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Home / Latest Posts / Recipes / Course / Dessert / Candy and Treats / How to Make Caramel Apples

How to Make Caramel Apples

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By: Leigh Anne WilkesPosted: 10/28/19Updated: 10/27/20

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure policy here.

pile of caramel apples on a plate

The best tips on how to make caramel apples.  Before you know it you will be enjoying them at home!

My favorite caramel apple is this Apple Pie Caramel Apple.  If you don’t want to dip an entire apple try these Apple Pie Caramel Apple Slices.  And aren’t these Monster Caramel Apples darling!

caramel apples on a cake stand

Last week for a youth activity at church we made caramel apples.  It was the first time I had made them in 12 years. The last time I made them, this is what happened:

biting into a caramel apple

My sweet, 7-year-old daughter bit into one and it ripped a tooth right out of her mouth.  And the tooth wasn’t even loose!  I am not sure what recipe I used but I think I threw it away right then and there.  Since that day, I have only purchased apples at my favorite candy store, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

decorated caramel apples

Well, after a somewhat positive experience last week with the church kids and a conversation with my friend Rhonda who made dozens for her daughter’s wedding reception, I am now confident giving you the best tips.

Tips for Making Caramel Apples

The first tip is to rough up the apples with a fine grade of sandpaper.  This tip came straight from the experts on how to make caramel apples, Rocky Mountain!  Then make sure to wash the apple, insert the stick, and let it dry. wash and insert stick.  Then place the apples on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

apples on a stick

The next most important tip is to make your own caramel!  This recipe will give you a nice smooth caramel.   But you will need a candy thermometer to make caramel.  And you need to make sure that you stir the pot constantly to prevent it from burning on the bottom.  I also use a nice heavy pan – an older pressure cooker of my mothers works great!

We call caramel “patience candy” because you have to have patience stirring it and waiting for it to hit exactly the right temperature.  But your patience pays off!!

caramel cooking in a pan

How to Dip Caramel Apples

Before you begin dipping the apples, let the caramel cool a few minutes.  It will stick better to the apples when it isn’t hot off the stove.  Once you dip the apples, let them cool.  If you are in a pinch for time, you can slide the cookie sheet into the refrigerator. And if you have any left over caramel, you can pour it onto a buttered pan and cut it into candies!

apples dipped in caramel

After the caramel has cooled, melt the chocolate or almond bark to dip them again.  Or you can just drizzle the chocolate if you like that.

toppings for caramel apples

Toppings  Ideas

Quickly, after applying chocolate, sprinkle on your desired toppings.

  • mini chocolate chips,
  • mini M&M’s,
  • rainbow sprinkles,
  • crushed Oreo
  • chopped up Snickers
  • nuts
sprinkles on caramel apple

Once you have added the toppings, return to the refrigerator to set up again.  Then finally the best step, eat and enjoy!

toffee and chocolate caramel apple

There are so many fun combinations but my favorite is this Apple Pie Caramel Apple!
apple pie caramel apple.

Caramel and Apple is a perfect combo – check out these other recipes:

  • Bundt Cake
  • Caramelized Apples with Dulce de Leche
  • Caramel Apple Popcorn
  • Apple Pudding Cake

For all of my other favorite kitchen products and tools visit my Amazon Store. 

Did you know I wrote a cookbook?  Check out the Holiday Slow Cooker Cookbook for 100 delicious recipes.

Caramel Apple Recipe

5 from 4 votes
decorated caramel apples

Caramel Apples

Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes
This delicious caramel sauce is the perfect recipe for dipping caramel apples.
serves: 10 apples
Prep:5 minutes
Cook:15 minutes
Total:20 minutes
Rate Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 1 cup corn syrup
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

  • Combine the first 3 ingredients
  • After butter is melted stir in the milk
  • Cook to soft ball (234degrees)
  • Stir constantly
  • Stir in 1 tsp vanilla
  • Remove from heat
  • Dip apples into the caramel, then roll in nuts if desired
  • Let set up on a cookie sheet
  • Place in refrigerator if needed
  • After completely cooled you can drizzle with chocolate and cover with toppings
  • Suggested toppings: sprinkles, crushed Oreos, mini M & M’s, mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, crushed candy bars.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 345kcal (17%) Carbohydrates: 69g (23%) Fat: 9g (14%) Saturated Fat: 5g (31%) Cholesterol: 24mg (8%) Sodium: 114mg (5%) Potassium: 58mg (2%) Sugar: 68g (76%) Vitamin A: 285IU (6%) Calcium: 44mg (4%) Iron: 0.3mg (2%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Course:Dessert
Cuisine:American
Keyword:caramel apples, dipped apples
decorated caramel apples
Did you make this?I love seeing what you made. Be sure to share a picture and tag @yourhomebasedmom on social media!
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Originally posted October 28, 2008

pile of caramel apples on a plate

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  • Apple Pie Caramel APple
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  • Apple Pie Caramel Apple Slices
    Apple Pie Caramel Apple Slices
  • Caramel Apple Popcorn

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  1. Nancy says

    Posted on 10/20 at 5:29 pm

    If I wanted to double or triple it should I make it all the in the same pot or treat it like candy and make just one recipe amount? Thanks

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 10/21 at 6:15 am

      I would make individual batches

      Reply
  2. Debbie Piedra says

    Posted on 7/3 at 9:42 am

    I’m not sure did you say to put the apples in the fridge for a while before dipping the apples in carmel..

    Reply
  3. Lisa says

    Posted on 11/3 at 8:44 pm

    When I make Caramel/chocolate covered apples, I use the wax paper, but spray with non stick cooking spray (Pam for me). It works great! I cover in caramel, stick in the fridge for a bit, then dip in chocolate. Both are fine sitting on cooking spray.

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 11/3 at 9:01 pm

      Great tip – thanks!

      Reply
  4. Leann Wigner says

    Posted on 9/6 at 6:48 am

    I nee help! I made these. They looked great! I put them in the fridge to set. They still looked great. I took them out of the fridge for 7 hours to cool, and the caramel melted. What did I do wrong?

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 9/6 at 7:34 pm

      Did you rough up your apples? I have found that some apples have a lot of wax on them.

      Reply
      • Leann Wigner says

        Posted on 9/7 at 7:39 pm

        I boiled them, scrubbed them and sandpapered them. Should I leave the apples in the fridge overnight after they are decorated? I think that might have been my problem.

        Reply
      • Leann Wigner says

        Posted on 9/7 at 7:44 pm

        Also, most other recipes suggest a temp of 236-250 for the caramel. Do you think I cooked my caramel long enough if I cooked it to only 230?

        Reply
  5. Annisa Larsen says

    Posted on 10/28 at 11:12 pm

    I’m so glad to see this post! I made some beautiful Caramel Apples last Saturday for our family Halloween Party. We made 20 of them, we decorated some of them with Mini Reese’s pieces, some with dark chocolate and orange chocolate, white chocolate chips and some gummy worms, they looked so great! Well, by the time we got to the party (45 min away), the caramel was mostly in a puddle around each apple! It was so sad! I said right then and there that I would never make Caramel Apples again…but your post gives me hope! I’m going to try it again….Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  6. Andrea says

    Posted on 10/26 at 3:07 pm

    I really want Carmel apples for my wedding favours next September, but after researching purchasing them who the heck can afford that! I decided to try and find a good easy recipe to try, as I am not a baker by any means and I probably need 140 of them. I found your recipe and it looks awesome! I have one question do these have a shelf life? How many days ahead do you think they can be made? And obviously they have to be kept cool, any idea if they can be frozen? Thanks ????

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 10/26 at 3:40 pm

      I wouldn’t make them more than a few days before and would definitely not freeze them.

      Reply
  7. Lisa says

    Posted on 10/9 at 7:09 am

    I was wondering if the brown sugar is packed or not? Also I have a 100 of them to make for a wedding can I do 5 batches at a time?

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 10/9 at 8:50 am

      Yes, I always pack my brown sugar
      I would double batch but not sure about any more than that.

      Reply
  8. Tiffiny Felix says

    Posted on 9/16 at 8:17 pm

    Hello! Your poor daughter! These apples can be dangerous! I made some for the first time tonight (not your recipe) and I burned my finger pretty bad. Totally dumb on my part….do not drizzle the caramel on your finger. My caramel was pretty thick. I did some looking and found your post, and I’m going to try your recipe next time around. Yours look gorgeous! 🙂

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 9/16 at 8:43 pm

      Hope you like the recipe – it is yummy!

      Reply
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