Homemade Caramel Apple -Easy Gourmet Caramel Apples {Video}

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These Homemade Caramel Apples are easy and so fun to make.  This recipe will show you step by step how to make caramel apples, Gourmet Caramel Apples at home with just a few ingredients.  

Best Caramel Apple Recipe

This is a step by step  guide to making homemade gourmet caramel apples.  I'll show you step-by-step instructions with pictures and tips to help you along the way so that you can easily make your very own Homemade Caramel Apples from scratch.

Jump to:

• Best Caramel Apple Recipe
• What Are The Best Apples for Caramel Apples
• Sticks 
• How to Prepare Apples for Dipping
• Ingredients for this Caramel Apple Recipe
• How to Make Caramel Apples
• What Temperature to Cook Caramel To
• Homemade Caramel Apple Toppings
• Homemade Caramel Apples {Easy Gourmet Caramel Apples}

Dipping and decorating caramel apples is one of the highlights of the fall season for our family.  It's become a family tradition at our house every year.  There's something satisfying about making the smooth, creamy, perfectly sweet caramel from scratch, and everyone will love decorating their own apples just how they like.

What Are The Best Apples for Caramel Apples

• Granny Smith-  crisp, tart, and balance well with the buttery, sugary soft caramel.  Granny Smith Apples are the gold standard because they are firm, crisp, and very tart.
• Honey Crisp- slightly sweeter than Granny Smith apples and almost as firm and crisp.  Keep in mind that the shelf life for Honey Crisp apples isn’t quite as long as Granny Smith.
• Gala- These will work too. They don't have quite the flavor punch as a granny smith or Honey crisp but make a great caramel apple. 

Most of all, you want to use an apple that is firm, crisp, and is without any soft spots or bruises. 

Sticks 

There are many different options here.  You can find an assortment at your local craft store, square sticks, popcicle sticks or dowels, cut down to size. 

• Popsicle sticks:  These are our preferred sticks to use because they are sturdy and can bear the weight of a large caramel apple.
• Lollipop sticks: These work great, too, but if you have a heavy caramel apple they do have a tendency to bend.
• Tree branches:  It's a little bit of a hassle but they are so cute!  Just sanitize your pruning shears with vinegar before you cut the branches.  You may also want to rinse the branches in the vinegar water after you've washed the apples, making sure to rinse the sticks to remove any vinegar smell.

How to Prepare Apples for Dipping

Unless you pick your own or purchase organic apples, you’ll want to remove the wax.  Otherwise, you will have a difficult time with the caramel sliding off of the apple.  

You will know it’s working if your water turns a little murky once you begin to rub the wax off with your fingers.

Vinegar Method

1. Wash apples to remove any wax by soaking in a half-gallon of water with 1 cup of white vinegar for about 10 minutes, then rubbing with your fingers to remove the wax.  Rinse the apples well, then dry completely with a dish towel or paper towel.
2. Remove the stem of each apple and insert a wooden dowel or stick into the top, about ¾ of the way through.
3. Prepare a baking sheet by either spraying with non-stick cooking spray or use a Silpat. You want to avoid parchment paper and wax paper because the caramel has a tendency to stick to it when you go to remove the apples.

Warm Water and Towel

You can also wash your apples in warm water and then vigorously rub your apples with a rag to remove the majority of the outer layer of wax. Be sure to lay them on a towel to air dry before dipping the apples in caramel.  The apple must be very dry for the caramel to stick. 

Ingredients for this Caramel Apple Recipe

• Apples - any crisp, tart apples such as Granny Smith, Fuji or Honeycrisp.
• Sticks - you can use popsicle sticks, lollipop sticks or even clean sticks from your yard.
• Butter - you can use either salted or unsalted butter, depending on your own personal taste.
• Sugar - regular white granulated sugar.
• Brown Sugar - you can use either light or dark brown sugar.  Dark brown will have a little stronger of a molasses flavor than light brown.
• Karo Syrup - if you can’t find Karo Syrup, you can substitute light corn syrup.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk
• Vanilla Extract - pure vanilla extract has the best flavor.
• Salt - we like to use sea salt best.
• Chocolate Wafers - if you choose to dip or drizzle with chocolate, we recommend using white or milk chocolate wafers.  They will melt easily in the microwave.  Simply heat for 30 seconds at a time (no more or it will burn!), stirring well in between.  You don’t want it to be hot, just melted.
• Toppings - some of our favorite toppings include chopped nuts, crushed candy-like Butterfinger, and sprinkles.

How to Make Caramel Apples

Making the Caramel:

1. In a large non-stick Dutch oven pot over medium heat, add the butter and melt.  Next, add the sugar, brown sugar, Karo syrup and sweetened condensed milk and bring to a boil while stirring constantly.  (Hint: it helps to use a square wooden spoon so you can scrape the bottom of the pan while stirring, making sure it doesn't burn)
2. Stir constantly while cooking at a rapid boil.  Use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature and cook until it reaches 240 degrees F.  Watch closely and do not cook higher than 240 degrees F or the caramel will be too thick for the caramel apples.
3. Take the caramel off the heat and stir in the salt and the vanilla, then let the caramel cool for about 10-15 minutes.

Dipping the Apples:

1. Carefully take each apple by the stick and dip into the hot caramel all the way up to the stick, then lift it out of the caramel and swirl gently to let the excess caramel drip back into the pot.  Once dipped, set each caramel dipped apple onto your prepared baking sheet.  Repeat with the remaining apples, letting the caramel cool to room temperature.  Enjoy!
2. If desired, you may also roll each apple into your favorite toppings before the caramel sets.  Our favorites are sprinkles, crushed candy bars, chopped nuts or toffee bits.  It’s also fun to decorate according to the season or holiday.  You can go as simple as colored sprinkles, or even decorate them to look like Caramel Apple Snowmen!
3. You can also dip into melted white chocolate or milk chocolate, once the caramel has cooled completely.  It's up to you whether you want to dip the entire caramel apple, just half or even simply drizzle.  If you plan on adding toppings to the chocolate, dip and place onto your prepared baking sheet to let the chocolate set partially before rolling into your toppings.  Keep in the fridge, loosely covered, for up to 3 days, or enjoy immediately!

What Temperature to Cook Caramel To

You want to cook your caramel to 240 degrees F.  At this temperature, the sugar in the caramel will have reached the softball stage, which means it will be flexible yet slightly firm.  

A candy thermometer is the only way to accurately know when you have reached the correct temperature so we highly recommend investing in one if you plan to make homemade caramel.

Homemade Caramel Apple Toppings

Here are a few of our favorites:

• Sprinkles
• Crushed Candy Bars
• Chopped Nuts
• Crystal Sugar
• Drizzled Melted Chocolate
• Toffee Bits

Here are some more apple recipes that we love!

• Apple Cinnamon French Toast Bake
• Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip
• Caramel Apple Snowmen
• Sausage and Apple Stuffing
• Caramel Apple Crisp with Oat Topping

If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest,  feel free to leave a comment and photo there too.  Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

  I’ll show you step by step how to make your own Gourmet Caramel apples at home with just a few ingredients. These Homemade Caramel Apples are easy and so fun to make.  I'll show you how to make homemade caramel, how to drizzle chocolate and add your favorite candy topping.