Caramel Apples
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It's so much fun to dip your own caramel apples for Halloween! Follow this easy video tutorial to learn the basics, and get you started with 5 yummy toppings to choose from. A special seasonal treat your loved ones will look forward to year after year!
I just can't believe how quickly Fall is whizzing by! Isn't it crazy?? I was looking at my calendar the other day and I was like "what?" It's almost Halloween, people!
My son has been planning his costume for over a month already. He found a YouTube video where a guy makes a mask out of a flower pot and car sponge, and we had to rush right out and buy all the supplies. He pesters me about it almost every day: "Mom, can we work on the mask today?" And I keep putting him off because I have a sickness, and I can't take action on anything that's not totally last minute.
Well, I really can't put it off much longer. We are just a couple of weeks away from the big day, my friends. And besides costumes, we are going to need candy to pass out and lots of treats for parties!
Have you ever tried dipping your own caramel apples? With homemade caramel and everything? It's not that hard at all and really kinda fun. Plus there are so many different ways you can jazz them up.
It all begins with just a few basic ingredients that I bet you already have on hand. Cream, butter, salt, vanilla, sugar, corn syrup, and apples. I used Honeycrisps because they're my favorite, but I think these would be totally adorable with those bitty little Lady Apples too!
For toppings, I'm suggesting a few crowd-pleasing favorites: Oreos, chopped nuts, mini m&m's, festive sprinkles, and chopped peanut butter cups. But you can let your imagination run wild! I think these would be fantastic with crushed pretzels, or gingersnaps, or even dipped a second time in melted chocolate!
But really, the caramel is so good just by itself. Just a good old fashioned caramel apple. Like I remember from when I was a young 'un 😉
These are caramel apples- not candy apples. I'm talking soft, chewy caramel. Not the hard candy kind that'll break a tooth. This is soft, creamy, and buttery, with a warm vanilla backnote and a really rich flavor.
Check out the video below (it's within the recipe card) to see how simple and fun the process can be 🙂
Now get going on it, Halloween will be here in a flash!
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Caramel Apples
Ingredients
- 1 cup (238 ml) heavy cream
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 ½ teaspoons (1.5 teaspoons) kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (85.25 ml) light corn syrup
- ¼ cup (62.5 ml) water
- 6 apples,, washed and dried thoroughly
- crushed oreos, chopped peanuts, festive sprinkles, mini m&m's, and chopped mini peanut butter cups, , for garnish
Instructions
- Place the cream, butter, and salt in a small pot and heat until the butter is melted, the cream is steaming, and the salt is dissolved.
- Remove from the heat and add the vanilla.
- Place the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a larger pot, and place over medium high heat.
- Cook, swirling the pot occasionally, until a rich amber color.
- Pour in the cream mixture, and whisk together as it bubbles down.
- Continue to cook the caramel on medium heat, until the temperature measures 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer.
- Push cookie sticks straight down the center of the apples.
- Dip into warm caramel, scraping off any excess from the bottom of the apples with a spoon.
- While the coating is still warm, coat with assorted garnishes.
I'm a sucker for caramel apples!!! And yours made with homemade caramel are the best!!
Caramel apples are a beloved fall favorite. This version is easy to make and is a project the whole family will enjoy. I love decorating mine with my favorite candies, such as mini chocolate chips.
Thanks so much Gwen!
Ahh all those variations look so good! I'll take one of each! I really need to try making caramel apples this year, if only so I can cover mine in rainbow sprinkles. Love the video too <3
Caramel apples and haunted houses are two projects I always take on in October. It gets me in the festive mood!
I love that Nicole! Hope you're enjoying the season so far! Thanks so much 🙂
Because I can't think of a professional way to say this 🙂 Allie, you are goals. Wowza, this post is amazing! The lighting and setting for your photos couldn't be more perfect. And that caramel? Bring it on.
Lol thank you Mary Frances! You are such a sweetheart and your unprofessional compliment absolutely means the world to me! xo
I love all the toppings, I actually made some caramel dipped pears that I am enjoying now!
That's so funny Katalina- so did I! They are actually part of an upcoming post. So delish! Thanks hon!
I LOVED your video, especially that music, so fun and festive 😉 Also, I always screw up the caramel, I just can't help myself from getting in there and stirring it all over the place and making clumps, so great to have the video. And I'm sure that if you're handing out these apples on Halloween, you're going to be the most popular house on the street 😉
Hehe, thanks so much Denise! I really didn't stir it much at all. I had some bubbles, but no clumps. For me the biggest trick is just getting and keeping the proper temperature. That candy thermometer is an essential!
Oh gosh I am so in love with this video Allie. You are seriously the cutest ever!!!! And these look insane! I have my name on that Oreo one!
You're an Oreo girl? My older son is crazy about them! I kinda am too actually 🙂 Thank you so much sweetie! I hope you're enjoying your time in Mississippi- give your mama and big mama and big daddy a hug from me!
Caramel apples are a must this time of year! Love that you make your own caramel!
I do! I just love how buttery homemade caramel tastes! Thank you so much Jessica! 🙂
You have me wanting to make candy apples! Love the video! As always, a job well done!
Thank you so much Jen! I'm so happy you like it. Thanks for the sweet comment!
Best Caramel Apples recipe ever! That video was so cute (and SCARY!). I was waiting for a monster to show up any second and eat all the caramel apples (THE HORROR!). Great job!
Now THAT would have been a really fun idea! Thank you so much Meggan!
Caramel apples truly are so fun! I love the various toppings. Irresistible!
Happy Wednesday Allie!
Happy day Melanie! Thank you so much for stopping by and for the sweet comment 🙂
I was totally entranced by your video!! SO CUTE! The music...awesome. And these look insanely good! Can I come visit?? 🙂
You are welcome any time, my dear! Thank you so much for the awesome feedback! Hope you're having an amazing time at Chopped Con!
These caramel apples look beautiful ! Love the video!
Thank you so much Mira! I had a lot of fun making all of it 🙂
I've been seeing so many amazing caramel apple recipes and yours are just as amazing. Great job!
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Thank you so much Eric! I just love caramel apples, and I love all the creative spins we are seeing out there in the blogosphere!
This recipe looks so amazing! And the video is very helpful, I can't wait to try it 😀
Thank you so much Tricia! My family really loved these! I hope you enjoy too! Thanks for reading and for the sweet comment 🙂