramel that would coat my apples and taste like the caramel on those apples you buy from places like Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Now obviously if you want to go all out you could also cover these babies with chocolate, nuts, candy, cookies bits, etc and make those fabulous gourmet apples. However, I like the simple version, apples covered in just plain old ooey gooey chewy caramel. However, if you must cover them with other things, I have provided a few links below the recipe to give you some inspiration on how to accomplish that. I have to say my most favorite part of a caramel apple is the bottom. I love that extra caramel you get as it drips down to the bottom and puddles there. This caramel is just what I was looking for. I found the recipe at Taste of Home. Now a couple things I did learn that I need to share with you.
- Apples need to be at room temperature to coat them or the caramel may not stick.
- If you put the apples in the fridge that caramel gets too hard. You must eat these caramel apples at room temperature. You can refrigerate them if you want, just bring them back to room temperature before you eat them.
- When you dip the apples in the caramel, turn them slowly. If you turn them too fast it will create bubbles in the caramel on your apples.
- If you don’t have sticks for your apples, you can also use chopstick. You could even use a fork if you needed too also.
- I made 10 apples and had leftover caramel. I poured the leftover caramel onto a well greased dish and saved it to eat by itself. We just cut it into pieces and ate it.
Try this recipe and enjoy a fall classic.
Caramel Apples
1/2 cup butter, cubed
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
Dash salt
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 to 12 Popsicle sticks
10 to 12 medium tart apples, washed and dried
In a large heavy saucepan, melt butter; add the brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil, about 10-12 minutes. Stir in milk. Cook and stir until a candy thermometer reads 248° (firm-ball stage). Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla.
Insert Popsicle sticks into apples. Dip each apple into hot caramel mixture; turn to coat. Set on greased waxed paper to cool. Yield: 10-12 apples.
THIS LINK – has caramel apples decorated with candy to make ghoulish faces.
THIS LINK – a the caramel apples decorated with all kinds of candies like gummy worms, Reese’s Pieces, cinnamon candies, etc.
THIS LINK – shows different was to decorate them with chocolate and sprinkles.
THIS LINK – shows a bunch of was to decorate and dip the apples in chocolate.
Hi Laura, new founder on this great blog of yours !! Can’t wait to make so many of these recipes !!! And with the easy ingredients too, I live in Greece (on a small island) and at times it’s hard for me to find certain foods (it’s a bit of a bummer sometimes lol) for instance even if I wanted to try to make caramel apples with the pre-made caramel squares, I couldn’t since we don’t have them here !!! LOL Anyways, I had a question about your recipe, how far in advance can I make these, and they will still be fresh? I’m having a birthday party for my daughter and I thought I would give these out as treats, would two weeks be too long if I have them bagged? Thank you for your time !!!
Great recipe! I found it astounding that it's so hard to find a genuine caramel apple recipe.
Pretty! A great way to celebrate the fall, I love it.
Your blog has quickly become a favorite. Thank you for all the great recipes!
: )
Gail
Aww caramel apples
I have to make them this fall, nothing says fall better than these!
I love caramel! This sure reminds me of fall.
I too have been looking for a from-scratch recipe for caramel apples. How disappointed I was when King Arthur's blog posted caramel apples made with pre-prepared caramel! Thanks for sharing!
I Love love love your blog! Thanks for posting!! You're so talented
I can just imagine how my Grandsons would love this. It looks like you have some wonderful recipes here.
I am now following.
Iris