Nothing screams "Fall!" like caramel apples and this is such a fun thing to do with the kids! This caramel apple recipe is about as simple as can be! If you want to make it complicated, you can always use a homemade caramel apple dip to coat your apples, but the store-bought caramels work just fine!
These apples may not look the prettiest, but my children had a ball making them. If I was making them for a gift for someone I would have probably just stuck to one topping for each apple. My children decided that if 1 topping is good, more is better! You can't see it, but both the apple with pretzels as well as the apple with crushed Oreos also have mini M&M's on them.
Growing up, we used to always use popsicle/craft sticks for our caramel apples and then just bit in the to them. I have taught my children a "cleaner" way to eat them...once they are set, we just slice them up and eat them that way! It's much cleaner and there is less waste (and less sugar at a time for the children - we just slice up the apple 4 -5 ways and dig in!
Anyway, to make them, you will need:
- 8 Large Apples (I prefer Granny Smith or Gala Apples), washed and dried
- 2 packages (14 oz each) Caramels
- 1 ½ tablespoon Heavy Cream
- Toppings: Mini M&Ms, Crushed Pretzels, Crushed Oreos, Mini Chocolate Chips, Crushed Peanuts, Crushed Saltines, Toffee Bits, etc.
- Chopsticks
Directions:
- Stick the chopsticks in to the bottom of each apple. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place toppings on a small (salad-size) plate.
- In a double boiler (or a glass bowl set over a pot of simmering water). Heat caramels and heavy cream until completely melted and smooth. Remove from heat.
- Dip apples, one a time, in to the melted caramel, swirling to completely coat the apples. Lift apples straight out of the caramel, allowing the excess to drip back in to the bowl.
- Quickly and carefully, roll the apple in desired toppings. Place apple on parchment paper.
- Repeat with other apples
- Refrigerate apples until completely cooled.
- Wrap any apples you won't be eating immediately in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator (or else the caramel will slide off the apples after a day or two!)
And that's it! An easy caramel apple recipe that you can make with the kids, won't take too much time and it fun to make!
Enjoy!
