Print

Caramel Apples

What better way to celebrate Halloween than with delicious caramel covered apples topped with all of your favorite toppings?

  • Author: Marisa Guerra
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 Granny Smith apples
  • 4 candy sticks or skewers
  • 479 grams (2 1/4 cups) light brown sugar
  • 234 grams (3/4 cup) light corn syrup
  • 397 grams (1 3/4 cups) heavy cream
  • 28 grams (2 tbsp) unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 ½ tsp salt
  • Assorted toppings in small bowls

Instructions

  1. Wash apples and dry thoroughly. Remove stems from apples and carefully push candy sticks into the same spot of each apple.
  2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, space the apples out on the cookie sheet, and refrigerate.
  3. In a nonstick pot, combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, heavy cream, butter, vanilla, and salt. Stir and scrape the sides of the pot occasionally/stir occasionally as the mixture cooks over medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes until the candy thermometer reaches 250º F.
  4. Immediately remove from heat and carefully pour into a small heatproof bowl that is tall and narrow enough to dip the whole apple into. Let caramel cool to about 200º F until it is slightly thickened.
  5. Remove cookie sheet from the fridge and fully immerse each apple into the bowl of caramel, rotating them in the process to ensure that they are fully covered. You may need to tilt the bowl slightly to do this.
  6. Hold each apple upside down over the bowl of caramel for 15-20 seconds to let the caramel set, manipulating it by carefully smoothing it towards the top with a spatula where the candy stick meets the apple.
  7. Once you have fully covered and smoothed the caramel on the apple, carefully roll the apple in smaller toppings or gently press larger toppings into the caramel. The caramel should now be warm to the touch so it is easier to add the toppings with your hands or spoon them over the top of the apple.
  8. Place finished apple on cookie sheet and repeat the same steps with the remaining apples. Refrigerate if needed to help caramel firm up and then serve immediately.
  9. Enjoy!

Notes

  • It's very important that you use a candy thermometer to ensure that you pull the caramel off the heat at just the right temperature.
  • For toppings you can use sprinkles, chopped up candy, nuts, chocolate, candy corn, and more.
  • You can either adding toppings to small bowls or small plates, depending on which is easier for applying them to the caramel apples. If you use plates, shake it gently to evenly disperse them each time.

Keywords: caramel, candy, apples