Chocolate Caramel Apples
Ever bought a chocolate caramel apple at the fall festival and wondered how to make them at home? You can, and it’s as easy as melting caramels and chocolate chips in the microwave, dipping cold apples and letting them set in the fridge. Roll them in sprinkles, nuts or crushed cookies and you’ve got a gourmet treat for a Halloween party or a sweet homemade gift.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Recipe Name: Chocolate Caramel Apples
- Serves: 4
- Main Ingredients: to medium apples, popsicle sticks, bag of dark or milk chocolate chips, bag Kraft caramels, sprinkles, Waxed paper and cooking spray
- Why You'll Love It: These sweet chocolate caramel apples are easy to make and you can use a variety of toppings, like M&Ms, sprinkles, and white chocolate.
I’ve made every mistake you can make with these so you don’t have to, and the two big secrets are really cold apples and a well-greased tray. Once you get the hang of it, try my homemade cinnamon candy apples too.
Why These Chocolate Caramel Apples Work
Cold apples make the warm caramel and chocolate set up quickly so the coating clings instead of sliding off, and chilling the caramel layer before the chocolate dip keeps the two from melting together. Melted Kraft caramels with a spoonful of water are thick enough to coat the apples, which homemade caramel sauce usually isn’t.
Ingredients for Chocolate Caramel Apples
Apples: Tart apples like Granny Smith, Fuji or Honeycrisp balance the sweet caramel and chocolate. Small to medium apples are easiest to eat on a stick.
Caramels: A bag of Kraft caramels melts into the perfect dipping consistency.
Chocolate chips: Chips are the best chocolate for caramel apples. I like dark chocolate here even though I’m usually a milk chocolate person, because it goes so well with the tart apple.
Toppings: Sprinkles, chopped nuts, mini marshmallows, crushed Oreos or cookie crumbs all work.
You’ll find the exact amounts in the recipe card below.
Helpful Tips Before You Start
- Chill the washed apples in the fridge overnight so they’re good and cold.
- Remove the waxy coating on store-bought apples by dipping them briefly in 1 cup boiling water mixed with ½ teaspoon white vinegar, then dry them well.
- Spray the waxed paper with cooking spray before the apples go on, or the caramel will stick to it.
- If the caramel runs off too thin, it’s too hot, so let it cool a minute. If it won’t stick, warm it a little more.
How to Make Chocolate Caramel Apples
1Prep the Apples
Line a tray with waxed paper and spray it with cooking spray. Push a stick into each cold, dry apple and set them on the tray.
2Melt the Caramels
Fill a 2-cup measuring cup ¾ full with unwrapped caramels, add 1 tablespoon water and microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring after each, until smooth, about 2 minutes.
3Dip in Caramel
Dip each apple into the caramel and hold it over the cup to let the extra drip off.
4Chill
Set the apples back on the greased tray and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or an hour if you have time.
5Melt the Chocolate
Fill a 2-cup measuring cup ¾ full with chocolate chips and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted.
6Dip in Chocolate
Dip each cold caramel apple into the chocolate and let the extra drip off.
7Add Toppings
Dip the bottoms in sprinkles, nuts or crumbs, then set them back on the tray.
8Chill Until Set
Refrigerate until the chocolate is completely hard.
Serving, Gifting and Storing
Once they’re set, wrap each apple in a cellophane bag tied with ribbon for teachers, neighbors or party favors. They’re a fun centerpiece for a Halloween party next to caramel apple pinwheels, a bowl of homemade caramel corn and mugs of slow cooker caramel apple cider. You’ll find more ideas in our list of easy Halloween treats and desserts.
Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you’d rather not bite into a whole apple, let them set and slice them into wedges.
Chocolate Caramel Apples FAQs
What is the best chocolate for caramel apples?
Chocolate chips melt smoothly and set up firm, which makes them the best choice. Dark chocolate balances the sweet caramel and tart apple, but milk or white chocolate work too.
What apples are best for caramel apples?
Tart, crisp apples like Granny Smith, Fuji or Honeycrisp hold up well and balance all that sweetness.
Can I skip the caramel?
Sure. Dip the cold apples straight into the melted chocolate for chocolate-covered apples. My kids actually prefer them that way.
How do I add a white chocolate drizzle?
Melt white chocolate chips in 30-second intervals, let them cool a minute, then spoon into a zip-top bag. Snip or poke a tiny hole in one corner and drizzle over the set apples.
Chocolate Caramel Apples
Equipment
- Wooden sticks
- waxed paper
- Cooking spray
- 2-cup glass measuring cup
Ingredients
- 5-7 small to medium apples washed, dried and refrigerated
- 12 ounce bag of dark or milk chocolate chips about a cup and a half
- 14 ounce bag Kraft caramels unwrapped
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 cup sprinkles, chopped nuts or crushed cookies for topping
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.
- 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.1 cup sprinkles, chopped nuts or crushed cookies
Christy, I *just* discovered your blog, but I know it was no accident. The Lord led me here. I’ve laughed and cried and felt the Lord tug at my heart as I’ve read about your ‘adventure’ with a certain horse! I’ve gone through my own struggles lately (but nothing like yours!) and am always so grateful for what the Lord teaches me as I lean on Him, things I would never learn if my life were always ‘a bed of roses’. God bless you and your precious family as you continue to heal.
Welcome to Southern Plate Lisa!!!! I am so glad you were led here and have found something to inspire you!! May you have a blessed day and I look forward to getting to know you!!!
I echo what Eldonna said. Despite how some people GO ON about Walmart, and really I do understand your issues. Walmart contains a slew of happy people who are more than happy to help you get whatever you need. They even have a smile on their faces about it. This type of thing, for those of us that struggle through our limitations, on a daily basis, is a LIFE SAVER. For Real, just sayin. …
Christy,
I just love ready about your adventures, stories and recipes. I feel like you are sitting at my kitchen table and we are chatting and drinking tea. I live in Kentucky now but grew up in Florence and went to UNA. It’s like I have found an old friend when I come to Southern Plate. You have been in our prayers. My daughter asked me yesterday how you were doing and if you were walking by yourself yet. we are so glad you are doing better. Take care.
I found this post through the potluck other blogger’s threw for you and I am so glad I did. You are so inspiring! This post made me cry. I can’t imagine what you must be going through but I am hoping the best for you. It seems like you are one determined lady!
Welcome to Southern Plate Laura!!!I am so glad you found me and that you found it inspiring!!!
Hi Christie- I am reading all this , with people praising your heroic efforts, and that is all so wonderful. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but some of this sounds like just pride and bullheadedness. If you were in pain to the point of tears, why didn’t
you try to ask someone who works there to help you. I married into a southern family (I’m from Michigan} and those poeple are the most prideful stubborn bunch I have ever seen. One of them, too stubborn to go to the doctor, died of his own stubbornness. I can see wanting to be self-sufficient, but there is also a point at which you will need the help of someone else.
Thank you for your opinion. I’ll take it as saying I’m stubborn as a mule, which I am. Thankfully, God has taught me to let Him use that, which He did that day. There isn’t a way you can walk in these shoes of mine, but if you could I’m sure you’d understand where they’ve been, where they are going, and perhaps even why 🙂
That was one of the most blessed days of my life and I’m so glad God didn’t let my own self pity take it from me.
I gotta say, you’re absolutely right about “those people” being a stubborn bunch. It’s saved us from starvation more times than my ancestors can count and kept us working in the fields despite the midday August sun and aching bodies.
Stubborn often comes from having to be and strength often comes from pushing through rather than giving in.
That is where pride comes in. You’re right about that, too.
I’m awfully proud of “Those People” 😉
Thank you for bringing some precious people who have passed on to my mind today. I needed to “see” them again. 🙂
Gratefully,
Christy
Hey Christie- I had a feeling you would take that the wrong way. I certainly did not mean all southerners were in that “stubborn ” group. I just don’t think it would have been the worst thing in the world if you had asked for help. Some people would rather carry on like a martyr than to let someone help. I hope your not that extreme.
Thanks so much for sharing this story. Ten months ago I fell off a ladder and shattered my heel, I never dreamed my life could change so drastically. Ten months later I still haven’t visited WalMart, but the smaller stores are almost as traumatic. Praying for a speedy recovering for you and I’m so anxious to baptize me some apples!
Oh my goodness, I will be praying for your recovery Lisa!
Sweet Christy, what an inspiration your post is today! While I’m not facing the physical hurdles you are, there are some emotional/spiritual battles going on in our family. I feel myself sometimes wanting to give up because it hurts, but now I can remember your precious “cane. step. step.” and apply it to my spirit! God’s Word will be my cane, and He will give me the energy to take the steps necessary to get through this time.
God bless you for your willingness to share with us, and may your recovery be complete!
Thank you Bronda, I hope that things will get better for you soon, I will keep you and your family in my prayers.