Homemade Caramel Apples Recipe
These Gourmet Homemade Caramel Apples are easy and so fun to make. This recipe for caramel apples will give you step by step instructions, videos, tips, and more.
Servings: 12 Caramel Apples
Calories: 749kcal
Ingredients
- 12 whole granny smith apples
- 12 lollipop sticks or popsicle sticks
Homemade Caramel for Caramel Apples
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup karo syrup
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Toppings for Caramel Apples
- 2 cups chocolate wafers white or milk chocolate, melted
- 1/2 cup toppings sprinkles, crushed candy bars, crystal sugar, etc.
Instructions
Prepping the Apples
- Wash apples to remove any wax by soaking in a half gallon of water with 1 cup of white vinegar. Dry completely with a dish towel or paper towel.
- Remove the stem of each apple and insert a wooden dowel or lollipop stick into the top, about 3/4 of the way through.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set the apples on top.
Making the Caramel
- In a large nonstick Dutch oven pot over medium heat, add the butter and melt. Once melted, add the sugar, brown sugar, Karo syrup, and sweetened condensed milk and bring to a boil.
- Stir constantly while cooking at a rapid boil until it reaches 240 degrees F. Watch closely and do not cook higher than 240 degrees F or the caramel will be too thick to dip the caramel apples.
- Take the caramel off the heat and stir in the salt and the vanilla, then let the caramel cool for about 5 minutes before dipping.
How to Dip Caramel Apples
- 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.
Decorating the Apples
- Drizzle melted chocolate on each caramel apple. Roll in sprinkles, crushed candy bars, or cookies.
Storing Caramel Apples
- Keep in the fridge, loosely covered, for up to 1 week. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Storing caramel apples: store your caramel apples loosely covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Storing leftover caramel: you can store leftover caramel in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. To reheat, just pop in the microwave or warm over low heat stirring constantly.
- Pro tip: When cooking caramel, it helps to use a square wooden spoon so you can scrape the bottom of the pan while stirring.
Nutrition
Calories: 749kcal | Carbohydrates: 103g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 599mg | Potassium: 403mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 86g | Vitamin A: 600IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 137mg | Iron: 2mg