Indulge in the ultimate autumn treat with these homemade caramel apples, a delightful blend of tart fruit and rich, buttery caramel. Perfect for fall festivities or Halloween parties, this recipe features crisp apples—Granny Smith or Fuji work beautifully—dipped in a velvety homemade caramel made with granulated sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and a touch of vanilla. Achieving that perfect caramel texture is easy with a candy thermometer, ensuring each apple is wrapped in gooey goodness. Customize your creations with optional toppings like chopped nuts, sprinkles, or a chocolate drizzle for a sweet and crunchy twist. Whether you’re serving them as a festive dessert or wrapping them as edible gifts, these caramel apples bring a nostalgic charm and irresistible flavor to any occasion.
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Wash and thoroughly dry the apples to ensure the caramel sticks well. Insert a wooden stick into the top of each apple, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the granulated sugar, light corn syrup, unsalted butter, and sweetened condensed milk. Stir constantly until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth.
Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Using a candy thermometer, cook the caramel until it reaches 248°F (120°C), also known as the firm ball stage. This should take about 10-15 minutes.
Once the caramel reaches the proper temperature, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt until fully incorporated.
Carefully dip each apple into the hot caramel, tilting the saucepan and rotating the apple to fully coat it. Let the excess caramel drip off and gently scrape the bottom of the apple against the side of the saucepan.
Place the caramel-coated apples back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. If desired, immediately press optional toppings onto the still-warm caramel before it sets.
Allow the caramel apples to cool completely at room temperature, about 20-30 minutes, before serving or wrapping them individually in cellophane for gifting.
Serving size | (2274.2g) |
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Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
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Calories | 3988.7 |
Total Fat 92.9g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 53.4g | 0% |
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3g | |
Cholesterol 259.0mg | 0% |
Sodium 1788.2mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 798.1g | 0% |
Dietary Fiber 33.4g | 0% |
Total Sugars 756.1g | |
Protein 37.4g | 0% |
Vitamin D 31.8IU | 0% |
Calcium 1226.1mg | 0% |
Iron 2.5mg | 0% |
Potassium 2977.9mg | 0% |
Source of Calories