Create the perfect apple pie caramel apple at home with this delicious recipe and easy to follow tutorial. These are better than store bought caramel apples!
My friend Diane was in town visiting for a few days this last week. She is an amazing caramel apple maker. I was so excited when she volunteered to show me her technique. It was a fun way to create some Thanksgiving gifts for people too.
I have made caramel apples before and have always made my caramel from scratch. Delicious but a little labor intensive. Diane showed me a new way, one that is just as delicious and easier! She introduced me to Peter’s Caramel. I bought a 5 lb. loaf as it will keep for a long time. You can get about 30 apples out of the 5 lb. brick. The caramel is delicious and melts so smooth and easy. I just put it into a glass bowl and then into the microwave.
The other supplies you will need are some sticks for the apples. I like round ones with a nice sharp end, but you can also use popsicle sticks. Insert the stick in the apple, making sure it goes about half way in. You don’t want it falling out when you are trying to eat your apple.
How to make the Apple Pie Caramel Apples
After the sticks are inserted, dip the apples into the melted caramel. Just tip the bowl and twirl. If the caramel starts to set up just pop it back in the microwave for a bit. You want the caramel nice and smooth for easy dipping.
Shake the apple a bit to help the extra caramel drip off. Then use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, at an angle, to scrap the extra caramel off the bottom of the apple. This will help prevent the caramel from pooling along the bottom of the apple. Place the apples on a piece of parchment paper to allow the caramel to set up.
If you get air bubbles in your caramel just pop them with your finger and rub them out a bit. Don’t worry too much about it as you are going to cover it with chocolate!
For the next step of our apple pie caramel apples, we used white chocolate melts. We melted it in the microwave and then dipped the apples the same way we did the caramel. Our chocolate was a bit thick but that just meant more chocolate on the apple! Not a bad thing. Use the spatula to scrap off the excess chocolate from the bottom of the apple.
Rolling Caramel Apples in Cinnamon Sugar
You will want to have a flat dish full of the cinnamon sugar ready. If your chocolate is thinner, let it set up for a minute or two before rolling in the mixture. But our chocolate was setting up quickly, so we went right from the chocolate to the sugar mixture.
Press down on the apple as you roll it in the mixture to make sure it adheres well to the chocolate. Then place the apple back on the parchment to set up.
For the finishing touch we put some of the melted white chocolate into a freezer zip lock bag and clipped off the corner to make a decorating bag. Then we drizzled the apple with the remaining chocolate.
Be sure and hold the apple over a box or cookie sheet so the extra chocolate has somewhere to go. So pretty!
After they are totally set up (put them in the refrigerator if you are in a hurry) they are ready to package up. We used some clear cellophane bags, a cute little tag and some ribbon. You can download the tags for free here.
Delicious gourmet caramel apples, all ready to share with some of the people we are thankful for.
Supplies to Make Gourmet Caramel Apples:
Apple Pie Caramel Apple Recipe
Apple Pie Caramel Apples
Ingredients
- 5 lbs. Pete's Caramel
- 30 granny smith apples
- Apple sticks sucker sticks, Popsicle sticks, etc.
- 3 lbs. White Chocolate Melts
- 1 1/2 C white sugar
- 1 1/2 C brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Insert the stick in the apple, making sure it goes about half way in.
- Melt the caramel in a glass bowl in the microwave.
- If the caramel starts to set up just pop it back in the microwave for a bit. You want the caramel nice and smooth for easy dipping.
- You decide how far up you want the caramel to come – half way, 3/4 or cover the entire apple. I went for about 3/4.
- Shake the apple a bit to help the extra caramel drip off.
- Then use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, at an angle, to scrap the extra caramel off the bottom of the apple.
- Place the apples on a piece of parchment paper to allow the caramel to set up.
- If you get air bubbles in your caramel just pop them with your finger and rub them out a bit.
- Melt chocolate in microwave and dip the apples.
- Use the spatula to scrap off the excess chocolate from the bottom of the apple.
- Combine sugars and cinnamon together into a flat dish
- Roll apples into mixture and press down on the apple as you roll it in the mixture to make sure it adheres well to the chocolate (some of the chocolate may drip off into the mixture, don’t worry, it will harden and then just remove it or eat it!)
- Place the apple back on the parchment to set up.
- Drizzle with melted chocolate. Put it into a freezer zip lock bag and clipped off the corner to make a decorating bag.
- Be sure and hold the apple over a box or cookie sheet so the extra chocolate has somewhere to go.
- Allow to set up.
Video
Nutrition
These have become a favorite of mine. They make amazing gifts and are delicious. Thank you for sharing!!
I have a question about using Peter’s caramel in your crockpot. How long do you put it in there for? And I’m guessing you put it on low? Just a couple hours? We used Peter’s caramel last year to do some, but I love the crockpot idea to warm it up! Thanks!
I melted it on low and then turned it to warm once it was all melted. It was in there for 2-3 hours.
Hi! They look beautiful. How long will these be good got, after you make them? I was thinking of making them ahead off when I needed them. Do you think they would last a few days or no?
They should definitely last a few days as long as you keep them cool or refrigerated. Have fun!
What bags did you use? I’m having trouble finding ones that will fit the apples. Do you know what size the bags were?
I found them at Michael’s craft store.
How long will the apples stay fresh? I was thinking about making them and then bringing the apples to work the next day.
Casey, Just refrigerate them and they will be fine the next day
Gracias, es estupenda la receta, siempre he querido hacerlas como negocio, haré las de caramelo y te contare mas adelante , sera posible si me enseñas para que queden rojas y caramelo de azúcar, nuevamente muchas gracias .
Wow looks fantastic just added to my must try folder thanks for share.
Have fun with them Mari!
How about them apples! They look absolutely divine! What a sweet friend you have! I’d love for you to link these up to my Creative Ways Link Party that just went live this evening. Hope to see you and “them apples” at the party! Have a great week!
Blessings,
Nici
These look amazing! Great tips! Can’t wait to make some! Pinned!
Thanks Amy – they are almost as fun to make as they are to eat.
I have tried making these apples and have trouble with the caramel slipping off. I scrub them to remove the wax and refrigerate them, but when I take them out of the refrigerator the caramel still slips off. I saw where someone suggested dipping quickly in boiling water. And the post above suggested melting a few marshmallows in the caramel. Any other suggestions?
I always wash mine in warm water and rough them up a bit and the caramel seems to stick. The Pete’s Caramel seems to work the best for me – better than the Kraft caramels.
i like apples cut up for caramel dip but those are beautiful!
Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful ideas!
We’ve been addicted to caramel apples over here since Sara posted them over at OBB. We’ve made them four times in the last three weeks! I’ve seen Peter’s caramel at Gygi’s, but have never bought it. It looks like you are making the caramel apples in your sleep 🙂 Haha. Great job.
These not only look beautiful but so tasty too! I have been wanting to make Carmel apples for my boys and their friends for awhile now. This post has totally inspired me to do so! Thank you for sharing!
i saw your post last fall about making caramel apples and gave it a try then. they were so yummy. to make the apple pie flavored ones, i rolled out a ready make pie crust (like pillsbury) and coated it with melted butter, cinnamon and sugar and then baked it and crumbled it. then i rolled the caramel apples in the pie crust crumbles. they were so, so good! best to you~ J
Hi. You can get the caramel at Cash and Carry also. We melt a few miniature marshmallows into the caramel so it doesn’t get too thick, and it helps the caramel ‘stick’ to the apple. Cash and Carry also has the wooden sticks!
Thanks for this suggestion….my caramel always slips off so I am going to try your suggestion!!!!!
Cheri
so cute – we made caramel apples for the grandkids at Thanksgiving and they loved decorating them with sprinkles, sugar stars and chocolate pieces.
These look awesome all made up for giving. Happy Thanksgiving!