Making Caramel Apples

Making caramel apples can be fun for the whole family.

Making your own caramel apples can be a fun project whether you do it alone or with children. The caramel coating offers the apple extra sweetness, while any toppings you choose to use add yet more flavor of their own. The process is relatively simple, with the hardest part being preparing the caramel. Even with the necessary caramel preparation, however, you can complete this project in about half an hour. Your caramel apples will not be ready for slightly longer, as they need to cool before you consume them.

Things You'll Need

• Kitchen towel
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1/2 cup dark corn syrup
• 3 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 1 3/4 cups heavy cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract, optional
• Wooden spoon
• Candy thermometer
• Large bowl
• Ice

Instructions

1. Wash all of the apples you wish to coat with caramel. Dry them thoroughly with a clean kitchen towel, then set aside. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2. Put the sugar, corn syrup, butter, cream and optional vanilla extract in a saucepan. Put the saucepan on the stove over medium-high heat. Heat the mixture, stirring regularly, until the sugar dissolves completely.

3. Attach a candy thermometer to the saucepan. Continue stirring regularly, keeping a close eye on the thermometer, until the mixture reaches 240 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Prepare an ice bath between stirring the mixture as it heats. Fill a large bowl most of the way with cold water, then add a generous amount of ice.

5. Remove the sugar mixture from the heat when it reaches the desired temperature. Immediately plunge the bottom of the saucepan into the ice bath to quickly halt the cooling process and prevent the caramel from cooking further. Stir constantly as the mixture cools. Continue stirring, with the bottom of the saucepan in the ice bath, until the contents reach a uniform consistency. Remove the saucepan from the ice bath and set aside.

6. Push a Popsicle stick or craft stick into the center of each apple from the top, stem end.

7. Dip each apple into the caramel in your saucepan. Turn the apple and tilt the saucepan to achieve the level of caramel coverage you desire on your apple. Hold the apple over the saucepan for a moment to allow the excess candy to drip off, then hold it upside-down with the bottom end pointing up for a moment to allow the caramel to cool and set briefly. Place the apple upright on the prepared parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat this process for each apple you wish to coat with caramel.

Tips & Warnings

• If you wish to make your apples more exciting, roll each one in some type of coating after dipping it but before putting it on the baking sheet. Options include small pieces of nuts, chopped dried fruits, finely crumbled cookies, small candies and similar items.

References

• Chow: Basic Caramel Apple Recipe
• Martha Stewart: Classic Caramel Apples
• Epicurious: Caramel-Dipped Apples

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• What's Cooking America: Fruit Recipes