Homemade Caramel Apples

Fall just wouldn’t be the same without the usual suspects to nosh on. Days filled with apples dipped in caramel sauce, pumpkin spice everything and sweet apple cider, it makes you totally forget that gray days of winter are looming ahead.

So, it’s only fitting to savor every single second of the season and to do that, we’ve been making homemade Caramel Apples and Candy Apples every chance we get.

They’re so fun to make and really don’t take much time at all. And they’re better than the apples you get at the country fair.

Better yet, you can make your own gourmet caramel apples by dipping in chocolate and decorating with your own favorite toppings, nuts or sprinkles!

What are Caramel Apples

Caramel apples, also knows as toffee apples and candy apples, are whole apple on a stick that are covered in a caramel coating.

Often decorated with melted chocolate and dipped in candy, nuts or sprinkles, this treat is most often served during the fall months for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

What Apples To Use For Caramel Apples

Because the caramel is super sweet, a firm, crisp, tart apple is perfect for this recipe.

We love to use Granny Smith apples because they’re perfectly tart and the green color just pops out at the top of the apple. You can also use a Fuji or Honeycrisp apple with great, tasty results.

You’ll also want to select small to medium sized apples because they’re easier to eat and dip. If you want a more gourmet Apple, the large sized apples work perfectly and make an impressive presentation.

Also, be sure to select apples that are firm with no visible brown spots.

Prep the Apples: Wash, de-wax & chill

1. De-wax: Submerge apples 20–30 seconds in very hot (not boiling) water with a splash of white vinegar.
2. Scrub with a clean towel, rinse, and dry completely (tops and bottoms).
3. Insert sticks.
4. Chill 30 minutes (colder peels help the caramel set quickly and cling).

Tip: Any moisture will cause sliding. Dry the stems and stick entry point, too.

How To Make Caramel Apples

Easy Caramel Apples are super simple to make from scratch and even can double as a Halloween treat! The caramel used to make caramel apples is not the same as my favorite salted caramel sauce. Caramel Sauce is much thinner and won’t stick to the apple. So, while super tasty….it’s best for drizzling on apple pie or using as a dip.

1. Set up: Line a sheet pan and keep toppings ready in shallow bowls.
2. Start caramel: Add sugar, corn syrup, and water to saucepan. Stir just to combine. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Do not stir once boiling (you can swirl the pan gently instead).
3. Cream warm-up: In a small saucepan or microwave, warm the cream until steamy (not boiling).
4. Cook the syrup: Cook sugar mixture to a light amber, 320–325°F (160–163°C).
5. Add cream: Off the heat, slowly whisk in warm cream (it will bubble violently). Return to medium heat, add butter and salt, whisking until smooth.
6. Finish to temp: Cook, stirring occasionally, until 245–248°F (118–120°C). Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
7. Cool to dip temp: Let caramel stand 3–5 minutes until it drops to around 200°F.
8. Dip: Angle the pan and rotate each chilled apple to coat. Let excess drip off, scrape the bottom lightly on the pan’s edge.
9. Set and decorate: Place on prepared sheet. If adding toppings, roll while the caramel is still tacky. Chill 10–15 minutes to set.

Entertaining? Hold caramel warm in a slow cooker on LOW, stirring every 10 minutes, and keep apples chilled until dipping.

Storage, safety & make-ahead

• Refrigerate chill caramel apples on a parchment-lined tray until firm, then wrap individually.
• Best within 2–3 days; quality holds up to 5 days refrigerated.
• For serving, enjoy straight from the fridge or let stand 10–15 minutes for easier slicing.
• Food-safety note: Because the stick can push surface bacteria into the fruit, avoid room-temperature storage. Keep caramel apples chilled.

How To Make Caramel Apples in the Slow Cooker

The caramel absolutely must be prepared on the stove as instructed. However, after the caramel is done cooking, you can keep it warm in a slow cooker on the low setting. Just be sure to give it a stir every 10 minutes or so.

This is an excellent option if you’re hosting a party and guests can make their own apples!

Variations on Candy Apples

You can add extra flavor to your caramel by sprinkling with Pumpkin Pie seasoning as we did for these Pumpkin Spice apples.

We also love garnishing our apples with fun toppings such as a sprinkling of flaky sea salt, festive sprinkles, drizzling with melted chocolate, rolling in crushed nuts or cookie crumbs.

There’s really no limit to how you can garnish apples. Use your imagination or these easy options.

• Apple-Pie: White chocolate drizzle and cinnamon-brown sugar
• Nutty: Salted peanuts or pecans and dark chocolate drizzle
• Cookies & Cream: Crushed chocolate sandwich cookies
• Pretzel Crunch: Crushed pretzels and milk chocolate
• Toffee Latte: Toffee bits and espresso powder dusting