Table of Contents
  1. The caramel-making process:
  2. More Fall Recipes
  3. Watch how to make these homemade caramel apples
  4. Homemade Caramel Apples Recipe

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Do you love caramel? I do! To me, there’s something purely magical about the process of cooking sugar. The process isn’t overly complicated; it just takes some patience. And when drizzled over a batch of these homemade caramel apples, it’s seriously so good. Plus, they’re the perfect treat to give out when trick or treaters stop by! I know that if I lived closer to my nieces and nephew, I’d make these for them each and every Halloween.

The caramel-making process:

  1. By adding a little water, the sugar will dissolve quickly and begin to cook evenly.
  2. Once boiling, it’s easy to think the sauce is just about ready. But it takes a bit longer to cook off the water and allow the sugar to become a dark amber color. The darker the color, the deeper, almost bitter flavor the caramel will have. Not surprisingly, I love a pretty dark caramel. If your thing is a lighter caramel sauce, make sure to stop cooking a bit earlier.
  3. The cream is added to prevent the sugar from cooking any further. It also helps to keep the finished caramel at a soft consistency.
  4. Once the mixture has been cooled to room temperature, the caramel is perfect for dipping apples!

Just like that, you have a deliciously smooth, perfectly rich caramel sauce! See, homemade caramel really is easy to make!

Homemade caramel apples sitting on a piece of white parchment sprinkled with toffee pieces and chopped pecans all on a wood board

Let’s be honest: caramel apples aren’t always easy to eat (seriously… how do you gracefully bite into one?!), but they are fun to make and to give as gifts.

If you want to make them over the top, add some drizzled chocolate and dip them in crushed nuts (I prefer pecans) and toffee bits.

Top down view of homemade caramel apples with toffee pieces and chopped pecans sitting on white parchment
The sticky caramel provides the perfect “glue” for these chopped pecans and toffee bits!

More Fall Recipes

Watch how to make these homemade caramel apples

YouTube video
Homemade caramel apples sitting on parchment-lined baking sheet sprinkled with toffee pieces and chopped pecans with chocolate all on wood board with white background

Homemade Caramel Apples

3 from 2 votes
Sprinkled with toffee pieces and chopped pecans, these homemade caramel apples are the perfect Halloween treat! They’re a bit of sweet, salty, and just so good!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 apples

Equipment

  • 6 6-inch long sticks

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup water
  • ¾ cup heavy cream room temperature
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 6 small crisp apples
  • 4 oz dark chocolate
  • ½ cup toasted chopped pecans
  • ½ cup toffee candy pieces

Instructions
 

  • In a large kettle, combine the sugar and water. Swirl the pan to moisten all the sugar. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil. Swirl the saucepan periodically to ensure the sugar is evenly heating. Once at a boil, continue to cook until the sugar has reached a deep amber color, about 310°F. Remove from heat.
    1 cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup water
  • While whisking the caramel, slowly pour in the cream. The sugar will bubble vigorously. When all the cream is added, continue to whisk until smooth. If the caramel seizes at all, place over low heat and stir until smooth.
    ¾ cup heavy cream
  • Off the heat, add the salt and vanilla extract. Whisk and pour into a heatproof bowl to cool.
    ½ tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • At the stem end, pierce each apple with a stick to create a handle. 
    6 small crisp apples
  • When the caramel is room temperature and thickened, melt the chocolate in the microwave. Heat for 30 seconds, stir and heat again. Continue until just melted.
    4 oz dark chocolate
  • Dip the apples in the cooled caramel and set on a parchment-lined baking sheet. If the caramel seems low for the last apple, spread it on and allow it to drip down until coated.
  • Drizzle the chocolate over the caramel and sprinkle with pecans and toffee. Dip the bottoms of the apples in nuts and toffee to ensure they don’t stick to the parchment.
    ½ cup toasted chopped pecans, ½ cup toffee candy pieces
  • Allow to cool and enjoy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1appleCalories: 368kcal
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Difficulty Easy
Method Cooking

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Kaleb

Kaleb Wyse is a New York Times bestselling author behind the popular Wyse Guide website. Living on his fourth-generation Iowa farm, he loves sharing recipes and gardening tips that come from traditions that feel comfortably familiar. His down-to-earth style makes sustainable living and farm life feel like home!

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3 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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1 Comments

  1. 2 stars
    I’ve tried this three times. Failure. Caramel never sets up enough to thicken. It runs off apple. Very thin and pools on baking sheet. I followed recipe exactly.