Homemade Caramel Apples are the perfect fall treat to make. Made from scratch caramel is sweet, buttery, and easy to make.
I’m making these delicious caramel apples with real homemade caramel made from scratch.
Homemade caramel is easy to make with butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and real vanilla extract. It’s so much better than those store-bought wrapped caramel candies.
This easy caramel recipe is delicious drizzled over Apple Hand Pies.
Caramel Apples from scratch make the perfect holiday gift. Pack them in these food safe bags for gifts.
Best Apples for Caramel Apples
Granny Smith or anything tart such as Macintosh is the most popular choice for caramel apples because they are tart and pairs perfectly with the sweetness of caramel and chocolate.
- Medium to large apples
- Firm with no bruises or soft spots
- As round and flat on the bottom as you can find- so they sit up on their own
Tools you’ll need for Caramel Apples
- Candy Thermometer: This tool is essential when making homemade caramel to be sure you reach the proper temperature. This is my favorite one.
- Saucepan: You want a big enough saucepan to cook the caramel and not have it boil over.
- Parchment Paper: Pre-measured sheets of parchment paper fit perfectly on half sheet pans. This makes the process of dipping homemade caramel apples a breeze.
- Wooden Apple Sticks: These wooden candy sticks are perfect for dipping apples into caramel. These 7-inch wooden apple sticks are the perfect size.
- Poly Bags: Food-safe poly bags are the perfect way to wrap up each apple individually. They keep the apples fresh and other smells from your fridge out! These are the perfect size for apples and gusset sides open up for fatter apples with plenty of toppings! Order here!
- Double Boiler: To melt the chocolate I use these stainless steel double boiler melting pots. They are so easy to use and fit in most of the saucepans you already own!
How to make Homemade Caramel Apples
Step 1: Make homemade caramel. While it cooks, do NOT walk away from the pot, or it may burn! Use a wooden spoon to occasionally stir the caramel.
TIP: Once it becomes caramel, keep the pot over low heat, just to keep it warm enough to dip apples.
Step 2: Twist the stem off of each apple and remove any stickers. Make sure apples are room temperature and are dry.
Step 3: Push wooden apple sticks (7-inch wooden apple sticks) into straight into each apple. Use a kitchen towel to protect the palm of your hand, or you will eventually bruise.
These apples are dipped in homemade caramel, let dry and then dip in melted chocolate.
Step 4: While the caramel is hot, dip each apple in and shake off any excess. Set each dipped apple onto a prepared half sheet pan, lined with parchment paper. Let the caramel set.
Toppings for Caramel Apples
While the chocolate is wet, roll the apples in anything you prefer. Dig through your kitchen cabinets and see what you have.
- Toasted coconut
- Peanut butter cups, chopped small
- Mini M&M’s
- Chopped Nuts
- Candy bar pieces
- Crushed graham crackers
- Cinnamon-sugar mixture to create an apple pie version
For some creative homemade DIY Christmas gifts, be sure and check out Salt Dough Ornaments, Homemade Barbecue Sauce, Mixed Berry Jam, and Raspberry Rhubarb Jam.
Or make a Christmas cookie tray filled with Homemade Chewy Brownies, Grandma’s Molasses Cookies, Raspberry Oatmeal Bars, and rolled sugar cookies. Make these beautiful homemade Christmas cookies made from a rolled sugar cookie and decorated with royal icing.
I love these pre-cut parchment paper sheets. They fit perfectly in half sheet pans and make life so much easier.
Step 5: Let the caramel set before dipping into melted chocolate. Shake off excess melted chocolate and roll in crushed candies, nuts, or toasted coconut.
Step 6: Sit back on a clean piece of parchment paper and let the chocolate set. Drizzle with melted white chocolate for added detail if desired.
There are so many options for decorating and making these caramel apples.
Homemade Caramel Apples
I love making them in the fall and winter, so I can use the outdoors or our garage as a cooler. Because when you make a bunch of these homemade caramel apples, you won’t be able to stick them in your fridge.
How to store Caramel Apples
After the caramel and chocolate is set, package them up in food safe poly bags and tie with a piece of twine or ribbon. Store them in a cool and dark place for up to two-weeks.
Bring to room temperature for about 20 minutes, before using a chef’s knife to slice them. This makes them easy to enjoy.
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Caramel Apples
Ingredients
Caramel Apples
- 2 cups brown sugar packed
- ½ cup (1 stick) butter
- 1 cup corn syrup
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 12 Granny Smith apples
- 7-inch apple sticks
- 1 pound semisweet chocolate chips
- various toppings
Instructions
Caramel Apples
- In a medium saucepan, over medium heat combine the brown sugar, butter and corn syrup. Once they are melted, add the can of sweetened condensed milk and stir. Heat until it comes to 245 degrees F. Stir continuously with a wooden spoon. Be careful not to burn. Remove from heat and add the vanilla. Let cool slightly before dipping apples.
- Place caramel dipped apples on half sheet pans lined with parchment paper. Let the caramel harden in a cool place. Then dip in melted chocolate. While the chocolate is still wet, roll the apples in your desired toppings.
- If you are doing a topping such as candy pieces (such as M&M’s), let the chocolate harden slightly before pressing on the candy. Otherwise it will slide off.
- Let the apples dry in a cool location.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
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Stacy says
What kind of chocolate did you use for the dipping? They look amazing!!!
Jessica Robinson says
Hi Stacy,
I like to use dark chocolate or semisweet chocolate. I used Ghirardelli semisweet chocolate chips this time. They had them in a large package at BJ’s and they taste amazing!
Iris says
Oooh! Caramel and chocolate!! Those two are my favorites! Plus the juicyness of the apple, yum! This look delish!
Jessica Robinson says
Such a great treat too!
Heather says
These look delicious and so easy to make! My daughters would have so much fun helping in the kitchen and even more fun delivering them to our neighbors!
Sundeep says
Now I am feeling hungry. Caramel Apples looks amazing. Rare to find green apples here but whenever I find some will definitely going try this recipe for sure.
liveloveandadventure says
Thanks for this post! These caramel apples look so good. I’m going apple picking on Sunday and will have a bunch of apples perfect for dipping!
Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen says
Oh gosh! These caramel apples look so mouthwatering!!! Yum!
Rachel says
Ohhh these look so good, great for parties. They look super festive too!
Waren Jean Go says
Oh wow! This looks yummy and so easy to make. My nephews will love this. I will try this on weekend!
kim says
aww, I can’t eat apples unfortunately but these look so yummy almost like candy!
Princess Quinn says
Anything handmade is extra special. I bet people who received this had a huge smile on their face. Looks yummy and easy to prepare.
Lori says
Look so yummy! Great idea to give away as a gift to teachers, bus drivers, etc.! Love it!
Carli says
Yummy yummy to my tummy. I have not eaten a caramel apple since I was a kid. I love them though. I need to do this and have a project with my daughter. She LOVES to do things with mommy and she loves making messes, so this would be a double win.
Bindu Thomas says
This looks delicious and yummy. I would like to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Alexandra says
Thanks for this delicious recipe, Jessica! It looks delicious! I am so excited to try. Perfect for this time of year 🙂 I love the step by step photos.
Kristi says
Thank-you Jessica, for the reminder of taking time in our lives to do something for yourself or someone else. This is often forgotten, since we are all “so busy”.