Caramel Apples at Home


Fall is the perfect time to whip up some caramel apples and your Acero Jensen Park home is the perfect place to do so! Caramel apples are fun to make for everyone and easily customizable to what you want. Below is a caramel apple recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction! 

 

Ingredients 

 

  • 8-9 cold apples 

  • 1 and ¾ cups heavy cream

  • 1 cup light corn syrup 

  • 2 cups packed light or dark brown sugar 

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 

  • ½ teaspoon salt 

  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract 

 

Instructions

 

  • Prep the apples: Rinse the apples with water, then wipe completely dry. Removing the slippery wax coating will help the caramel seal to the apple. Remove the apple stem and insert a caramel apple stick about ¾ down into the apple.

  • Line a large baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or grease the pan with butter. Caramel usually sticks to parchment or wax paper.

  • Make the caramel: Combine the heavy cream, corn syrup, brown sugar, butter, and salt in a 3-quart heavy-duty saucepan over medium heat. Do not turn the temperature up or down– keep at medium the entire time the caramel cooks. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the butter is melted. Once melted, brush down the sides of the pan with a water-moistened pastry brush and attach a candy thermometer to the pan, making sure the bulb is not touching the bottom of the pan (as you’ll get an inaccurate reading).

  • Without stirring, let the mixture cook and bubble until it reaches 235ºF - 240ºF. Reaching this temperature should take about 15-20 minutes, though don’t use time as your guide because it depends on your stove, use your candy thermometer as your guide. The temperature will heat up slowly, then move quickly, so keep your eye on the pot. Once at 235ºF-240ºF, remove caramel from heat and stir in the vanilla. Avoid over-stirring which can create air bubbles in the caramel. Allow caramel to cool for 10-15 minutes until slightly thickened. If caramel is too thin to coat apples, let it cool and thicken for 5-10 minutes longer. 

  • Dip the apples: Holding the caramel apple stick, dip the apple into the warm caramel, tilting the pot as needed to coat all sides of the apple. Lift the apple up and swirl it around or gently tap it against the side of the pot to let excess caramel drip off. Place coated apple on prepared pan. Repeat with the remaining apples. Enjoy immediately or allow caramel to set, about 45-60 minutes.

  • If you’d like, you can add toppings. Immediately after coating in caramel and before the caramel sets, roll the caramel dipped apples in the toppings you desire.

 

Topping Ideas

 

  • Finely chopped nuts

  • Toffee pieces

  • Mini M&Ms

  • Sprinkles

  • Coconut 

  • Chocolate drizzle

  • Chocolate chips and marshmallows

  • Crushed Oreos

  • Crushed pretzels

  • Crushed Butterfingers

 

When you’re making your caramel apples at home, you can also slice the apples up before giving them their caramel dunk so you can coat individual slices with even more topping combinations! After you’re done creating your caramel apple masterpieces be sure to snap a picture and share it with us on Instagram and Facebook. We can’t wait to see everyones yummy caramel apples!