Chocolate Caramel Apples

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Oh so sweet and delicious, these chocolate caramel apples make the perfect treat for you or a loved one.

Chocolate caramel apples

Now, let me first admit that these chocolate caramel apples will be easy as can be for you to make if you follow this tutorial, because I have made every mistake I could possibly make with them in advance so that you don’t have to! Seriously though, these are as easy as melting some stuff in the microwave, dipping some apples, and letting them get cold. Sound good?

These gourmet caramel apples make for a fun addition to your next party or prepare a batch to give to friends or family. No one can say no to a crunchy apple drizzled in caramel or chocolate.

The best part about this recipe for chocolate caramel apples is you can let your imagination run wild. Be traditional and stick with caramel, or dip them in chocolate, candy, crushed Oreo cookies, cinnamon, mini marshmallows, or chopped nuts. The choice is yours!

Ingredients for chocolate caramel apples.

Recipe Ingredients

  • COLD Apples (your favorite. I’m using Granny Smith apples).
  • Caramels
  • Sticks
  • Chocolate chips

You’re also going to need some waxed paper, cooking spray, and any type of candy or nut toppings you want to use.

Stick placed in each apple.

Make sure your COLD apples are clean and dry, then put a popsicle stick in each one.

Making caramel for apples.

Unwrap enough caramel candy to fill up a 2-cup measuring cup 3/4 of the way. Add one tablespoon of water.

Microwave for one minute. Stir. Microwave for one more minute and then stir again until smooth.

Please note: I am hesitant to post recipes involving the microwave because they vary so widely in how they heat. If your microwave tends to be hot or higher-powered, check your caramels after 30-45 seconds and stir them. If, after two minutes, the caramels are not melted fully, cook them in 30-second intervals until they are.

Dipping apple in caramel.

Now, baptize the apple in the melted caramel!

Note: You can skip the caramel and just dip them in chocolate if you like. My kids prefer these without the caramel.

Dipped caramel apples on waxed paper.

Place all of those on a waxed paper-lined tray and MAKE SURE you spray that baking sheet with cooking spray BEFORE you put your apples on it. Otherwise, they will absolutely not separate from it when you pull them off and you’ll end up with caramel apples bonded to waxed paper on the bottom.

At this point, you need to place these apples in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, until they are good and cold.  An hour or more is even better.

Melted chocolate in bowl

Now we need to melt our chocolate.

You can use any type of chocolate chips you like for this. I prefer dark chocolate for these apples, even though I am normally a milk chocolate person. The dark chocolate complements the apple really well.

Fill a 2-cup measuring cup 3/4 of the way with chocolate chips. Microwave this at 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until completely melted.

Dipping caramel apple in chocolate.

Set up a station with some toppings and sprinkles you might want to add.

Make sure those apples are cold and then dip apples in chocolate!

Dipping caramel apple in biscuit crumbs.

Let it drip off a bit before dipping the bottoms in toppings and then returning to greased waxed paper.

Refrigerate apples until chocolate has hardened.

Assortment of chocolate caramel apples covered in sprinkles and M&Ms.

Once your chocolate caramel apples are hardened fully, you can wrap them in plastic for gift giving!

If you are going to keep them for more than a few hours, I recommend storing them in the fridge.

Chocolate caramel apples

Enjoy!

Storage

Store your caramel apples in the fridge in an airtight container for up to four days. Any longer and your apple will probably brown.

Recipe Notes

  • If your caramel apple coating is too thin, it’s probably too hot. Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool before dipping your apple.
  • On the other hand, if your coating isn’t sticking to your apple, it’s probably too cool, so heat it further.
  • If you don’t want to dig into a large apple on a stick, wait until they’re set and cut your apple into slices. Alternatively, buy some smaller apples to make “lollipops”.
  • Make sure you wash your apples properly to remove any waxy residue. The easiest way to do this is to mix 1 cup of boiling water with 1/2 teaspoon of white vinegar. Briefly dip each apple in the mixture and then dry them thoroughly.
  • Another topping option is to add melted white chocolate streamers to the top of your apples. Place white chocolate chips in a measuring cup and microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted. Allow to cool for a minute or two, then spoon into a zipper seal plastic bag. Poke a toothpick in the end corner and go to town!

Recipe FAQs

What are the best apples for caramel apples?

I recommend tart apples like Granny Smith, Fiji, or Honeycrisp apples. They balance out the sweet caramel and chocolate flavors.

What is the best caramel for caramel apples?

I recommend melting caramel candies for this caramel apple recipe, as the consistency of homemade caramel sauce is typically too thin.

What chocolate do I use for caramel apples?

Chocolate chips are the best chocolate for chocolate-covered caramel apples.

Here are more of my favorite apple dessert recipes:

Easy and Delicious Apple Crisp Recipe

Apple Brownies

Caramel Apple Cheesecake (Unbelievably Blissful)

Apple Cobbler Recipe

Apple Pizza: A Doozie of a Dessert

Chocolate caramel apples

Chocolate Caramel Apples

These sweet chocolate caramel apples are easy to make and you can use a variety of toppings, like M&Ms, sprinkles, and white chocolate.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apples, chocolate
Servings: 4
Calories: 589kcal

Ingredients

  • 5-7 small to medium apples washed, dried and refrigerated
  • popsicle sticks
  • 12 ounce bag of dark or milk chocolate chips about a cup and a half
  • 14 ounce bag Kraft caramels unwrapped
  • sprinkles chopped nuts or candies of your choice (optional)
  • Waxed paper and cooking spray

Instructions

  • The night before, wash apples, remove any stickers, and place them in a bowl in the refrigerator to get cold.
    5-7 small to medium apples
  • Line a tray with waxed paper, spray with cooking spray. Place a stick in each apple and place them on the tray.
    popsicle sticks, Waxed paper and cooking spray
  • Unwrap caramels and fill a 2-cup measuring cup 3/4 full. Add 1 tablespoon of water and microwave at one-minute intervals, stirring after each, until fully melted - about two minutes.
    14 ounce bag Kraft caramels
  • Dip each apple into the caramel and hold it over the bowl for a moment to allow excess to drip off. Return to greased wax paper-lined tray and refrigerate for at least thirty minutes.
  • Fill a 2-cup measuring cup 3/4 full with chocolate chips. Microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until fully melted - about two minutes.
    12 ounce bag of dark or milk chocolate chips
  • Pour toppings into several cereal bowls and place them on the table with melted chocolate. Get apples from the fridge and dip them, one at a time, into the chocolate - allowing excess to drip off - and then roll them in desired sprinkles. Return to tray and refrigerate until chocolate is hardened.
    sprinkles

Once these are hardened fully, you can wrap them in plastic for gift giving! If you are going to keep them for more than a few hours, I recommend storing them in the fridge.

    Notes

    Note: to top with white chocolate "streamers", place white chocolate chips in a measuring cup and microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted. Allow to cool for a minute or two, then spoon into a zipper seal plastic bag. Poke a toothpick in the end corner and press down on the bag while going up and down the tops of the apples. Refrigerate again until hardened.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 589kcal
    Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

     

     

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    78 Comments

    1. Hi Christy, Thank you for sharing not just your recipes with us, but what is on your heart! Thank you for this recipe-I have always had trouble making caramel apples-now I know why!

    2. I am so proud of you for making this HUGE step in recovery. I was ill for 8 months and could not walk during that time. The recovery process was long, painful and frustrating. I couldn’t help but cringe with each of your “cane, step, step” moments in your blog. It’s clear that God is blessing you! Keep up the great work. Oh, and my kids and I WILL make these apples tomorrow! Yum!

    3. No YOU are awesome! (Awesome-er?) 😉 Glad to hear that you’re healing is coming along, and good for you!! It’s going to get easier every day.

      These look/sound so good…it’s been way too long since I’ve had a caramel apple! Going to have to try these.

    4. Oh Christy, the apples look wonderful! I can’t wait to try them.

      And bless your heart! You hang in there girl and let your poor legs mend. Don’t push too hard and overdo. I know you’re the strong and independent type but try your best to let others do as much as possible for you and give your body a chance to heal and mend itself. I know how hard it can be, not being able to walk or get around for yourself. Also having to be so dependent on others for every little thing when you’re not use to it. Don’t be too proud or afraid to ask for help. You have nothing to prove! With each day you’ll get a little stronger then a little stronger and before you know it up and running like your old self again. But for now it’s baby steps. So whatever you do don’t overdo. Be good to yourself, those legs have a lot more mileage left to go.

      Next time try Target. 😉

    5. Christy, i just love you to pieces!

      Thank you for sharing your journey. It is such good perspective for me! Shame on me for getting mad if the store doesn’t have the exact brand of chocolate chips I want. Thank the Lord it didn’t take me an hour of sweat and tears to hunt them down.

      Hugs!

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