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Caramel Apples

October 27, 2019

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close up of caramel apple on a rimmed sheet pan

Did you know that October 31st is National Caramel Apple Day? That’s what the internets say. 🙂 Invented by someone who worked at Kraft Foods in the ’50’s, sort of by accident, I’d imagine. Caramel Apples are a great afternoon snack (well, more of a treat.) and pretty easy to make. The kids will love to decorate with sprinkles, crushed nuts, or drizzled with melted white/dark chocolate. It would be a great dessert before they head out for trick or treating, at least it’s an apple! If you leave out the corn syrup, you have a great caramel sauce for ice cream or drizzle on a piece of apple pie.

Some easy soups to make for your trick or treaters before they get loaded down with pillowcases full of candy!:

  • Lentil and Chorizo Soup
  • Roasted Tomato Soup with Fresh Basil
  • or one of my personal favs Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup

IMPORTANT tip for making caramel apples:

Use caution. An adult MUST make the caramel, it is molten hot as it cooks to the correct temperature, so the utmost caution is advised. Once the sauce is in the measuring cup, the kids can dip away, but have them steer clear until that point. Have fun with this recipe and have a few toppings and sprinkles for the kids to decorate their apples.

Try as I might, I couldn’ t get the caramel to stick to the apples without using corn syrup. I tried Lyle’s Golden Syrup and hoped that would work, but it didn’t (but it did yield a fantastic caramel ‘sauce’). I did find Wholesome Corn Syrup brand, it’s organic and non-GMO.

A note on corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup.

They are not the same thing. High-fructose corn syrup appears in processed foods we purchase and is not available as a product in stores. Corn syrup is produced differently and both are sugar derivatives, here’s a good article that breaks it all down better, take a look if you want to learn more. Use your best judgment, that’s my best advice.

Caramel cooling on in a pan on the stovetop with a wooden spoon
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Caramel Apples on parchment on rimmed baking sheet

Caramel Apples

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  • Author: Shelagh
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 5–6 caramel apples 1x
  • Category: Snack/Dessert
  • Method: Stovetop/Assembly
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

The initial goal with this recipe was to make without corn syrup. Well, after numerous attempts, that did not work. But I did find a nice ‘organic’ corn syrup, but any corn syrup will work. See note below on corn syrups


Ingredients

Scale

5–6 cold apples (I like Granny Smith or another tart apple)

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup light corn syrup (I used organic Wholesome Corn Syrup (affiliate link)* brand)

1 cup packed light brown sugar

2 tablespoons salted butter, cold

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (affiliate link)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


Instructions

1. Wash the apples with soap and water, rinse well, then wipe completely dry. This will remove any wax coating and help the caramel stick. Insert heavy 6″ skewer into each apple. Place in the fridge until ready to dip.

2. Line a rimmed baking sheet (affiliate link) with a parchment or wax paper. You can also place the dipped apples in a paper muffin cup, so have those ready if using.

3. For the caramel: Combine the heavy cream, corn syrup, brown sugar, butter, and salt in a 3-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Stir until well combined. Attach a candy thermometer (affiliate link) to the pan, making sure the tip is not touching the bottom of the pan. Gently stir until butter melts and sugar is dissolved.

4. Let the mixture cook (without stirring) and bubble until it reaches 235 degrees on the candy thermometer. This could take 10-12 minutes, or maybe less it depends on your stove. The temp heats up slowly, then it rises pretty quick, so keep your eye on it. Once at 235 degrees, immediately remove caramel from heat and pour into a 2 cup (or larger) glass measuring cup, stir in the vanilla (careful, it may spatter). Allow caramel to cool for at least 10 minutes until slightly thickened.

5. Dip the apples by holding the apple stick, dip the apple into the caramel, twirling to coat all sides of the apple. Tap it against the side of the measuring cup to let excess caramel drip off. Place on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet (affiliate link). Repeat with remaining apples. Allow caramel to set, about 45-60 minutes. You can refrigerate to speed up this process. 

6. If you want, add toppings, immediately after coating in caramel and before the caramel sets, roll the caramel apples in chopped nuts, toffee pieces, mini M&Ms, sprinkles, *or coconut. I like mine fairly plain or with some coarse flaky salt sprinkled over the apples*.

7. To store, cover the leftover dipped apples and place them in the fridge for up to 1 week.

*Wholesome Corn Syrup (affiliate link) is not as highly processed as Karo, and no GMO’s. I prefer it, but Karo would work fine as well. (not sponsored, just my opinion) FYI, corn syrup is not the same as high fructose corn syrup.


Notes

Special equipment: Heavy bottomed 3-quart saucepan Candy thermometer  Wooden spoon Parchment paper (affiliate link) and/or large paper muffin cups Thick 6″ skewers (or the flat usual sticks found in craft stores)

I'd love it if you shared photos of your finished dish! Tag me and I'll return the favor. Enjoy!

Tag @shecooksdesign on the Insta and hashtag it #shecooksdesign

Measuring cup and spoon with caramel for apples
Easy dipping when you put the caramel in a measuring cup.

Another fun decoration and flavor pop is to sprinkle some Golden Fig Smoked Chocolate Sea Salt on your caramel apples. Smoked with Alderwood, this salt adds such a delicious salty note to this fun fall apple treat.

Golden Fig Smoked Chocolate Sea Salt

I hope you make these Caramel Apples soon, if you do, let me know how you liked them, and any other comments (as long as they are polite!) are always welcome. Have a great week and enjoy!

Sláinte,
Shelagh

Filed Under: All Recipes, Desserts, Misc., Snack Tagged With: Caramel apples, fall apple treats, fall apples, no high-fructose corn syrup, organic corn syrup

Previous Post: « Pasta al Limone
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