Caramel Apple Recipe
Caramel apple recipe makes homemade caramel apples from scratch in less than 30 minutes. The recipe includes a simple trick for perfect coating and decoration ideas.
Servings 10 caramel apples
Calories 642kcal
Ingredients
Caramel
- 2 cups light brown sugar
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Apples
- 10 Granny Smith apples
- 10 thick wooden skewers
- For Decorating: sprinkles finely chopped nuts, mini M&Ms, crushed Oreos, or mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Rinse apples in boiling water to remove all the waxy residue on the outside of the skin. (This is an important step to ensure the caramel sticks to the apples!) Dry apples completely.10 Granny Smith apples
- Remove the apple stems. Stick skewers into the top of each apple. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and set in the fridge until ready to use.10 thick wooden skewers
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, add brown sugar, condensed milk, corn syrup, and butter. Stir to combine.2 cups light brown sugar, 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup light corn syrup, 1 cup unsalted butter
- Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly.
- Using a candy thermometer, continue to simmer caramel until the temperature reaches 230-240 degrees F. Continue to stir while it simmers to prevent burning on the bottom. This will take about 15-20 minutes.
- Remove caramel from heat.
- Add vanilla and salt. Stir to combine, but don’t overmix.2 teaspoons vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Working quickly, dip the cold apples into the caramel to coat most of each apple. Keep apples upside down for a few seconds to help caramel set. Then, place apples back on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- While the caramel is still warm, sprinkle each apple with desired decorations.
- Let apples cool for at least 1 hour to allow the caramel to set.
Notes
- Apples: Apples like Granny Smith work well because they’re tart. Other varieties of eating apple, like Honeycrisp, also work well.
- Brown sugar: Dark brown sugar will also work.
- Butter: You can use salted butter and omit the salt.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
Serving: 1caramel apple | Calories: 642kcal | Carbohydrates: 117g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 194mg | Potassium: 260mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 111g | Vitamin A: 765IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 157mg | Iron: 1mg