When I went apple-picking last week, I bought a wonderful, vibrantly red candy apple. I knew, right then and there, that I would have to use some of my freshly picked apples to make my own. I ended up deciding to make caramel apples… and what a disaster it was. One of my friends was celebrating his birthday and my plan was to bring him a few caramel apples as a gift. I had never really made caramel apples, but how hard could it be? Well, as it turns out, it’s not always that easy! I used a pretty standard recipe at first but for some reason, the caramel would just not stick to the apples. The lovely amber-colored deliciousness dripped down the side of the apples, leaving a pool of soft caramel at their base.
This morning, after a little research, I picked myself up and tried to tackle the monster again. What a difference experience it was this time around! The temperature of the caramel is definitely key to successful caramel-coated apples. You want the coating to be soft enough to be able to coat the apples, but not so soft that it drips and doesn’t adhere to the fruit. I added a little molasses to the caramel this time around, which added great richness to the color and the caramel flavor. My tip is to dip the apple in the caramel while it’s still hot enough, coat the apples, and place in the fridge immediately to harden for 15 minutes.
The moral of the story might be not to make things for the first time when the plan is to give them away… !
Caramel-Coated Apples
Makes about 10 caramel apples
10 apples (I used Spartan)
3/4 cup of granulated sugar
1/4 lightly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1/4 cup of light corn syrup
2 teaspoons of molasses
1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt
1/2 cup of heavy cream
Wash the apples and thoroughly dry them. If they are still wet, the caramel will not stick to the skin. Remove the stems, and insert a wooden stick at the top of each apple, about half-way through. The apples should securely cling to the stick.Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly grease.
In a saucepan on medium heat, add the sugars, butter, corn syrup, molasses, salt and half of the cream. Swirl the pan to make sure all the ingredients come together. Once they have, add the remaining cream. Cook on medium heat for 10-12 minutes or until the temperature of the mixture reaches 240F.
Remove the caramel from the heat and wait for the liquid to slightly cool (2 minutes). Using a swirling motion and carefully tilting the pan, coat the apples with caramel, leaving an untouched apple circle where the wooden stick is inserted. Let the excess caramel drip off, and place the apples on the parchment paper. Immediately place the apples in the fridge to harden. You may have to do this in batches so that the first coated apples don’t stay at room temperature for too long: the quicker they get in the fridge, the better! If the caramel starts to harden and is not thin enough to coat the apples, simply place the saucepan on the heat for a couple minutes before coating more apples.
Leave the apples in the fridge for 15 minutes to harden. Once they have hardened, leave at room temperature. Package as you please. Enjoy!
Enjoy the read!
Meghan
October 26, 2009 at 4:02 pm (15 years ago)These look fantastic! I love how you’ve decorated the stick of the apple!!! I’ve only made caramel apples with Kraft caramels, so I’m excited to see a recipe with homemade caramel. Those are even a little tricky because if you overheat them, the caramel gets rock-hard and it’s impossible to eat (not that I’ve ever done that..!) 🙂
Ravenous Couple
October 26, 2009 at 4:12 pm (15 years ago)these look too good to eat!!
Jennifer
October 26, 2009 at 4:20 pm (15 years ago)With the success of these lovelies in mind, you’re well-prepared for your friend’s birthday next year.
Mini Baker
October 26, 2009 at 5:37 pm (15 years ago)These look delicious! I’ve never made REAL caramel apples, only caramel apple cake 🙂
I’ll have to give these a try!
-Mini
Mary
October 26, 2009 at 6:01 pm (15 years ago)These are so beautiful I don’t think I could bring myself to bite into one. Thanks so much for the tip about the caramel. You’ve made it easier for the rest of us. Thanks.
Dawn
October 26, 2009 at 6:41 pm (15 years ago)I always love your photos–so crisp and clean.
Rose
October 26, 2009 at 6:48 pm (15 years ago)Outstanding! Those are beautiful. I am not so good with caramel :-O but yours looks divine!
Coco Bean
October 26, 2009 at 8:08 pm (15 years ago)Wow, seriously wow. They look fabulous! I’m really glad they finally worked out!
Nina Timm
October 26, 2009 at 11:50 pm (15 years ago)I remember having candy aplles as a child that had so much red food coloring in them that it took my mom almst a week to get the red from our lips and cheeks. This is a much more civilized version. My kids will love it!!!
Sweet and Savory
October 27, 2009 at 12:36 am (15 years ago)These look yummy and they are pretty. A good combination – good looks and good taste.
Junglefrog
October 27, 2009 at 3:18 am (15 years ago)They look absolutely beautiful!! I have never made anything (successfully) with caramel yet. There is something about it that doesn’t really work with me I think. That photo is just gorgeous too!
Muneeba
October 27, 2009 at 10:23 am (15 years ago)Thks for the tip! But I love your pic … those apples almost look fake ‘coz they’re so beautiful and glossy!
lisa @ dandysugar
October 27, 2009 at 12:33 pm (15 years ago)Your apples look fantastic. They are hard to make but you’ve created such beauties. Sweet packaging too, what a delicious b-day gift.
Choclette
October 27, 2009 at 4:01 pm (15 years ago)They certainly don’t look as though they were a disaster first time around. What a lovely idea. It’s one of my foibles that I am usually trying out something new when it comes around to making something for others – spirit of adventure maybe!
CookiePie
October 27, 2009 at 5:34 pm (15 years ago)Oh, they are soooo beautiful! Perfect.
Maria
October 27, 2009 at 5:38 pm (15 years ago)I love these! they are almost too pretty to eat!
RecipeGirl
October 27, 2009 at 5:39 pm (15 years ago)I just made some caramel apples too & you’re spot on about what the key is… get that caramel the right temperature before dipping! Placing them in the fridge right away after dip is a perfect idea.
These are gorgeous!
Cheryl Arkison
October 27, 2009 at 5:55 pm (15 years ago)Those are much prettier than mine were! I used all brown sugar in mine and it made a very rich caramel.
Cheryl Arkison
October 27, 2009 at 5:55 pm (15 years ago)Those are much prettier than mine were! I used all brown sugar in mine and it made a very rich caramel.
Cheryl Arkison
October 27, 2009 at 5:55 pm (15 years ago)Those are much prettier than mine were! I used all brown sugar in mine and it made a very rich caramel.
Chocolate Shavings
October 27, 2009 at 11:43 pm (15 years ago)Choclette: The first batch didn’t get to be photographed.. they were too much of a disaster!
jackie at phamfatale.com
October 28, 2009 at 12:10 am (15 years ago)Jenn, what a beautiful treat! Great for kids and big kids alike 😛
Cheryl
October 28, 2009 at 4:10 pm (15 years ago)Where have you been all my life, LOL! I wish I had read this before my attempt, yours are soo pretty
shaz
October 28, 2009 at 7:47 pm (15 years ago)Such beautifully decorated toffee apples. Ha ha, I’m always thinking “How hard can this be?”, then have to eat my disasters. You achieved perfection second time round!
Dana
October 28, 2009 at 8:09 pm (15 years ago)Those are absolutely beautiful apples and they bring up so many memories. I used to eat the caramel off and give the apple back to my mother. 🙂
zurin
October 29, 2009 at 9:38 pm (15 years ago)what lovely looking candied apples! your pics are awesome too….:)
Trissa
October 30, 2009 at 8:11 am (15 years ago)I’m really glad you decided to make them again after the first failure – otherwise we would never have the pleasure of seeing such beautiful caramel apples!
Rylan @ artandappetite
October 30, 2009 at 1:22 pm (15 years ago)Holy Tuna! This is AMAZING! They look super good to eat. I think I need to call the mental hospital because I am going crazy for these.
Ingrid
October 30, 2009 at 2:59 pm (15 years ago)Hmmm, thanks for the info. I have every intention to make caramel apples myself. Yours look excellent and like the addition of molasses.
~ingrid
AmyRuth
October 31, 2009 at 12:47 am (15 years ago)Those are really beautiful. sounds familiar, giving away something never made before. My hubs always marvels at that concept.
AmyRuth
blogresipi
November 2, 2009 at 3:19 pm (15 years ago)Hi!
Very nice caramel apples indeed!
Just would like to know how you upload bigger picture on your blog. Is it by upload to photobucket first? Or you just resize the width and height?
Jill
November 3, 2009 at 12:42 am (15 years ago)Beautiful pictures and you were so creative with the ribbon decorations!
Chanel11
November 4, 2009 at 12:08 am (15 years ago)I love the ribbon you twirled around the stick, nice touch
Amanda
November 4, 2009 at 10:10 am (15 years ago)Those are just gorgeous!!
Evelyne@Cheap Ethnic Eatz
November 4, 2009 at 12:20 pm (15 years ago)That just brings me right back to childhood…yumm
Olive
November 5, 2009 at 9:13 pm (15 years ago)I have never tried making caramel apples but after seeing this, I think I will, and my kids would love these for sure 🙂
Amelia PS
November 6, 2009 at 10:52 am (15 years ago)how adorable!
Deborah
November 8, 2009 at 12:05 am (15 years ago)Those are absolutely gorgeous!!
marzipanmom
November 9, 2009 at 5:38 am (15 years ago)Your caramel apples are lovely! I’ve heard that you should also make sure your apples are at room temperature when you dip them so that the caramel doesn’t fall off. I made caramel this year with a recipe that included sweetened condensed milk. I didn’t care for it…I’ll be sure to bookmark this recipe for next year!
Chocolate Shavings
November 10, 2009 at 1:18 pm (15 years ago)marzipanmom: That’s exactly right! If the apples are too cold, the caramel will not stick to their skin.
The Cooking Photographer
November 11, 2009 at 1:14 pm (15 years ago)The ribbons on this are adorable! I love the light coming in over the apples. Beautiful.
Jamie
November 17, 2009 at 1:47 pm (15 years ago)These are beautiful, perfect caramel apples, the joy of my childhood. And when it comes to me, even if I make them thirty times perfectly I’ll screw up the time I make them to give them away. Luscious!
Susan Salzman
January 5, 2010 at 11:15 pm (15 years ago)These look delicious. I am making these next Fall!
Ruby @ The Ruby Red Apron
November 1, 2013 at 11:47 pm (11 years ago)Thanks for sending me this link. These caramel apples look amazing. Thanks for all the helpful information! Can’t wait to try this!